About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Lexington Park, Maryland
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Lexington Park, Maryland, canonically established in 1947 and part of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish serves a diverse, multicultural community in southern St. Mary's County, near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, with weekend Mass celebrated in English and Spanish, a perpetual adoration chapel, and a strong tradition of charity through its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and Knights of Columbus Council #9968. In 2022 the parish concluded its 75th anniversary year with Cardinal Wilton Gregory dedicating a fully refurbished church and newly consecrated altar, an event the parish now points to as the start of a renewed spiritual chapter.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Father Christian Huebner (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in one place: three Sunday Masses (including a 1:00 PM Mass in Spanish), a daily Mass schedule, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, a 75-year-old tradition of Jesuit-rooted worship, and a parish family shaped by its proximity to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Parishioners can grow in faith through Children's Faith Formation, OCIA for adults in both English and Spanish, Bible studies, and an active music ministry led by a parishioner of nearly fifty years. Outreach runs deep through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry — open multiple days a week to serve neighbors in St. Mary's County — and Knights of Columbus Council #9968, which meets in the church hall and supports parish and community projects year-round.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM (NOT on Holy Saturday)
- 1st Saturday: 9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
- Thursday: 6:10 PM – 6:45 PM
- 1st Friday: 9:40 AM – 10:00 AM and 6:10 PM – 6:40 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel
- Solemn Exposition: Thursdays at 6:00 PM
- Solemn Exposition: First Fridays at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM
- Solemn Exposition: First Saturdays at 9:30 AM
History of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish was canonically established in 1947, during the first wave of Catholic parish-building in the newly created Archdiocese of Washington. Like most of St. Mary's County's parishes, it was founded under the care of the Society of Jesus — the same Jesuit order that had celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the English-speaking colonies at St. Clement's Island in 1634, just across the county's waters.
- Canonically established 1947
- Originally led by the Jesuits in its initial stages
- Located on Three Notch Road in Lexington Park, near Naval Air Station Patuxent River
- 75th anniversary celebrated in 2022 with a $750,000 church refurbishment
- Cardinal Wilton Gregory dedicated the renovated church and new altar on November 12, 2022
- New altar enshrines first-class relics of St. Francis Xavier (honoring the Jesuit heritage) and St. Thérèse of Lisieux (patroness of the regional Catholic school)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Christian Huebner as Administrator, with a parochial vicar and three deacons forming the clergy team. A lay staff coordinates religious education, music, facilities, the parish office, the bilingual bulletin, and the archdiocesan Child Protection program.
- Administrator: Father Christian Huebner
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Benjamin A. Garcia
- Deacon Michael J. Crowe
- Deacon Juan Ortiz
- Deacon Ronnie Chavez
- Secretary: Julian Ortiz
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Damaritza Ortiz
- Office Manager: Cindy Thompson
- Facilities Manager: Gregory Davie
- Music Director: Mary Stevens
- OCIA (English): Peter Worrell
- OCIA (Spanish): Damaritza Ortiz
- English and Spanish Parish Bulletins: Julian Ortiz
- Child Protection Coordinator: Janet Harmon
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Immaculate Heart of Mary runs a full year-round faith formation program for children, teens, and adults. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is provided through the Children's Faith Formation program (CFF).
- Children's Faith Formation (CFF) — grades K through 12
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — English track led by Peter Worrell
- OCIA — Spanish track led by Damaritza Ortiz
- Adult Bible Studies (8-week small-group studies)
- Soup Suppers and parish faith events
Music & Liturgical Life
Music at Immaculate Heart of Mary is led by Mary Stevens, the parish Music Director and a parishioner since 1978. The choir serves Sunday Masses and is joined by cantors and instrumentalists for holy days and special liturgies, including the 75th anniversary Mass celebrated by Cardinal Gregory.
- Music Director: Mary Stevens (parishioner since 1978)
- Sunday and holy day choirs and cantors
- Bilingual liturgical support (English and Spanish)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to those in need in St. Mary's County is a hallmark of the parish, led by an on-site St. Vincent de Paul conference and supported by an active Knights of Columbus council that meets in the parish hall.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society of Immaculate Heart of Mary — food pantry and emergency assistance
- Food pantry distribution: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM; 2nd Tuesday 4:00 – 6:00 PM; 4th Tuesday 5:00 – 7:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus Council #9968 — meets at the parish hall; runs Faith in Action and parish service programs
- Filipino and Hispanic community ministries alongside established African American, Native American, and white parishioners
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Information and preparation are coordinated through the parish office; the Children's Faith Formation office handles First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation, while OCIA walks adults through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Baptism (preparation available; new baptismal font installed in the refurbished church)
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation / Confession (see confession schedule)
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA (English and Spanish) for adults entering the Church
Getting Involved
The parish runs an annual Ministry Fair after the Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses to help newcomers find a way to serve. From Bible study to the food pantry, from the music ministry to Knights of Columbus service projects, parishioners of every age and language are encouraged to plug in.
- Ministry Fair (annual, after Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses)
- Fellowship Sunday gatherings
- Bible study small groups (e.g., Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM)
- Knights of Columbus Council #9968 service programs
- St. Vincent de Paul volunteer opportunities
- Liturgical ministries (music, lectors, extraordinary ministers)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Marco F. Schad2014 – 2025
Long-tenured pastor who led the 2022 75th-anniversary celebration and the $750,000 church refurbishment; oversaw the dedication of the new altar by Cardinal Wilton Gregory and the enshrinement of relics of St. Francis Xavier and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
- Rev. Jack Kennealy
Former pastor; later assigned as pastor of St. Andrew Apostle Parish in Silver Spring.
- Msgr. Michael Wilson
Retired priest of the Archdiocese of Washington who previously served as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary.