About St. Isaac Jogues · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the Parkville-Carney area of northeastern Baltimore County, Maryland, belonging to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Founded in 1968 as a new parish carved out of Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Ursula parishes, it has grown from 625 registered families at its first census to more than 2,100 families today, with over 600 parishioners active in ministry. The parish is named for St. Isaac Jogues, the French Jesuit missionary-martyr to the Mohawk people, and embraces Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the 'Lily of the Mohawks,' as an unofficial patroness.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Isaac Jogues
- Rector
- Rev. James (Jim) Kiesel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Isaac Jogues is a large, active parish where parishioners can find a deep well of community life — over 600 people serve in ministries that span youth ministry, faith formation, social outreach, liturgical music, and a global Haiti sister-parish partnership. A contemporary worship space, four Sunday Masses, daily Mass in the Seton Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration twice a week, and live-streamed services welcome both long-time parishioners and visitors. As a parish formed by families for families — and still led today by descendants of its founders — it is a place where children, teens, and adults of every stage can put down roots.
Mass times at St. Isaac Jogues
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM (in the Church)
Adoration times
- Tuesday following Daily Mass until 3:00 PM (Seton Chapel)
- Thursday following Daily Mass until 3:00 PM (Seton Chapel)
Parish History & Heritage
St. Isaac Jogues was established in 1968 to serve the growing Catholic population of the Parkville-Carney area, drawing new families from Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Ursula parishes. The first pastor, Fr. Norman Gies, organized the new community while Mass was celebrated at Harford Hills Elementary School and the pastor's residence was a private home in Perring Park. In 1970, Fr. James Cronin took over as the church building neared completion and led the parish for 24 formative years, becoming a Monsignor in 1982 and having the Parish Center renamed the Cronin Center in his honor. Fr. H. Martin Hammond succeeded him in 1994 and shepherded the parish through a major renovation campaign, while today's pastor, Fr. James Kiesel, continues that legacy of family-rooted parish leadership.
- Founded June 1968 under Fr. Norman Gies
- Early worship at Harford Hills Elementary School
- Fr. Cronin pastorate 1970–1994; named Monsignor 1982
- Cronin Center renamed 1994
- Fr. Martin Hammond succeeded in 1994; led renovation
- Fr. James Kiesel currently serves as pastor
Patrons: St. Isaac Jogues & Kateri Tekakwitha
The parish's patron, St. Isaac Jogues (1607–1646), was a French Jesuit priest who ministered to the Huron and Mohawk peoples. Captured, enslaved, tortured, and mutilated by Mohawks in 1642, he escaped to France and later returned as an ambassador — only to be murdered near present-day Auriesville, New York. During his captivity he reportedly baptized dying children, constituting the first baptisms in what is now New York State. He was canonized in 1930, and his feast is celebrated on October 19. The parish also embraces Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656–1680), the 'Lily of the Mohawks,' as its unofficial patroness and 'guiding light,' and celebrated her canonization with a special liturgy.
- St. Isaac Jogues, SJ — patron (feast October 19)
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha — unofficial patroness, 'Lily of the Mohawks'
- Kateri Room named in her honor on the parish campus
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation program serves children from Pre-K through 8th grade, running September through May on a lectionary-based curriculum that intentionally aligns classroom learning with the Sunday Mass experience. Families can choose a Hybrid Model — combining traditional classroom instruction, family formation sessions, and home study, with sessions on Sundays from 10:10–11:10 AM — or a Home Study option for families needing greater flexibility. Registration for the 2025–2026 program year is open, and the parish provides seasonal activity ideas, discussion guides, and traditions to help families celebrate the liturgical year at home.
- Pre-K through Grade 8, September–May
- Lectionary-based curriculum
- Hybrid Model: Sundays 10:10–11:10 AM
- Home Study option for flexibility
- Family Faith Resources for the liturgical year
Youth Ministry & Confirmation
The High School Youth Ministry seeks to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of young people in grades 9–12, with opportunities for socializing, spiritual development, direct service, and personal growth. Drop-in nights meet Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Kateri Room and feature Gospel discussion, faith sharing, and teen-relevant topics — no RSVP required. Peer Ministers, all Confirmed teens, help plan the Youth Confirmation program, Drop-In Nights, and other activities, and many participate in archdiocesan High-LI and JAW (Justice Action Week) leadership training.
