St. Bartholomew

About St. Bartholomew Catholic Church

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church is a warm, active Roman Catholic parish in Bethesda, Maryland, canonically established in 1960 within the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish describes itself with the mission: 'Worshipping Jesus Christ, growing in faith, serving others.' The church is located at 6902 River Road, just inside the Capital Beltway, and serves a diverse congregation that includes a vibrant English-speaking community and a growing Hispanic community. The parish emphasizes that 'the Church is not an institution, but a Body, a communion of persons,' and seeks to live this out through its worship, formation programs, school, and outreach.

History

Established in 1960, St. Bartholomew grew alongside the post-war Catholic expansion of suburban Bethesda along the River Road corridor. Over six decades it has become one of the most recognized Catholic parishes in Montgomery County, distinguished by a wide liturgical schedule and a parish school that has earned National Blue Ribbon School recognition. The parish has been home to a Stephen Ministry program that drew interdenominational attention, and in 2015 hosted a regional Stephen Ministry workshop that brought 160 Christians from 28 congregations to its parish hall.

Parish Clergy and Staff

The parish is led by Very Rev. Mark L. Smith, V.F., who came to St. Bartholomew from Holy Redeemer Parish in College Park. He is a native of Montgomery County. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Mattia Cortigiani, originally from Empoli, Italy, who joined the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of the Archdiocese of Washington in 2012, was ordained in 2022, and previously served at St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel ministering especially to the Hispanic community. Rev. Msgr. John Enzler is in residence at the parish; he is the well-known former President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and contributes to the parish through his writing and ministry.

• Pastor: Very Rev. Mark L. Smith, V.F.
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Mattia Cortigiani
• In Residence: Rev. Msgr. John Enzler
• Parish Secretary: Dawn Russell
• Sacramental Records: Lucy Gies
• Director of Facilities: Hootan Kobali
• Activities & Communication Coordinator: Deb Hill
• Pastoral Associate: Marianne Panke
• Director of Religious Education: Catherine Mills
• Director of Family Ministry: Maria Archer
• Director of Music: Carole Wysocki
• Director of Music-Hispanic Liturgy: Carola Sarmiento

Sacraments

St. Bartholomew celebrates all seven sacraments. The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred on 8th-grade candidates by a Bishop of the Archdiocese in the spring, with parent meetings and a candidate retreat. Adults seeking Confirmation may do so through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), which welcomes those who were raised in another faith tradition, in no faith tradition, or who were baptized Catholic but have not yet received Confirmation and/or First Communion.

• Baptism
• First Communion / First Reconciliation (through CCD)
• Confirmation (8th grade; adults via OCIA)
• Marriage — contact the parish
• Anointing of the Sick
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)

Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)

The parish CCD program, directed by Catherine Mills, prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. In addition to classroom religious education, the parish offers Family Ministry under Maria Archer, small groups for men, women, and middle- and high-school youth, and a youth group (grades 6–8). Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited to enroll in OCIA.

• Religious Education / CCD
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
• Family Ministry
• Small Groups for men, women, and youth
• Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8)

St. Bartholomew Catholic School

St. Bartholomew School is a Catholic, co-educational Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade school located just inside the Capital Beltway in Bethesda, Maryland. The school has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and prepares students to be active global citizens who live by the Word of God and are equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. It features small class sizes, inclusive values, and innovative teaching, along with a summer ActivePlay Camp and 'Summer Learning Hub' offerings. Admissions tours for the 2026–27 school year are available by appointment.

• Pre-K through 8th Grade
• National Blue Ribbon School
• Small class sizes and inclusive community
• Summer ActivePlay Camp and Summer Learning Hub
• Principal: Kevin Giblin

Hispanic Ministry

The parish maintains an active Hispanic Ministry with a dedicated 6:00 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish, Spanish-language confession on Sunday evenings, a Director of Music-Hispanic Liturgy (Carola Sarmiento), and a bilingual Mass aid for use during worship. Rev. Mattia Cortigiani, the parochial vicar, particularly serves the Hispanic community, having previously ministered at St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel.

• Sunday 6:00 PM Spanish Mass
• Sunday 5:15–5:45 PM Spanish confession
• Director of Music-Hispanic Liturgy: Carola Sarmiento
• Bilingual Mass aid (downloadable)

Stephen Ministry & Pastoral Care

St. Bartholomew's Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one, lay caring ministry that provides confidential support to people experiencing isolation, grief, stress, financial strain, and other life challenges. The parish's Stephen Ministry program has been active for many years and in 2015 was showcased when the parish hosted a regional introductory workshop that drew 160 Christians from 28 different congregations. Marianne Panke serves as Pastoral Associate and oversees pastoral care outreach.

• One-to-one lay caring ministry
• Support for grief, isolation, stress, financial strain
• Regional Stephen Ministry workshop hosted by the parish (2015)

Outreach and Service

Service to others is central to the parish's mission. The parish runs a 'Serve Before Service' program on Sunday evenings at 6:45 PM — a monthly service project in the parish hall that finishes in time for parishioners to attend the 8:00 PM Mass. Service activities have included making fleece scarves for local homeless men and women (234 scarves delivered to shelters in a single evening), supporting food drives, gathering food for the local pantry and the 'So Others May Eat' program, and partnering with Catholic Charities programs such as Sanctuaries for Life in Silver Spring.

• Serve Before Service (monthly, 6:45 PM Sundays)
• Food drives and local pantry support
• "So Others May Eat" program
• Shelter dinner service
• Partnership with Catholic Charities (e.g., Sanctuaries for Life)

Music & Liturgy

Music at St. Bartholomew is led by Director of Music Carole Wysocki for the English-speaking liturgy, and by Director of Music-Hispanic Liturgy Carola Sarmiento for the Spanish liturgy. The parish is especially known for the contemporary Christian rock band that leads music at the 8:00 PM Sunday Mass, drawing a younger crowd and complementing the parish's traditional liturgical offerings.

• Director of Music: Carole Wysocki
• Director of Music-Hispanic Liturgy: Carola Sarmiento
• Contemporary Christian rock band at the 8:00 PM Sunday Mass
• Junior Rock Band (younger performers)

Getting Involved

Newcomers are welcomed with a clear three-step path: sign up for the weekly 'Bartholomew Buzz' newsletter, set up online giving, and grow in faith through a small group. The parish also offers Stephen Ministry for those in need of support, Family Ministry for parents, a youth group for middle-schoolers, and a wide variety of volunteer service opportunities through the parish's outreach programs.

• Sign up for the Bartholomew Buzz (weekly newsletter)
• Set up online giving
• Join a small group (men, women, youth)
• Volunteer with Stephen Ministry or outreach programs

Visit & Contact

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church is located at 6902 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, just inside the Capital Beltway. The church is wheelchair accessible. The parish rectory can be reached at (301) 229-7933, and the parish secretary can be emailed at [email protected]. Fax: (301) 229-7998.

• Address: 6902 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
• Phone: (301) 229-7933
• Fax: (301) 229-7998
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.stbartholomew.org/
• Wheelchair accessible