About St. Francis de Sales · Benedict, Maryland
Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church is a small Traditional Latin Rite parish of the Archdiocese of Washington, located in the historic unincorporated fishing village of Benedict, Maryland, on the west bank of the Patuxent River. The parish was canonically established in 1903 (after serving as a mission since 1896) and worships in a stucco church building completed in 1924 after the original wooden mission structure burned. Under the pastoral leadership of Father Kevin M. Cusick, a Navy chaplain, the parish has become one of only two in the Archdiocese of Washington that offer the Traditional Latin Mass daily, and it welcomes visitors and newcomers to its quiet, country setting just off Route 231 in Charles County.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin M. Cusick
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is a small, family-friendly country parish that offers the Traditional Latin Mass every day of the week — one of only two parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington to do so. Worshippers here find traditional hymnody, sanctuary service by boys and men, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday evenings, and a warm welcome at the coffee hour in the nearby parish hall, drawing families and young adults from across Charles County and beyond who want to worship in the older form of the Roman rite.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Prior to all Masses
- Sunday 10:30 am – 10:55 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
About St. Francis de Sales
Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church is a small Traditional Latin Rite parish in the Archdiocese of Washington, serving the historic unincorporated town of Benedict, Maryland. The parish was canonically established in 1903, after serving as a mission since 1896, and has worshipped in its current stucco church since 1924. Under Father Kevin M. Cusick, the parish is one of only two in the archdiocese offering daily Traditional Latin Mass and has become a de facto personal parish for faithful attached to the older form of the Roman rite.
History of the Parish
The parish traces its roots to 1896, when Catholic mission ministry was established in the fishing village of Benedict on the Patuxent River. It was canonically erected as a parish in 1903. The original wooden mission structure burned, and the present stucco church was completed in 1924 and continues in use today. In 1989, under the provisions of Ecclesia Dei, the parish began offering the Traditional Latin Mass, and after Summorum Pontificum in 2007 it began offering the traditional Latin Mass every day. Father Cusick's arrival brought a "reform of the reform" — restoring traditional hymnody, sanctuary service by boys and men, and the orientation of the altar for worship.
- 1896 — Mission established in Benedict
- 1903 — Parish canonically established
- Original wooden mission church destroyed by fire
- 1924 — Present stucco church completed
- 1989 — Traditional Latin Mass begun under Ecclesia Dei
- 2007 — Daily Traditional Latin Mass begun under Summorum Pontificum
- 2021 — Major interior restoration completed; parish returned to church on October 13 (Our Lady of Fatima)
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a small staff under pastor Father Kevin M. Cusick, supported by lay staff who handle liturgy, secretarial work, the parish bulletin, maintenance, finances, the parish hall and grounds, and parish council leadership.
- Pastor — Rev. Kevin M. Cusick ([email protected])
- Director of Liturgy / Secretary / Bulletin — Stephen Krautle
- Secretary / Physical Plant and Maintenance — Jamie Scarlata
- Bookkeeper — Dennis Haspert
- Parish Council President — Sid Marcus
- Hall and Grounds — Donna and Mark Long
Sacraments
The parish celebrates Baptisms and Marriages by appointment; couples are asked to contact the rectory well in advance. New parishioner registration forms are available in the church or rectory and may be returned in the collection basket.
- Baptisms — by appointment
- Marriages — by appointment (advance notice requested)
Contact & Location
The church is at 7185 Benedict Avenue, Benedict, MD 20612, and the parish hall is a short distance away at 7209 Benedict Avenue. The parish mailing address is PO Box 306, Benedict, MD 20612. Phone (office) is (301) 274-3416 and Fax is (301) 274-0689.
- Church — 7185 Benedict Avenue, Benedict, MD 20612
- Parish Hall — 7209 Benedict Avenue
- Mailing — PO Box 306, Benedict, MD 20612
- Office phone — (301) 274-3416
- Fax — (301) 274-0689
Church Restoration (2021)
In 2021 the parish undertook a major restoration of the 1924 stucco church, addressing a century-old plaster-and-lathe ceiling whose keys and lugs had broken over time, leaving the ceiling in danger of falling. Repairs followed damage from an earthquake and a hurricane-nor'easter. The completed interior features a very light shade of blue ceiling, beige walls, brick wainscoting, gray trim, and new chandeliers; the parish returned to the restored church on October 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
- Project cost — approximately $243,000
- Scope — ceiling, plaster, paint, and new chandeliers
- Completion — October 13, 2021 (Our Lady of Fatima)