About Sacred Heart Church · Bushwood, Maryland
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic parish in the small rural community of Bushwood, in St. Mary's County, Maryland, canonically established in 1755 — making it the first parish in the United States dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The parish sits in the Archdiocese of Washington and shares a priestly ministry with nearby Holy Angels Parish in Avenue, where weekday and some weekend Masses are also celebrated. Today it is led by pastor Rev. Timothy Baer with Deacon Joseph W. Lloyd, Jr., and offers weekend Mass at Sacred Heart itself on Sunday mornings and weekday Masses on a Monday/Thursday/Friday rotation.
- Established
- 1755
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Baer
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Bushwood is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the country and the very first in the United States dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded in 1755 on land bequeathed by the Catholic Slye family. For newcomers, the parish community extends a warm personal welcome — visitors are invited to introduce themselves to the pastor or deacon after Sunday Mass. With a small-town rural feel, a parish cemetery, shared faith formation with neighboring Holy Angels, and Eucharistic Adoration several times a week, it offers a traditional, devotional Catholic life rooted in nearly three centuries of continuous worship in southern Maryland.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM (at Sacred Heart)
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was canonically established in 1755 and is the first church in the United States dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It sits on land that was part of St. Clement's Manor, deeded in 1636 by Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, to Sir Thomas Gerard, and on the two acres bequeathed by George Slye's will (probated 1773) on which a small Catholic chapel already stood. The first Sacred Heart Church was a modest wooden structure on Bushwood Manor; a second church (40 x 75 feet) was dedicated on July 24, 1892 during Fr. Clement Lancaster's pastorate. Jesuits staffed the parish continuously from 1755 until 1964; diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Washington have served since 1965. The parish's 250th anniversary in 2005 was marked by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's consecration of a new Italian-marble main altar containing relics of St. George, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and St. Francis Xavier.
- First Sacred Heart parish in the United States (1755)
- Site originally part of St. Clement's Manor (deeded 1636)
- Two-acre chapel tract bequeathed by George Slye (will probated 1773)
- Second church dedicated July 24, 1892
- Jesuit pastorate 1755–1964; Archdiocese of Washington pastors from 1965
- 250th anniversary celebrated 2005 with altar consecration by Cardinal McCarrick
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs its Faith Formation program as a joint venture with neighboring Holy Angels Parish. In-class instruction takes place on designated Sundays at 9:10 AM at the Holy Angels–Sacred Heart School site in Avenue, MD. The 2025–2026 program year begins Sunday, September 7, 2025; registration forms and payment are due by September 1. The program follows the Archdiocese of Washington's Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization curriculum, organized around six standards: knowledge of the faith (creed and scripture), liturgy and sacraments, morality, prayer, life in the Christian community, and evangelization/apostolic life. Parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children, with parish catechesis supporting and building on the faith life of the home.
- Joint program with Holy Angels Parish
- Classes on designated Sundays at 9:10 AM in Avenue, MD
- 2025–2026 program begins September 7, 2025
- Coordinator: Kimmie Gibson
- Uses the ADW Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization curriculum
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by pastor Rev. Timothy Baer and Deacon Joseph W. Lloyd, Jr. (serving since 2017). The Parish Office is staffed by Charlotte Morgan, who serves as both Parish Secretary and Bookkeeper. Faith Formation is coordinated by Kimmie Gibson. The parish shares priestly ministry with Holy Angels Parish in Avenue, which explains why some Masses are celebrated there.
- Pastor: Rev. Timothy Baer
- Deacon: Joseph W. Lloyd, Jr. (2017–Present)
- Parish Secretary & Bookkeeper: Charlotte Morgan
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Kimmie Gibson
Visiting, Joining & Parish Life
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish encourages newcomers to introduce themselves to the priest or deacon after Sunday Mass so the welcome can be made more personal. A Parishioner Registration link on the parish website allows new families to formally join the parish. The community supports the parish through Online Giving, and the parish bulletin is available to read online or download.
- Sunday Masses at 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM
- Parishioner Registration available on the website
- Online Giving / Stewardship support
- Online and downloadable parish bulletin
Sacred Heart School & Catholic Education
Sacred Heart once operated its own parish school. In 1958 the parish combined its school with Holy Angels', enlarging the Holy Angels school in Avenue and tearing down the smaller Sacred Heart School building. The Sisters of Charity directed the education of children of both parishes until June 1973. The combined Holy Angels–Sacred Heart School continued for another 35 years but closed in June 2008 due to increasing costs and low enrollment, ending 82 years of parish Catholic education. Most children from the area now attend Mother Catherine Academy in Mechanicsville.
- Parish schools combined in 1958 at Holy Angels site in Avenue
- Sisters of Charity served until 1973
- Holy Angels–Sacred Heart School closed June 2008 after 82 years
- Most students now attend Mother Catherine Academy in Mechanicsville
Parish Buildings, Cemetery & Facilities
The current church sits on the original two-acre Slye bequest, about 50 yards from the site of the first wooden church. The Sacred Heart Rectory was built in 1974 to provide a resident pastor. Under Fr. William F. Goode (1976–1994) the church and hall were air-conditioned, two additions were made to the hall, and the roads through the cemetery and parking lots were paved. Fr. Francis J. Early (1994–2013) later acquired a new Allen digital organ, refinished the pews and kneelers, re-carpeted the church, and installed Italian-marble altars, a lectern, and a baptismal font for the 250th anniversary.