- High School Drop-In Nights: Mondays 7:00–8:30 PM (Kateri Room)
- Peer Ministry leaders
- Youth Confirmation program
- High-LI and JAW leadership training (Archdiocese of Baltimore)
Social Outreach & Charity
The Social Outreach Ministry reaches out in love and service to those in need, with volunteers collecting, sorting, and distributing food and clothing donated by parishioners every week. The poor-box donations are designated on a rotating basis for Beans & Bread, Christopher Place, the Franciscan Center, My Sister's Place, Our Daily Bread, and the Women's Detention Center. Donations of food and non-perishables may be left at the statue of St. Isaac Jogues in the rear of the church or brought to the Cronin Center during office hours. A parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference works in the community to assist families in difficult situations with food, clothing, and financial assistance for rent and utilities, and prepares Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.
- Weekly food and clothing collection and distribution
- Beans & Bread casseroles (first Tuesday monthly)
- Our Daily Bread casseroles (second Thursday monthly)
- Christopher Place dinner service (third Sunday monthly)
- Franciscan Center clothing and food support
- My Sister's Place support
- Women's Detention Center toiletries
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — Thanksgiving/Christmas baskets and annual clothing drive
Haiti Sister-Parish Partnership
St. Isaac Jogues has been a sister parish to Saint Anthony the Hermit Parish in Chenot, Haiti, since 2006, as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Parish Partnership Program with the Diocese of Gonaives. The relationship supports the medical, educational, and pastoral life of the mountain community, including the pre-, primary, and secondary schools supported by the Haitian parish.
- Sister parish: Saint Anthony the Hermit, Chenot, Haiti (Diocese of Gonaives)
- Partnership since 2006
- Archdiocese of Baltimore Parish Partnership Program
Health & Wellness Ministry
In cooperation with neighboring parishes — St. Joseph-Fullerton, St. Ursula, and Immaculate Heart of Mary — and Good Samaritan Hospital, the Health and Wellness Ministry addresses health issues important to the parish family. Activities have included annual health fairs offering blood-pressure screening, diabetes information, cholesterol checks, osteoporosis screening, and pneumonia and flu vaccines.
- Partner parishes: St. Joseph-Fullerton, St. Ursula, Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Partner: Good Samaritan Hospital
- Annual health fairs, blood-pressure and cholesterol screening
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is served by a pastor, a retired permanent deacon, and a team of lay staff who oversee operations, liturgical music, communications, the parish office, and facilities. The parish also benefits from directors of its youth-focused Rise Up and Reign Down programs.
- Rev. James (Jim) Kiesel — Pastor
- Deacon Kevin Reid — Permanent Deacon (Retired)
- Vince Mainolfi (clergy/staff)
- Rick Balog — Parish Manager & Director of Operations
- Paul Binko — Coordinator of Liturgical Music
- Jon Gerstmyer — Coordinator of Communication and Marketing
- Amy Whitlock — Parish Office Coordinator
- JoAnn Gier — Office Administrative Assistant
- Ross Cooke — Facilities Maintenance
- Carroll Browne — Facilities Maintenance
- Rise Up Director
- Chris Montcalmo — Reign Down Director
Mission, Stewardship & Parish Identity
The parish mission statement grounds St. Isaac Jogues in the words of Jesus — 'I am the vine, you are the branches' — calling the community to continue building the kingdom of God while remaining rooted in Christ. The parish organizes that mission around five pillars: Liturgy, Faith Formation, Service, Stewardship, and Evangelization. Today over 600 parishioners are actively involved in parish ministries, making St. Isaac Jogues a community where lay involvement is the norm rather than the exception.
- Five ministries: Liturgy, Faith Formation, Service, Stewardship, Evangelization
- 600+ parishioners active in ministries
- 2,173 registered families (June 2002 census)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Norman Gies1968–1970
Founding pastor; met with future parishioners in June 1968 to organize the new parish; retired to Florida in 1970.
- Monsignor James J. Cronin1970–1994
Assigned in spring 1970 as church neared completion; shepherded the parish for 24 years; named Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II in 1982; the Parish Center was renamed the Cronin Center in his honor in 1994; died Feb. 29, 2008.
- Fr. H. Martin Hammond1994–
Assigned as pastor in 1994; led a major capital campaign and renovation, with the rededication Mass on St. Isaac Jogues' feast day.
- Fr. James (Jim) Kiesel
Current pastor.