About Sacred Heart · Chestertown, Maryland
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church is a historic parish serving the Catholic faithful of Kent County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, tracing its formal origins to October 30, 1876, when Bishop Thomas A. Becker of Wilmington assigned a pastor to the Kent Missions. Today the parish operates as 'One Parish — Two Churches,' combining Sacred Heart in Chestertown with its mission church, St. John in Rock Hall (founded 1890). The parish sits within the Diocese of Wilmington (Eastern Shore Deanery) and is led today by Fr. Jones Kukatla alongside Deacon John L. Davis and a small lay staff, currently celebrating 150 years of Catholic faith in the region.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Jones Kukatla
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington (Eastern Shore Deanery)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a tight-knit Catholic community with deep roots — 150 years of continuous faith on the Eastern Shore — that worships across two historic church buildings in Chestertown and Rock Hall. Parishioners find daily and Sunday Mass in English, weekly Confession on Saturdays, and three different weekly blocks of Eucharistic Adoration across both churches. The parish runs an active Religious Education program under Coordinator Cherylin Bennek, a Prayer Group, a Small Group Bible Study, and a parish-wide partnership with the Hallow prayer app — giving families and individuals multiple ways to grow in faith together throughout the week.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM (Sacred Heart, Main Church)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM–4:00 PM (Sacred Heart, Main Church)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:30 PM–7:00 PM — Third Thursday of each month, at Sacred Heart
- Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM — Every Friday following the weekday Mass (except holidays), at Sacred Heart
- 1st Friday 5:30 PM–6:30 PM — at St. John, Rock Hall
Parish History
Sacred Heart parish traces its formal origin to October 30, 1876, when Bishop Thomas A. Becker, first Bishop of Wilmington, assigned a pastor to the Kent Missions. Catholic missionary activity in the county, however, goes back to 1851, when Fr. George Villiger, a Jesuit, was assigned to Kent County from Old Bohemia in Cecil County. The first Sacred Heart church building was erected in Chestertown in 1878. Through the late 19th century the parish repeatedly expanded and shed territory: Saint Dennis in Galena became its own parish in 1880, Mass began in Rock Hall and Eastern Neck in the early 1880s, and in 1915 the parish launched the summer mission Church of the Most Precious Blood in Betterton (closed 1985).
- 1876 — Parish officially organized (Kent County Missions)
- 1878 — First Sacred Heart church built in Chestertown
- 1880 — Saint Dennis, Galena separates as its own parish
- 1882 — Mass begins twice a month in Rock Hall
- 1915 — Mission chapel opened in Betterton (closed 1985)
- 1946 — Catholic Youth Organization branch and Washington College Newman Club founded
- 1954 — Bishop Edmond J. FitzMaurice rededicates the enlarged church (May 31)
- 1973 — New church dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Mardaga on the Feast of Christ the King (Nov. 25)
- 1974 — Original 1878 church reopens as Religious Education center
- 2026 — Parish celebrates 150 years of Catholic faith
Buildings & Campus
The parish operates two worship sites: Sacred Heart in Chestertown (508 High Street) and St. John in Rock Hall (5521 Catholic Ave., Rock Hall, MD 21661). The Chestertown campus includes the 1973 main church, the 1878 original building (now housing classrooms, offices, and the parish library for Religious Education), a renovated rectory, the sanctuary, nave, and a parish hall — all of which have undergone extensive recent renovations.
- Sacred Heart — 508 High St., Chestertown, MD 21620
- St. John (mission) — 5521 Catholic Ave., Rock Hall, MD 21661
- Original 1878 church — now Religious Education center
- Current main church — dedicated Nov. 25, 1973
- Recently renovated rectory, sanctuary, nave, and parish hall
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a small, dedicated team of clergy and lay staff. Fr. Jones Kukatla serves as Pastor; Deacon John L. Davis assists with parish life and sacramental preparation, including baptism inquiries. Cherylin Bennek serves as both Coordinator of Religious Education and Bookkeeper; Becky Davis is the Administrative Assistant and Bulletin Editor; Bill Neff is the Facilities Manager. The parish office can be reached at (410) 778-3160 (extension 3 for the parish office).
- Rev. Jones Kukatla — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon John L. Davis — Deacon ([email protected])
- Cherylin Bennek — Coordinator of Religious Education & Bookkeeper ([email protected] / [email protected], ext. 410-778-4650)
- Becky Davis — Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor ([email protected])
- Bill Neff — Facilities Manager ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Cherylin Bennek coordinates the parish's Religious Education program, which uses the original 1878 church building as its dedicated Religious Education center — housing classrooms, offices, and a parish library. Families preparing children for Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation are asked to contact the parish office or Deacon John. The parish also supports adult faith growth through a Prayer Group and a Small Group Bible Study, both of which meet in the Gathering Space at the front of the church on dates published on the parish calendar.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Cherylin Bennek
- Baptism preparation — contact Deacon John Davis
- Religious Education center housed in the original 1878 church
- Prayer Group — meets in the Gathering Space
- Small Group Bible Study — meets in the Gathering Space
Prayer Life & Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish nurtures prayer through three weekly blocks of Eucharistic Adoration, a Prayer Group, a Small Group Bible Study, and a parish-wide partnership with the Hallow prayer app — the #1 Catholic prayer app — which offers audio-guided meditations, prayer challenges, mental health content, sleep stories, and sacred music featuring Catholic voices like Fr. Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron, Jonathan Roumie, and others. Adoration is offered Thursday evenings (Third Thursday), Friday mornings, and on First Fridays at St. John, Rock Hall.
- Third Thursday Adoration — 5:30–7:00 PM at Sacred Heart
- Friday Adoration — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at Sacred Heart (except holidays)
- First Friday Holy Hour — 5:30–6:30 PM at St. John, Rock Hall
- Prayer Group (recurring)
- Small Group Bible Study (recurring)
- Hallow App parish partnership
Outreach & Community Life
Sacred Heart describes its mission as 'imitating Christ by listening, forming community, and helping others,' and the parish community sustains a number of ongoing fellowship and formation activities. The parish hosts an annual Crab Cake / Carryout Dinner fundraiser (with adult and child advance ticket tiers), and supports student Catholic life at nearby Washington College through the long-standing Newman Club (founded 1946). The parish also historically supported the Catholic Youth Organization.
- Parish Crab Cake & Carryout Dinner (annual fundraiser)
- Newman Club at Washington College (since 1946)
- Catholic Youth Organization (historical)
- Parish Gathering Space as a hub for fellowship
Sacraments
Families wishing to baptize a child are asked to contact the parish office or email Deacon John Davis; preparation is provided. Religious Education for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through Cherylin Bennek. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the parish office to begin arrangements.
- Baptism — contact parish office or Deacon John Davis
- First Communion preparation via Religious Education
- Confirmation preparation via Religious Education
- Matrimony — contact parish office
Visiting & Contact
The parish office at 508 High Street, Chestertown, is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, and can be reached at (410) 778-3160. From U.S. Route 301, take MD-291 west into Chestertown; MD-213 also passes directly through town.
- Office Address: 508 High Street, Chestertown, MD 21620
- Phone: (410) 778-3160
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Directions: US-301 west to MD-291, or MD-213 through Chestertown
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Villiger, S.J.1851
Jesuit missionary assigned to Kent County, laying the groundwork for the permanent parish.
- Rev. Paul J. Campbell, O.S.F.S.served before 2015
Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; served as pastor of Sacred Heart, Chestertown, before being installed as pastor of St. Christopher, Chester in 2015. Died Feb. 3, 2019.