About St. Francis Xavier · Leonardtown, Maryland
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church sits on a quiet neck of land between Breton Bay and St. Clement's Bay in St. Mary's County, Maryland, just outside the county seat of Leonardtown. Canonically established in 1640 by the Jesuits at Newtowne, it is the oldest Catholic church in continuous operation from the original thirteen English colonies and stands as a living link to the earliest days of Roman Catholicism in English-speaking America. The parish is today a small, close-knit community within the Archdiocese of Washington, served by Father Edward A. Hegnauer and Father Ryan Islo Pineda, who care for the historic 1731 church, the adjacent Newtown Manor House, and the parish cemetery. Visitors are warmly welcomed to come pray in the restored 18th-century church, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Established
- 1640
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Edward A. Hegnauer (Fr. Ted)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a small, historically rooted parish where the entire campus — 1731 chapel, 1789 manor house, and still-active colonial cemetery — is part of the prayer experience. Daily Mass is celebrated in English six days a week, with weekday Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration and a Rosary before Mass, plus a flourishing RCIA program led by Deacon Joel for those exploring the Catholic faith. The community gathers for Coffee and Donut Sundays, supports a Knights of Columbus Council 10957 that runs events like the annual Car Show, and actively stewards the Newtowne Manor House through a network of volunteer committees. For a Catholic seeking a quiet, devotional, history-rich parish in Southern Maryland — or a visitor passing through — it is a place to slow down, pray, and connect with the oldest continuous Catholic congregation in the original thirteen colonies.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
- By appointment — email Fr. Ryan at [email protected]
- Heard in the church confession room in the sacristy
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM (Holy Hour)
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM (Holy Hour)
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM (Holy Hour)
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM (Holy Hour)
- First Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Third Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
About St. Francis Xavier Parish
St. Francis Xavier Parish was founded in Newtowne after the 1634 landing of the Ark and the Dove on St. Clement's Island and exemplifies an open-hearted community. As the oldest Catholic Church in the original thirteen colonies, the parish continues to embrace its legacy in serving Christ and embodying His teachings. Today the parish community is a small, devout flock under the care of Father Edward A. Hegnauer, with daily Mass, weekday Holy Hours, a flourishing RCIA, and a long list of volunteer committees devoted to preserving the historic church and the Newtown Manor House. The parish is a parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, and visitors are warmly welcomed to pray, learn the history, and register as parishioners.
- Canonically established 1640; independent parish from 1661
- Parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington since 1967
- Church open daily 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for visitors
A 350-Year Story: Newtowne and the Jesuits
The Jesuits began missionary work at Newtowne Neck in 1640 at the invitation of William Bretton, who had received a 750-acre patent from Cecelius Calvert. For decades, anti-Catholic laws forced worship into private homes — Father Thomas Copley, S.J., gathered his flock in Luke Gardiner's house from 1639 to 1644. After the restoration of Charles II, the Brettons donated land in 1661, the first chapel was built in 1662, and the Jesuits purchased the surrounding Manor of Little Bretton in 1668 for 40,000 pounds of tobacco, turning it into a thriving self-supporting mission center. The Protestant Rebellion of 1689 and the Intolerant Act of 1704 again drove worship underground until the present chapel was raised in 1731, followed by a vestibule in 1767 and a sacristy in 1816.
- 1634 — English colonists land on St. Clement's Island
- 1640 — Jesuit mission established; William Bretton receives patent for 750 acres
- 1661 — Brettons donate land for chapel and cemetery
- 1662 — First St. Francis Xavier chapel built (site of present cemetery)
- 1668 — Jesuits purchase the Manor of Little Bretton
- 1677 — Jesuit school for humanities opened at Newtowne
- 1731 — Present chapel built, hidden from anti-Catholic authorities
- 1767 — Brick vestibule and choir loft added
- 1816 — Brick sacristy added; manor house raised to present height
- 1868 — Missionaries move headquarters to Leonardtown
- 1967 — Jesuits withdraw; property conveyed to the Archdiocese of Washington
The 1731 Church: Architecture and Furnishings
Saint Francis Xavier's is a frame, rectangular building with two semi-octagonal brick additions, located on a neck of land for accessibility to early worshippers arriving by boat. Dendrochronology has dated the central wooden nave and sanctuary to circa 1731; the semi-octagonal brick vestibule dates to 1766/1767 and the semi-octagonal sacristy with quarters for visiting priests to 1816. Inside, the church features simple Federal woodwork, a mid-18th-century reredos, an elegant triple-vaulted ceiling, and a small dome crowning the altar and reredos. The reredos contains a large painting of the church's patron, St. Francis Xavier, executed by Brother Francis Schroen, S.J., circa 1910. The Archdiocese of Washington and the parish have restored the church to its 18th-century appearance using archaeological, paint-analysis, and dendrochronological studies.