- Rectory built in 1974
- Church and hall air-conditioned and re-carpeted
- Two additions to parish hall
- Cemetery and parking lots paved
- Allen digital organ installed
Longtime Parishioners & Sextons
The parish history pays tribute to several families who quietly sustained Sacred Heart across generations. Mr. Harry 'Uncle Harry' Greene and his wife 'Aunt Ada' served as sexton and sacristan from 1903; after their deaths, three of their four daughters — Florence, Eva, and Loretta — continued serving until the sexton house was demolished in June 1991, ending nearly 88 years of continuous Greene-family service. Jim and Sue Gibson have likewise given many years to maintaining the church and hall. Centenarian parishioner Harold Redmond, who turned 100 in October 2010, was still attending daily Mass and opening the church each morning.
- Greene family — sextons 1903 to 1991
- Jim and Sue Gibson — long-term facilities caretakers
- Harold Redmond — daily-Mass attendee who opened the church every morning past age 100
Pastor Succession
Sacred Heart's published pastorate list begins with unnamed Jesuits in 1755 and runs through a continuous succession of Jesuit pastors ending with Fr. Joseph Kerr, S.J. (1963). Since 1965 the parish has been served by diocesan pastors of the Archdiocese of Washington, beginning with Fr. Casimir J. Salkavich (1965) and including notable long-tenured pastors Fr. William F. Goode (1976, 18 years) and Fr. Francis J. Early (1994). The list extends through Fr. Robert W. Golas in 2025, while the parish's current official website and Archdiocese of Washington listing identify Rev. Timothy Baer as the present pastor.
- Jesuit era: 1755–1964
- Diocesan era: 1965–present (first diocesan pastor: Fr. Casimir J. Salkavich)
- Longest tenures: Fr. William F. Goode (18 years), Fr. Francis J. Early (~19 years)
- Current pastor: Rev. Timothy Baer
Contact & Visit
Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The mailing address is P.O. Box 37, Bushwood, MD 20618, and the physical address (and location of the church) is 23080 Maddox Road, Bushwood, MD 20618. The parish is wheelchair accessible.
- Phone: (301) 769-3100
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Mailing: P.O. Box 37, Bushwood, MD 20618
- Physical: 23080 Maddox Road, Bushwood, MD 20618
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Names Unknown, S.J.1755
First pastor(s) at the founding of the parish
- Rev. John Souge, S.J.1800
- Rev. Maximilian Rantzau, S.J.1817
- Rev. Aloysius Young, S.J.1818
Hosted Archbishop Marchal's 1818 visitation when 70 parishioners were confirmed
- Rev. Peter J. DeVos, S.J.1819
- Rev. Peter Walsh, S.J.1829
- Rev. Stephen Dubuisson, S.J.1830
- Rev. John B. Cary, S.J.1831
- Rev. Peter Havermans, S.J.1833
- Rev. Robert Woodley, S.J.1840
- Rev. Michael Dougherty, S.J.1851
- Rev. Leonard Nota, S.J.1854
- Rev. Peter Miller, S.J.1856
- Rev. Charles Bague, S.J.1858
- Rev. Roger Dietz, S.J.1859
- Rev. Francis DeNeckere, S.J.1860
- Rev. Thomas Sheerin, S.J.1862
- Rev. John B. DeWolf, S.J.1863
- Rev. Basil Pacciarini, S.J.1871
Served twice; returned 1878
- Rev. Edward Boone, S.J.1875
- Rev. Clement Lancaster, S.J.1882
During his pastorate, fundraising began for a new church; served twice (1882 and 1884)
- Rev. John Finnegan, S.J.1883
- Rev. Francis Lenahan, S.J.1902
- Rev. Lawrence J. Kelly, S.J.1908
- Rev. Michael Hogan, S.J.1912
- Rev. William Cunningham, S.J.1913
- Rev. James Mulvaney, S.J.1916
- Rev. John Butler, S.J.1917
- Rev. John J. Bolster, S.J.1922
- Rev. Thomas I. Cryan, S.J.1923
- Rev. Bernard H. Pohlman, S.J.1925
- Rev. John H. McClosky, S.J.1932
- Rev. Samuel J. Robb, S.J.1933
Returned 1948
- Rev. Stephen Rudtke, S.J.1934
Returned 1944
- Rev. Joseph F. McAree, S.J.1938
- Rev. Francis McGuire, S.J.1939
- Rev. Louis DeVaney, S.J.1943
- Rev. Merle Baldwin, S.J.1953
- Rev. Andrew Hoffman, S.J.1954
- Rev. John Burton, S.J.1958
- Rev. Edward Kerr, S.J.1962
- Rev. Joseph Kerr, S.J.1963
Last Jesuit pastor of Sacred Heart before the parish was staffed by Archdiocese of Washington priests
- Rev. Casimir J. Salkavich1965
First diocesan (Archdiocese of Washington) pastor
- Rev. Thomas S. Schaefer1966
- Rev. Desmond P. Murphy1971
- Rev. Paul J. Lauzon1971
- Rev. William F. Goode1976
Served 18 years; air-conditioned the church and hall, added two hall additions, paved cemetery and parking lots; also served as administrator/principal of Holy Angels–Sacred Heart School
- Rev. Francis J. Early1994
Acquired new Allen digital organ, refinished pews, re-carpeted church, installed angel and St. Thérèse statues, led 250th anniversary (2005) and consecration of new main altar by Cardinal McCarrick; observed 25th anniversary of ordination in 2010
- Rev. Charles A. Cortinovis2013
- Rev. Anthony E. Lickteig2015
- Rev. Samuel I. Plummer2018
- Rev. Stephen P. Wyble2020
- Rev. Kevin A. Fields2023
- Rev. Robert W. Golas2025
Listed on the parish history roster of Archdiocese-of-Washington pastors