About St. Bernadette · Silver Spring, Maryland
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is a vibrant parish in the Four Corners neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland, canonically established in 1948 and part of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish offers a rich sacramental life with daily and Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration, supported by an active parish school (PreK–8) founded in 1947 and a robust Religious Education program. Saint Bernadette's close-knit community is marked by generations of families, lively parish groups, and extensive outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Bernadette Soubirous (of Lourdes)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. K. Bartholomew Smith
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a multigenerational parish where newcomers, life-long residents, young families, singles and founding members worship side by side. With three Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, Saturday confessions, weekly Friday Eucharistic Adoration, an award-winning parish school, religious education, and outreach ministries like Sandwich Sunday and the Social Concerns Committee, it offers a faithful Catholic home and many ways to get involved in the Four Corners community.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Last Sunday of the month 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Welcome to Saint Bernadette Catholic Church
Located in the heart of the Four Corners area of Silver Spring, Maryland, St. Bernadette strives on a daily basis to bring the presence of the Risen Lord Jesus and the richness and truths of the Catholic faith to all those it encounters. From the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist and the sacraments, to the parish school and Religious Education programs infused with the Gospel, to extensive outreach to those less fortunate, Saint Bernadette is a vibrant community marked by the generosity and joyous hearts of its parishioners.
Parish History
St. Bernadette was established as a Mission Church on June 14, 1944 — just days after D-Day — and the first Mass was celebrated by Father Kennedy on December 4, 1944 in a small white chapel moved over from the grounds of Saint John the Evangelist. By 1946, more than 250 families belonged to the young mission and construction began on a school, convent and living quarters. The parish was canonically established in 1948 with Father William Stricker as its first pastor.
The Church Building
Ground was broken for the present church in 1957, designed by parishioners Donald Johnson and Harold Bountin. Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle dedicated the cornerstone and Father Stricker celebrated the first high Mass on December 14, 1958 before a packed congregation of nearly 850 people. The building has served the growing parish ever since, with weekly Friday Adoration and regular devotional life centered in the sanctuary.
St. Bernadette School (PreK–8)
St. Bernadette Catholic School, founded in 1947, is a parish school committed to the formation of a mature Catholic faith and academic excellence for students in PreK through 8th grade. It opened its doors on September 8, 1947 to 238 pupils in K–3, taught by four sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis from Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania; the first principal was Sister Mary Emma. The school grew rapidly — reaching about 1,100 students with 14 nuns and 3 lay teachers by September 1960 — and graduated its first eighth-grade class of 47 in June 1959. In 2003 it was recognized as a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School, and in 2022 it marked its 75th anniversary.
- Grades served: PreK–8
- Founded 1947; Principal Ted Ewanciw
- School Office: (301) 593-5611
- Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis were the founding teaching order
Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program supports catechesis and sacramental preparation for children not enrolled in the parish school. It is led by the Director of Religious Education, Child Protection Coordinator and OCIA Coordinator, Jasmine Kuzner ([email protected]), and can be reached at 301-593-5611, x333.
RCIA / OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation sacraments are served through the parish's RCIA/OCIA program, supported by long-time parish volunteer Norma Thomas. Inquiries can be made through the rectory office.
Parish Groups & Ministries
St. Bernadette has a wide array of parish groups that foster fellowship, faith formation and service. The parish encourages newcomers to get involved and notes that for any group, the rectory office (301-593-0357) can connect you with leaders and contact information.
- Altar Servers
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Fall Festival
- Holy Name Society (men's chapter of the National Association of the Holy Name Society)
- Men's Book Club
- People in Prayer
- Sandwich Sunday
- Social Concerns Committee
- Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- That Man is You
- Tuesday Club
- Well Read Woman Book Club
- Women of Saint Bernadette
Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The St. Bernadette's Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary fosters devotion to Our Blessed Mother through personal holiness and faithful action. Members hold a fall bake sale and Thanksgiving Raffle to benefit the Pastor's Tuition Assistance Fund, provide a meal for students at the University of Maryland Catholic Student Center, and sponsor a Lenten Day of Recollection for the women of the parish. On the first Sunday of the month from September to May, the women attend the 9 AM Mass together, then gather in the Msgr. Stricker Room to pray the Rosary and hold a business meeting. Contact: Sharon A. O'Brien, Prefect, [email protected].
Sandwich Sunday
Sandwich Sunday supplies food for Shepherd's Table and Progress Place in Silver Spring. Parishioners meet monthly in the Msgr. Stricker Room at 10 AM to make sandwiches. The ministry also welcomes donations of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made at home (whole wheat bread, individual baggies labeled and dropped off in the bread bag) as well as fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, granola, canned meat, canned vegetables, pasta and spaghetti sauce. Contact: Karen Warnick, [email protected], or sign up via Flocknote.
Holy Name Society
The Holy Name Society consists of men who share a common commitment to the parish and school, conducting charitable works, sponsoring social events, and focusing on spirituality in recognizing God in their daily lives. Saint Bernadette's group is a participating chapter of the National Association of the Holy Name Society. Contact: Scott Kuzner through the rectory office, 301-593-0357.
Social Concerns Committee
The Social Concerns Committee helps others in need by organizing donation drives and other volunteer opportunities benefiting less-fortunate neighbors within and outside the parish. Contact: Alyssa Doherty, [email protected].
Parish Staff
Saint Bernadette is served by a pastor, parochial vicar and priest in residence, supported by a team of lay staff handling faith formation, music, finances, the rectory office, and the parish school.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. K. Bartholomew Smith
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Lawrence C. Swink
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Marcin S. Wiktor
- Business Manager: Theresa Deere
- Parish Bookkeeper & Tuition Specialist: Jennifer King
- Director of Religious Education, Child Protection Coordinator & OCIA Coordinator: Jasmine Kuzner
- Director of Music: John Henderson
- RCIA and Rectory Volunteer: Norma Thomas
- Receptionist: Carol Gangnath
- School Principal: Ted Ewanciw
Music & Liturgy
The parish maintains a dedicated commitment to liturgical music, directed by Music Director John Henderson ([email protected]). Music supports the regular Sunday schedule of three Masses and the Saturday Vigil, as well as holy days and special celebrations such as the annual Corpus Christi procession (12:15 PM, Sunday June 7 as posted).
Devotions
Beyond daily Mass and weekly Adoration, the parish nurtures Marian devotion through the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and offers communal Rosary prayer after the first-Sunday Sodality Mass in the Msgr. Stricker Room. The annual Corpus Christi procession is another highlight of the liturgical year.
Camp Soubirous
Camp Soubirous (registration open for 2026) is the parish's summer camp program, named in honor of St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes. Details and registration are posted on the parish homepage.
Giving
Parishioners and visitors can securely support Saint Bernadette by texting a dollar amount to (301) 433-7424 and completing a one-time registration page, or by contacting the parish office. Subscribing to Flocknote (saintbernadettechurchmd.flocknote.com) keeps supporters informed about schedule changes and parish events.
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (301) 593-0357 or by email at [email protected]. The office notes the parish is right off the Beltway (I-495), and the facility is wheelchair accessible. Mass and event updates are posted on the parish website and pushed out via Flocknote.
- Parish Office: (301) 593-0357 — Fax: (301) 593-3088
- Bulletin/Announcements: [email protected]
- School Office: (301) 593-5611
- Religious Education: 301-593-5611, x333
- Flocknote: saintbernadettechurchmd.flocknote.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. William Stricker1948–
First pastor of St. Bernadette; celebrated the first high Mass in the new church on December 14, 1958; the Msgr. Stricker Room on the parish campus is named in his honor.