- Oldest wooden section: 1731 (dendrochronology)
- Semi-octagonal brick vestibule and choir loft: 1766/1767
- Semi-octagonal brick sacristy: 1816
- Federal woodwork and triple-vaulted ceiling
- Mid-18th-century reredos; altar painting by Fr. Francis Schroen, S.J., c. 1910
Newtown Manor House
Immediately adjacent to the church stands the Newtown Manor House, a 2½-story, five-bay brick house with a pair of interior chimneys at each gable end, first built in 1789 to replace a possibly Revolutionary-War-era structure and raised to its present height in 1816. After the missionaries moved their headquarters to Leonardtown in 1868, the manor continued as a working farm. The Friends of Newtowne Manor House are now fundraising and planning its next phase of preservation, with committees working on research, artifacts, oral histories, fundraising, hospitality, community outreach, financial management, technical preservation, cleanup, and administration.
- Original construction 1789; raised 1816
- Belongs to the parish; currently unoccupied
- On the National Register of Historic Places (added 1972)
- Funded in part by sales of the 300+ page 'Newtown's Collection of Oral Histories'
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Father Edward A. Hegnauer (often called 'Fr. Ted'), with Administrator Rev. Ryan Islo Pineda assisting in the day-to-day life of the parish. Deacon Joel Carpenter coordinates the RCIA program, while Michelle Leitch serves as secretary and Denise Becher as bookkeeper. Fr. Ted invites those interested in any sacrament, becoming Catholic, or simply learning more about the Catholic faith to email him directly.
- Pastor: Rev. Edward A. Hegnauer — [email protected]
- Administrator: Rev. Ryan Islo Pineda
- Deacon: Joel Carpenter (RCIA) — [email protected]
- Secretary: Michelle Leitch
- Bookkeeper: Denise Becher
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is the parish's formal pathway into the Catholic Church for adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic but seeking Confirmation. Those who are simply curious about the Catholic faith are also warmly welcomed. The program is coordinated by Deacon Joel Carpenter, who can be reached at [email protected]. Inquiries about any sacrament, including baptism and marriage, can also be directed to Fr. Ted at the parish email.
- For adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church
- For adult Catholics who have not yet been Confirmed
- Open to anyone wanting to learn more about the Catholic faith
- Contact: Deacon Joel Carpenter, [email protected]
Parish Ministries, Groups, and Events
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish runs a busy volunteer life. The Knights of Columbus Council 10957 hosts community events such as the First Annual Car Show on the church grounds and supports the parish's mission. The Friends of Newtowne Manor House coordinate the preservation effort, supported by a network of committees. Liturgical and practical schedules — Lectors, Grounds Maintenance, Altar Society, and ADW Second Collections — are posted online, and Coffee and Donut Sundays are a regular fellowship opportunity after Mass. The parish uses Flocknote to send text and email updates to members who sign up.
- Knights of Columbus Council 10957
- Friends of Newtowne Manor House (and its ten volunteer committees)
- Lector Ministry, Altar Society, Grounds Maintenance teams
- Coffee and Donut Sundays
- Annual Car Show (organized by the Knights of Columbus)
- Flocknote text/email communication
Manor House Preservation Committees
The parish invites all parishioners and community members to join one or more of the committees working on the preservation and restoration of the Newtown Manor House. Each committee has a clearly defined role — from tracking artifacts to writing grants, interviewing longtime residents, planning events, and keeping the grounds clean — and the work is supported by an extensive 'Newtown's Collection of Oral Histories' project. Contacts for the effort include Lynn Delahay (240-925-6485) and George Matisick (301-475-9698), with technical questions directed to Drew Dowdell.
- Research/History
- Artifacts Database
- Oral History
- Fundraising/Publicity
- Hospitality
- Community Outreach
- Financial Management
- Technical Committee
- Cleanup and Maintenance
- Administrative/Clerical Committee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Copley, S.J.1639-1644
Served the Newtown mission, gathering his flock in the home of Luke Gardiner.
- Father Henry Warren, S.J.c. 1668
Negotiated the Jesuits' purchase of the 850-acre Manor of Little Bretton for 40,000 pounds of tobacco.
- Father John Pennington, S.J.1684-1685
First resident priest at St. Francis Xavier; his name is the first inscribed on the Priest Monument outside the church.
- Father Haddock, S.J.late 17th century
Succeeded Father Pennington; a former student at the Newtown school who was forced out by the Intolerant Act.
- Father William Hunter, S.J.late 17th-early 18th century
Superior of the Jesuit Mission and bold missionary; saved Church properties from confiscation during the Protestant Rebellion era.
- Society of Jesus (Jesuits)1640-1967
Continuous Jesuit pastoral care for 327 years, from mission founding to the transfer of the property to the Archdiocese of Washington.
- Rev. Edward A. Hegnauerpresent
Current pastor under the Archdiocese of Washington, often addressed as 'Fr. Ted'.