About St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery is a Catholic parish in Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1865 by the Passionist Order under Archbishop Martin J. Spalding. It is known for its magnificent church, built in 1931, and its long-standing commitment to liturgical beauty, community fellowship, and service. The parish serves a diverse congregation through multiple Masses, ministries, and sacramental programs, welcoming all regardless of background or affiliation. It is part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and operates from two main locations: the church at 3801 Old Frederick Rd. and the rectory at 251 S. Morley St.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Mike
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
Join a parish that welcomes all, regardless of background, and offers vibrant liturgy, fellowship, and service. Experience the beauty of the Mass, active participation in ministry, and a strong sense of community through its ministries, faith formation, and sacramental life.
Mass times at St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM SJM Campus (Church)
About Our Church
Saint Joseph Monastery church in Baltimore is one of the most magnificent churches in the diocese. It has a wonderful history of service to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Our parish is dedicated to cultivating an ever-strengthening community of faith through the beauty of the liturgy, exceptional music, fellowship, and ministering to those in need within our community.
History
Archbishop Martin J. Spalding of Baltimore invited the Passionists to the Archdiocese in 1865, thereby establishing the fourth foundation of the Passionist Order in the United States. The Passionists were initially given charge of St. Agnes Parish in Catonsville. The grounds were not large enough for a monastery however, and shortly after their arrival, the Passionists relocated to a tract of land opposite Loudon Park in the Irvington area of Baltimore. Realizing the neighborhood was in need of a worship space, the Passionists built a small wooden church in the grove on the property. The “Church of the Passion”, as it was called, faithfully served the community for years, and marked the beginning of what would eventually become St. Joseph’s Monastery Parish. Registration within the parish developed quickly, and the church was soon in need of a larger worship space. In 1881, the cornerstone for a new church was laid by His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons. The plan was to adjoin the church to the original monastery. About two years into the construction, however, the monastery was destroyed in a fire. Miraculously, the construction site escaped any serious damage, and by 1883 the new church was consecrated and dedicated to St. Joseph. It was built of blue granite donated by the trustees of St. Mary’s Industrial School (one of the Passionists earliest missions in Baltimore), and adorned with statues of St. Anne, St. Joachim, and our patron, St. Joseph. Its beauty so impressed the Cardinal that he described it as “the gem of the Diocese”. The parish grew in other areas as well. By 1886, a new monastery had been constructed, and in 1889 it was decided that a school was needed to accommodate the influx of families. At that time there was a cottage on the grounds known as Cedar Lawn. It was outfitted with two classrooms and opened with an enrollment of forty students that first year. The following year the school was staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame. The school grew so rapidly that it became necessary to move classes to the basement of the church, keeping Cedar Lawn exclusively as a convent for the sisters. A generous donation by Mrs. Celinda Whiteford made possible the construction of a proper school building in 1893. The school was named Whiteford Hall in her honor and was located up the street on Whiteford Avenue (present day Morley Street). In 1913, a second school was constructed across from Whiteford which included a school hall. Ten years later a new convent was built adjacent to the school grounds. The greatest expansion, however, was yet to come. For a second time the parish had outgrown its church, and plans for a new, still larger one were courageously begun. The cornerstone was laid by Archbishop Curley on November 6, 1931. During the ceremony, the Archbishop had these words to say: “There is no more loyal band of priests in all the Archdiocese than the good men who wear the insignia of Jesus Christ upon their cassocks.” I could say much in praise of the Passionist Fathers, but in the end, all the praise could be summed up simply by saying, ‘They have done their work well’.”
Ministries
Worship in the Catholic Church is not a passive experience. We call upon the "full, active, and conscious participation of the assembly" every time we gather in prayer, whether during the Mass or fulfilling God's love through service and fellowship to His people.
Faith Formation
Our Catholic faith defines who we are as people of Christ. Our parish offers opportunities for children and adults to examine their faith, and thereby strengthen their connection to God.
Sacraments
We offer many sacraments such as Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Weddings, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders and Vocations.