About St. James · Mount Rainier, Maryland
St. James Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish serving Historic Mount Rainier, Maryland, within the Archdiocese of Washington. The community began as a mission church of St. Francis de Sales Parish in 1908 and was canonically established as its own parish in 1946. After decades that included a parish school (closed in 1978) and a period of decline, the parish was revitalized beginning in 2004 when the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) was assigned to take pastoral leadership, accompanied by the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM) religious sisters. Today St. James is a thriving, multiethnic parish with a strong Eucharistic focus, large religious education program, and outreach to the homeless and families of children with disabilities.
- Established
- 1908 (as a mission); canonically established as a parish in 1946
- Patron
- St. James (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Pablo Bonello, I.V.E.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Washington)
Why belong here
St. James is a warm, missionary parish that welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics together under one roof, with three Sunday Masses and daily Mass. Its IVE-led spiritual life centers squarely on the Eucharist and the sacraments, while its large Religious Education / CCD program, RCIA, English-as-a-Second-Language classes, Safe Haven outreach to the homeless, and the Blessed Carlo Gnocchi group for families of children with disabilities give newcomers concrete ways to live the faith and serve their neighbors. Wheelchair-accessible and rooted in Historic Mount Rainier, it is an unusually diverse community where Anglo young adults, Central American Hispanic families, Filipino parishioners, and longtime local residents share the same pews.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:15 PM to 3:45 PM
- By appointment — call the rectory at 301-927-0567 (confesiones disponibles con cita previa)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Rectory Chapel (followed by Benediction at 8:00 PM)
History of St. James Parish
St. James traces its roots to 1908, when it was established as a mission church under St. Francis de Sales Parish to serve Catholics in the growing town of Mount Rainier, just outside Washington, D.C. By 1946 the mission had grown enough to be canonically established as a parish of what is now the Archdiocese of Washington. For decades the parish ran its own Catholic school and was a vibrant community, but demographic change led to the school closing in 1978 and a long period of decline. The modern revival of St. James began in 2004, when the Archdiocese entrusted the parish to the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), a religious congregation of priests and brothers founded in Argentina. Working with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM) sisters, seminarians, and lay volunteers, the new pastoral team built a plan centered on the Eucharist and Sunday Mass, reached out door-to-door in the neighborhood, and welcomed Hispanic, Filipino, and Anglo young adult families back to the pews.
- 1908 — founded as a mission of St. Francis de Sales Parish
- 1946 — canonically established as a parish of the Archdiocese of Washington
- 1978 — parish school closes amid demographic shifts
- 2004 — Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) assigned to the parish
- 2005 — SSVM sisters begin serving in the parish Oratory and catechetical programs
- 2009 — an SSVM sister becomes Director of Religious Education
- Religious Education enrollment grows from ~80 children per year to more than 700 registered
Parish Staff & Clergy
Pastoral care at St. James is provided by priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM) staffing the religious education office and parish Oratory. The parish also has a lay secretary handling parish business during office hours.
- Pastor — Rev. Pablo Bonello, I.V.E.
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Kevin Stolt, I.V.E. (In Residence)
- In Residence — Fr. Mariano Ruiz, I.V.E.
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Sister Maria Virgen De Izamal, SSVM
- Secretary — Jessica Cardoso
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
Religious Education is the heartbeat of St. James' mission to children, youth and families. The parish's stated purpose is to look upon each child as created in the image and likeness of God and as a reflection of His goodness, with parents recognized and respected as the primary educators of their children. The program is rooted in Scripture, the Catechism, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the lives of the saints, and a deep reverence for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist is actively promoted.
- Full religious education curriculum for children and youth (CCD)
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Programs offered in both English and Spanish
- Growth from ~80 children per year to more than 700 registered
Marriage Preparation
St. James offers a Marriage Preparation process for engaged couples, in line with Archdiocese of Washington requirements. Couples should contact the parish rectory for full details and scheduling.
- Contact the rectory at 301-927-0567 to begin the process
- Resources and forms linked from the parish website
Parish Outreach & Social Ministries
Since the IVE and SSVM arrived at St. James, the parish has launched a range of outreach programs aimed at immigrants, the homeless, and families of children with disabilities — extending the parish's missionary identity beyond its own walls.
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for immigrant parishioners and neighbors
- Safe Haven program for the homeless
- Blessed Carlo Gnocchi group — pastoral support for families of children with disabilities
- Door-to-door missionary outreach in the surrounding Mount Rainier neighborhood
Devotions & Liturgical Life
St. James' liturgical life is explicitly centered on the Eucharist, with daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, and Sunday Rosary all anchoring the week. The parish offers a bilingual Mass Aid downloadable from its website to help English- and Spanish-speaking faithful follow the liturgy together.
- Daily Mass Monday–Saturday
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday–Friday, 7:00–8:00 PM in the Rectory Chapel
- Benediction immediately after Adoration, 8:00 PM
- Sunday Rosary at 11:00 AM (before the Spanish Mass)
- Bilingual Mass Aid available for download
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
St. James Catholic Church is located at 3628 Rhode Island Avenue in Historic Mount Rainier, Maryland — a quick trip from the D.C. line inside the Capital Beltway. The parish is wheelchair accessible, and the rectory office is staffed during morning hours on weekdays.
- Address: 3628 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
- Phone: 301-927-0567 | Fax: 301-927-5289
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday–Friday (closed federal holidays)
- Wheelchair accessible
- From I-495, take Route 1 South / Rhode Island Avenue approximately 6 miles