About Saint Jane Frances de Chantal · Bethesda, Maryland
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish is a Catholic community of nearly 2,000 families located at 9701 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, Maryland, within the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1950 by Monsignor James A. Caulfield, the parish grew from the first few families who worshipped in the chapel of the Visitation convent (now part of the NIH campus) into a thriving parish anchored by its church, its twice-recognized National Blue Ribbon School, and many ministries of liturgy, formation, and outreach. It is notable for celebrating one of the few regular French-language Masses in the Washington area, reflecting the international character of its Bethesda congregation.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal
- Rector
- Rev. Samuel C. Giese
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Jane Frances de Chantal offers the rare combination of a large, established parish family (about 2,000 households) and a deep bench of spiritual and human programs — multiple Sunday Masses including a livestreamed 10:00 AM liturgy, a 6:30 PM Saturday French Mass, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and a full schedule of devotions. Families benefit from an attached Catholic elementary school twice named a National Blue Ribbon School and a Seton Center for Religious Education that runs sacramental preparation, the long-running SPRED program for people with intellectual differences, and Children's Liturgy of the Word at the Saturday 5 PM Mass. A wide range of liturgical ministries — lectors, cantors, ushers, extraordinary ministers, choir, sacristans, altar servers — along with civic and outreach ministries give every parishioner a concrete way to serve.
Mass times at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (call ahead to confirm)
About St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish
St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish is a Catholic community of nearly 2,000 families on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, Maryland, within the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1950 by Monsignor James A. Caulfield, the parish's stated purpose is to enable parishioners 'to live the life of Jesus Christ, to share their God-given talents for the benefit of each other and of society, and to pass on to their children the rich gift of their Catholic Faith.' The parish campus includes the church, the Seton Center for Religious Education, Caulfield Hall, the school, and a number of meeting rooms and gathering spaces.
- Founded 1950 by Monsignor James A. Caulfield
- Nearly 2,000 parish families
- Part of the Archdiocese of Washington
- 9701 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
Parish History
The parish was canonically established in 1950. In its earliest days the first families worshipped in the chapel of the Visitation convent — a site that is now part of the NIH campus — and an old farmhouse served as the original school. Over more than seven decades the community grew into the present campus on Old Georgetown Road. In 2021 Father Samuel Giese and parish leadership launched the 'Forever de Chantal' capital campaign, a $3.5 million effort centered on three pillars — worship, community, and children — funding stained-glass windows, the renovation of Caulfield Hall, a new music/choir room, parking lot repaving, and a durable turf athletic field.
- 1950 — Parish canonically established; first Masses in Visitation convent chapel (now NIH campus)
- Original school housed in an old farm house
- Caulfield Hall named for founding pastor Monsignor James A. Caulfield
- 2021 — 'Forever de Chantal' $3.5 million capital campaign launched
Pastor, Priests & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Samuel C. Giese, who joined St. Jane de Chantal in July 2012 after serving as pastor of St. Mary's in Landover Hills, MD. A priest ordained in 1985, Father Giese served earlier as a parochial vicar at Ascension (Bowie), St. Catherine Laboure (Wheaton), Holy Cross (Garrett Park), and St. Bernadette's (Silver Spring), and was deployed to Iraq as a combat-area chaplain with the Army National Guard from 2005–2006. Rev. James M. Morgan serves as Parochial Vicar; the parish announced that Father Morgan will begin a new assignment as Pastor of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish in DC and part-time Chaplain to Archbishop Carroll High School effective July 8, 2026, and that Fr. Ryan Braam will begin as Parochial Vicar of St. Jane de Chantal the same day.
- Rev. Samuel C. Giese — Pastor (since July 2012)
- Rev. James M. Morgan — Parochial Vicar (departing July 8, 2026)
- Rev. Ryan Braam — Incoming Parochial Vicar (effective July 8, 2026)
- James Caulfield — Director of Religious Education
- Dr. Giuliano Grisi — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Mae Villa-Agustin — Secretary
- Jeofrey Belen — Accountant
- Elmer Menjivar — Plant Manager
- Ana Hernandez — Receptionist & Child Protection Policy Coordinator
Mass & Devotions Schedule
The parish offers a generous schedule of Masses in English and French, with the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM and on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM. The Saturday evening Vigil includes an English Mass at 5:00 PM and a French Mass at 6:30 PM. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons from 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM. Eucharistic Adoration is offered on First Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (call ahead to confirm).
