St. Joseph

About St. Joseph Parish, Beltsville

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beltsville, Maryland is a parish of the Archdiocese of Washington serving northern Prince George's County. Canonically established in 1956, the parish maintains a robust schedule of daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and bilingual (English/Spanish) Sunday liturgy. The parish operates in partnership with St. Hugh of Grenoble (Greenbelt) and St. Nicholas (Laurel) to support St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School, the Pre-K through Grade 8 school that has served the three communities since 2010-2011. The current pastor is Father Shaun T. Foggo, appointed July 3, 2024 by Cardinal Wilton Gregory.

Parish History

Founded in 1956, St. Joseph Parish grew alongside the Beltsville community and was historically served by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who ran the parish school from the convent that today serves as the rectory. In 1967 a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was installed on the parish grounds at that convent, becoming a place where schoolchildren prayed a decade of the rosary and, each May, crowned Our Lady. In 2022 the weather-worn statue was fully restored and rededicated on September 8 — the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — with students, teachers, the principal and parishioners present. That same year the parish revived the May crowning and October rosary traditions at the statue. In 2024 Cardinal Gregory appointed Father Shaun T. Foggo as the new pastor.

• 1956 — Parish canonically established
• 1967 — Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed on parish grounds
• 2010-2011 — Regional school formed with St. Hugh of Grenoble and St. Nicholas
• September 8, 2022 — Statue restored and rededicated; Marian traditions revived
• July 3, 2024 — Father Shaun T. Foggo appointed pastor

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Father Shaun T. Foggo, pastor since July 2024. He is joined in residence by Rev. Daniel T. Gallaugher, who serves as chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Rev. Johnson John, C.M.I. Deacon Pedro Armando Jimenez also serves the parish. Helene H. Stever is the Director of Faith Formation; Alisa Marino of Calibre CPA is the parish accountant; and Krista Wells is the parish secretary.

• Pastor: Father Shaun T. Foggo
• In Residence / Chaplain, MedStar WHC: Rev. Daniel T. Gallaugher
• In Residence: Rev. Johnson John, C.M.I.
• Deacon: Pedro Armando Jimenez
• Faith Formation Director: Helene H. Stever
• Parish Accountant: Alisa Marino, Calibre CPA
• Parish Secretary: Krista Wells

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Helene H. Stever directs the parish's faith formation program, which includes Religious Education for parish children, the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC), Special Sacramental Preparation (SSP), and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those seeking to become Catholic. A homeschool co-op is also offered.

• Religious Education (school-age children)
• OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children), ages 8–17
• Special Sacramental Preparation (SSP) for baptized Catholic youth needing First Reconciliation and First Communion
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) / Become Catholic
• Homeschool Co-op

St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School

Since the 2010-2011 school year, St. Joseph Parish has joined with St. Hugh of Grenoble (Greenbelt) and St. Nicholas (Laurel) parishes to operate St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School, a Pre-K through Grade 8 school located in Beltsville. The regional school celebrates weekly Mass for the entire school community, observes Catholic feast days and solemnities, provides daily instruction in religion, hosts visits from the three regional pastors, and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent. The school is accredited through the Archdiocese of Washington.

• Pre-K through Grade 8
• Weekly all-school Mass
• Reception of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent
• Home and School Association (HSA) for parent involvement
• Sister parishes: St. Hugh of Grenoble (Greenbelt) and St. Nicholas (Laurel)

Sacraments

The parish prepares members for the full range of Catholic sacraments, including Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. Pre-Cana classes are offered for engaged couples. OCIC prepares unbaptized children (ages 8–17) and children baptized in other Christian traditions for full reception into the Catholic Church, while SSP serves baptized Catholic youth who still need First Reconciliation and First Communion. Adult formation is provided through OCIA.

• Baptism
• First Reconciliation & First Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage — Pre-Cana preparation
• OCIC (children 8–17)
• SSP (baptized Catholic youth 8–17)
• OCIA (adults)

Parish Life, Outreach and Ministries

St. Joseph offers several opportunities for parishioners to participate in parish life and outreach. The Social Concerns / Community Outreach ministry coordinates the parish's response to local needs, and Ushers help at weekend Masses. Children's Liturgy of the Word adapts the Liturgy of the Word for younger children during Mass. Parishioners can submit prayer requests, sign up for the Sanctuary Lamp, register for Flocknote to receive parish communications, and engage with the parish through social media.

• Social Concerns / Community Outreach
• Ushers
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Prayer Requests
• Sanctuary Lamp
• Flocknote registration
• Parish Facebook presence