About St. John Neumann · Gaithersburg, Maryland
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Washington located at 9000 Warfield Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland (ZIP 20882), serving the growing Catholic community of upper Montgomery County. Canonically established in February 1978 as the 129th parish of the archdiocese, it grew out of a mission of St. Martin of Tours and today worships in a church building dedicated in the mid-1980s. The parish is bilingual, offering Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, and is distinguished by its perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel, a rich tapestry of lay ministries, and a long-running missionary partnership with the poor of Belize through Cross Catholic Outreach.
- Established
- 1978
- Patron
- St. John Neumann
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Robert Panke
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. John Neumann is a vibrant, bilingual parish whose mission is 'to be a welcoming community that encounters Christ and leads others to Christ.' Daily and Sunday Masses are offered in English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic adoration is available in the chapel, and the parish runs one of the most active youth and faith-formation programs in the area. Outreach runs deep: the parish has run a continuing missionary partnership with Belize through Cross Catholic Outreach since 2009, runs a St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry and home-visit ministry, and supports the homebound elderly through NESA. A large campus — church, rectory, the Neumann House across Warfield Road, and a 1999 education/classroom wing — gives the parish room to grow with its community.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM
- Saturday, 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel (24 hours; chapel open Monday–Thursday for scheduled adorers)
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday – Saturday after the 9:00 AM Mass
Our History
St. John Neumann became the 129th parish of the Archdiocese of Washington in February 1978. Originally a mission of St. Martin of Tours, services began at the Whetstone Community Center, then moved to the Village Mall Theater and finally to Whetstone Elementary School, where they remained for four years with the rectory in a nearby townhouse. The current church building broke ground in August 1982 and was completed sixteen months later, with founding pastor Fr. Ralph Torsiello celebrating the first Mass there on Dec. 18, 1984. The Most Rev. James A. Hickey blessed and dedicated the new church three months later. Later milestones include a 1993 rectory, a 1999 wing for offices and classrooms, the 2002 launch of perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, the start of the Hispanic community in 2006, and the 2007 purchase of the 'Neumann House' across Warfield Road.
- 1978 — Canonically established as the 129th parish of the Archdiocese of Washington
- 1982–84 — Current church built; first Mass Dec. 18, 1984
- 1993 — New rectory completed
- 1999 — New wing for offices and classrooms added
- 2002 — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration begins
- 2006 — Hispanic community begins with weekly Spanish Mass, confessions, and events
- 2007 — Acquisition of the 'Neumann House' across Warfield Road
- 2013 — 'Expanding Our Home' Capital Campaign launched
Our Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Msgr. Robert Panke with Parochial Vicar Father Martin Begley and four deacons: Michael W. Davy, Carlo A. Caraballo, Barry A. Levy, and Eugene de Ribeaux. Retired priest Rev. Peter J. Sweeney also resides at the parish. The lay staff supports music and liturgy, religious formation, youth ministry, communications, evangelization, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Robert Panke
- Parochial Vicar: Father Martin Begley
- Deacons: Michael W. Davy, Carlo A. Caraballo, Barry A. Levy, Eugene de Ribeaux
- In Residence (Retired): Rev. Peter J. Sweeney
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Mr. Kevin Paton-Cole
- Director of Religious Formation: Ms. Sofie Guizar
- Director of Youth Ministry: Ms. Judy Paredes
- Director of Evangelization: Sister Angel Marie Capdeville
- Business Manager: Elizabeth Cannon; Secretary: Gloria Fernández
- Communications: Mrs. Marisa Stoolmiller; Events Coordinator: Cheryl Harsksowich
Devotions
Two longtime weekday devotions follow the 9:00 AM Mass: the daily Rosary and the Monday Miraculous Medal Novena. The parish also publishes a bilingual Mass aid that worshippers can download to follow along in either English or Spanish.
- Rosary — Monday – Saturday after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Miraculous Medal Novena — Monday after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Downloadable Bilingual Mass Aid
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Formation program is directed by Ms. Sofie Guizar with administrative support from Ms. Sophia Ho and prepares children and adults for the sacraments. The 1999 wing of the church building is dedicated to classrooms and parish offices used for formation and ministry meetings. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is coordinated through the parish office.
- Director of Religious Formation: Ms. Sofie Guizar
- Administrative Assistant: Ms. Sophia Ho
- Classrooms and offices housed in the 1999 wing
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage preparation available
Youth Ministry — Triple V
St. John Neumann's youth program — known as Triple V — gathers high-schoolers in the Parish Center every Sunday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM for faith, fellowship, and games. A separate Spanish-language youth ministry (Ministerio de la Juventud) meets most Sunday evenings at the Neumann House across Warfield Road, after the 5:00 PM youth Mass. The high-school program is associated with the parish's youth ministry site at sjn-ym.org.
- Youth Group (grades 9–12): Sundays, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Parish Center
- Triple V Ministerio de la Juventud (Spanish-speaking youth)
- Meets at the Neumann House across Warfield Rd
- Director of Youth Ministry: Ms. Judy Paredes
Hispanic Ministry
The parish's Hispanic ministry launched in 2006 with weekly Spanish Mass, confessions, and other events. Today it includes the 1:30 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish, a Spanish-language youth ministry (Triple V Ministerio de la Juventud), and outreach coordinated through the parish office. Bilingual Mass aids are also available for download.
- Spanish Mass: Sundays 1:30 PM
- Spanish youth ministry (Triple V Ministerio de la Juventud)
- Hispanic community founded in 2006
- Bilingual Mass aid available on parish website
Life, Peace & Justice — Outreach
Through its Life, Peace & Justice umbrella, St. John Neumann runs several long-running outreach ministries. The parish has partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach on a Belize Mission since 2009, supporting Indian/Mayan women's education, H.O.P.E. food for the elderly, Pallotti High School scholarships, and Punta Gorda home-repair projects, plus an annual Lenten mission trip. Locally, the St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a parish food pantry, home-visit ministry, and emergency assistance, and the parish supports Northeast Senior Assistance (NESA) for homebound adults aged 60 and over.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — office open Mon/Wed/Fri 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Belize Mission Committee — annual Lenten campaign and mission trip to Punta Gorda
- Northeast Senior Assistance (NESA) — supports homebound seniors aged 60+
- Life, Peace & Justice Committee — pro-life and pro-poor outreach
Neumann House & Facilities
Across Warfield Road from the church sits the 'Neumann House' — the house and lot acquired in 2007 that today serves as overflow parish space: meeting rooms, retreat space, priest and seminarian luncheons, youth group activities, and annual housing for out-of-town visitors traveling to the March for Life in Washington. The parish also runs a 2013 Capital Campaign called 'Expanding Our Home' to fund further development of this property and broader campus expansion.
- Neumann House — meetings, retreats, youth activities
- March for Life lodging each January
- 'Expanding Our Home' Capital Campaign (launched 2013)
- Wheelchair-accessible campus at 9000 Warfield Rd
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgical ministries at St. John Neumann are coordinated by Director of Music & Liturgy Mr. Kevin Paton-Cole, supporting both the English and Spanish Masses celebrated each week.
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Mr. Kevin Paton-Cole
- Music ministry serving five Sunday Masses
- Bilingual Mass aid available on parish website
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. The parish is wheelchair accessible and ample parking is available on-site. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, the emergency line at 301-481-0594 reaches a priest on call.
- Phone: 301-977-5492
- Fax: 301-977-3559
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: Monday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sacramental Emergency Line: 301-481-0594
- Address: 9000 Warfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ralph Torsiello1978 – founding pastor
Founded the parish in February 1978; celebrated the first Mass in the new church building on Dec. 18, 1984.