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English) and 6:30 PM (French)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (livestreamed), 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM (English)
- Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM
- Saturday morning: 8:30 AM
- Holy Days: as announced
Devotions
A traditional set of devotional prayers accompanies the Mass schedule: the Rosary is prayed every Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM, First Friday brings Benediction after the 8:30 AM Mass at 10:00 AM, and the First Saturday Fatima devotion follows the 8:30 AM Mass.
- Rosary — Monday–Saturday at 8:00 AM
- First Friday Benediction — 10:00 AM (after 8:30 AM Mass)
- First Saturday Fatima devotion — after the 8:30 AM Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated through the Seton Center for Religious Education under the direction of James Caulfield. In addition to standard religious education and sacramental preparation, the parish runs the SPRED program — in operation for over 40 years — which welcomes people with intellectual differences and their families for monthly Saturday-morning fellowship, prayer, and fun. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 5:00 PM Saturday Mass for children ages 4 through 8, who are escorted from church to the Scanlon Meeting Room by adult and teen volunteers.
- Seton Center for Religious Education (301-530-9100)
- James Caulfield, Director of Religious Education
- SPRED Program for persons with intellectual differences (monthly Saturdays, 40+ years)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 5 PM Saturday Mass (ages 4–8)
Liturgical Ministries
The parish depends on a large corps of lay liturgical ministers. Roles include Lectors who proclaim the Word of God, Cantors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (renewable three-year terms), Choir members, Sacristans, and Altar Servers (boys and girls age 10 and older; new-server training takes place in November). The Altar Guild works behind the scenes in teams handling laundering of linens, replacing candles and vessels, and the Art & Environment care of plants and flowers. Children's Liturgy of the Word and other liturgical roles require an archdiocesan Protecting God's Children background check and seminar.
- Lectors, Cantors, Ushers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Choir
- Sacristans and Altar Servers
- Altar Guild — linens, vessels, Art & Environment
- Scheduling via Ministry Scheduler Pro
Civic & Outreach Ministries
Beyond the altar, the parish maintains civic ministries that reach out to those in need in the wider Bethesda and Washington community, including opportunities to help the homeless, provide meals, and deliver assistance to the needy. The parish advertises volunteer opportunities through the parish office.
- Help for the homeless
- Meal provision
- Delivery / assistance for the needy
- Contact: parish office 301-530-1550
St. Jane de Chantal School
St. Jane de Chantal School is the parish's coeducational Catholic elementary school, located at 9525 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda and educating children in suburban Maryland for over 70 years. The school maintains two classrooms per grade with an average class size of 20 students and serves PreK through Grade 8. The U.S. Department of Education has twice named St. Jane de Chantal a National Blue Ribbon School — in 1987 and again in 2011 — a distinction shared by only a handful of schools in the Archdiocese of Washington.
- Coeducational Catholic elementary school, PreK–8
- Two classrooms per grade, average class size 20
- National Blue Ribbon School — 1987 and 2011
- Website: dechantal.org
Facilities & Campus
The parish campus includes the church, an Outdoor Chapel, Caulfield Hall (the main social space), the Seton Center for Religious Education, the Scanlan Meeting Room, the Music Room, Christopher Hall with gymnasium, the De Chantal Room, the Nalls Meeting Room, Reyes Field, the Rectory Board Room, and the parish school. The 'Forever de Chantal' capital campaign is funding upgrades to many of these spaces, including a new turf field, renovated Caulfield Hall with an enhanced stage and renovated kitchen, a properly enclosed and equipped Choir/Music Room, and a facelift for the Scanlon Room.
- Caulfield Hall
- Seton Center for Religious Education
- Christopher Hall & Gymnasium
- Scanlan Meeting Room, Music Room, De Chantal Room, Nalls Meeting Room
- Reyes Field, Rectory Board Room, Outdoor Chapel
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (301) 530-1550 or [email protected]. The mailing address is 9701 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-1795. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Saturdays, Sundays, and most federal holidays). The Sunday 10:00 AM Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 9701 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-1795
- Phone: (301) 530-1550
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stjanedechantal.org
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Sunday 10 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor James A. Caulfield1950 (founding pastor)
Founded the parish in 1950 and led its earliest growth; honored today by the naming of Caulfield Hall.
- Rev. Samuel C. Giese2012–present
Arrived July 2012 from St. Mary's in Landover Hills, MD. Ordained in 1985; earlier assignments include Ascension (Bowie), St. Catherine Laboure (Wheaton), Holy Cross (Garrett Park), and St. Bernadette's (Silver Spring). Served as a prison chaplain and as a combat-area chaplain with the Army National Guard in Iraq (2005–2006), writing a series of columns from the war zone for the Catholic Standard. Launched the 'Forever de Chantal' capital campaign in 2021.