About St. Louis · Clarksville, Maryland
St. Louis Catholic Church is a historic parish in Clarksville, Maryland, part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Founded in 1855 on land donated by John O'Donnell and named for King Louis IX of France, it traces its Catholic roots to the 18th-century St. Mary's Chapel at nearby Doughoregan Manor, home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Today the parish is pastored as a 'pastorate' together with St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton and serves around 4,300 families, anchored by its 1923 parochial school, an active faith formation program, and the famous annual Clarksville Picnic — the oldest parish picnic in Maryland.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Father Michael DeAscanis
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Louis is a 170-year-old Catholic community that combines deep history — including its 1889 Stone Chapel, the 1878-vintage Clarksville Picnic, and the 1923 St. Louis School — with an active pastoral life spanning daily Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, a robust Catholic Youth Ministry, Faith Formation for all ages, outreach through the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and women's ministry gatherings like 'The Well.' A parish this rooted, with its own parochial school, multiple priests, and a tight-knit tradition of volunteer-led festivals, offers both stability and a real sense of belonging for families and individuals at every stage of Catholic life.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (typical parish schedule — refer to bulletin for current times)
Adoration times
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Parish History
St. Louis Catholic Church was founded in 1855 on land donated by John O'Donnell and his wife, but the parish's Catholic roots stretch back further to St. Mary's Chapel at Doughoregan Manor, the home of Declaration of Independence signer Charles Carroll of Carrollton. The parish was named for King Louis IX of France in honor of the historic French-Catholic ties in early Maryland. Successive pastors built the 1889 Stone Chapel (dedicated by Cardinal Gibbons), founded the school, and established traditions — most notably the 1878 Clarksville Picnic — that continue today.
- 1855: Parish established; first church still standing on Ten Oaks Rd.
- 1858: Fr. Augustin Vérot named Vicar Apostolic of Florida
- 1878: First Clarksville Picnic held
- 1889–90: Stone Chapel and rectory built and dedicated by Cardinal Gibbons ($11,000 total)
- 1922: League of St. Louis founded to support a future school
- 1923: St. Louis School opens under Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky
- 1934: League of the Little Flower launched, still active in the Archdiocese
- 1955: Parish celebrates its centenary on October 23
Clergy and Staff
The parish is staffed by a pastor, two associate pastors, a priest in residence, a retired priest-volunteer, and six permanent deacons. Fr. Michael DeAscanis has served as pastor since 2021 and leads the pastorate that also includes St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton.
- Fr. Michael DeAscanis — Pastor (since 2021; ordained 2004)
- Fr. Daniel Andrades — Associate Pastor (ordained 2024)
- Fr. Robert 'Rob' Katafiasz — Associate Pastor (ordained 2018)
- Fr. Joseph Langan — Priest in Residence (Canon Law studies)
- Fr. John McHale — Retired Priest / chaplain
- Deacons: Scott Lancaster, Frank Sarro, Bob Smith, Matt Kolb, Frank Ziegler, Kevin Hostutler
- Staff: Director of Evangelization (Duarte Aguiar), Directors of Music (Colleen & Terry Eberhardt), Principal Deborah Thomas, Pastorate Director of Faith Formation (Siobhan Cooney), Pastorate Director of Youth Ministry (Luisa Palting), Facilities Manager Bill Steier
St. Louis School
Founded in 1923 as one of the first parochial schools in rural Howard County, St. Louis School is a coeducational Catholic school (PreK–8th grade) serving about 560 students on the parish campus at 12500 Clarksville Pike. The school has twice been named a National Blue Ribbon School (most recently in 2017) and has also received a Maryland Blue Ribbon Award and a National CAPE Blue Ribbon Award. Its mission is grounded in Catholic values, family partnership, and academic excellence.
- Founded 1923 by the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky
- PreK through Grade 8; approximately 560 students
- Two-time National Blue Ribbon School (2017 awardee)
- 1 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award; 1 National CAPE Blue Ribbon Award
- Louis IX inclusion program launched in 2016
- Principal: Mrs. Deborah Thomas (since 2020)
- Phone: (410) 531-6664 — www.slsmd.org
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered pastorate-wide (serving both St. Louis and St. Francis of Assisi), led by Pastorate Director of Faith Formation Siobhan Cooney and Associate Kelley Pridgen. Programs serve children, youth, and adults including preparation for the sacraments and RCIA.
- Children's Faith Formation (PreK through elementary)
- Family / Sacramental preparation
- RCIA for adults
- Adult faith formation offerings
Catholic Youth Ministry
The parish's Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM), led by Pastorate Director Luisa Palting and associates Doug Payne and MariaCristina Tenaglia, serves middle school, high school, Confirmation candidates, and young adults. The office also runs a summer camp program. Office hours are M–F, 10 AM–5 PM; phone (410) 531-6668.
- Middle school and high school youth groups
- Confirmation preparation (Luisa Palting, Coordinator)
- Young adult ministry (Doug Payne)
- Summer youth camp
- CYM Office: (410) 531-6668
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry is led by two Directors of Music — Colleen Eberhardt and Terry Eberhardt — who support the parish's liturgies across the Mass schedule. Their work underpins both the live and live-streamed Sunday liturgies as well as the live-streamed 9:00 AM Mass.
- Colleen Eberhardt — Director of Music
- Terry Eberhardt — Director of Music
- Music for live-streamed 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish runs a number of devotion and community groups that draw members into deeper fellowship and prayer — including 'The Well' women's ministry, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Raising Saints Playgroup for young families, and devotions like the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home.
- 'The Well' Women's Ministry gatherings
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (e.g., patriotic hat/scarf service project for St. Elizabeth's Nursing & Rehab)
- Raising Saints Playgroup (ages 0–6)
- Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the Home
- Rosary / Patriotic Rosary on July 4
The Clarksville Picnic
First held in 1878 during Fr. Hugh Griffen's pastorate, the Clarksville Picnic is the oldest parish picnic in Maryland and one of the largest parish festivals in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In 2026 the parish will celebrate the 148th annual picnic. It has historically been the major single source of revenue for the parish and exemplifies the spirit of parishioners working together.
- First held 1878 under Fr. Hugh Griffin
- Oldest parish picnic in Maryland
- 148th annual picnic in 2026
- Long-standing major fundraiser for the parish
Contact, Location & Office Hours
St. Louis Catholic Church is located at 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM; the main phone number is (410) 531-6040. A weekly newsletter with news, updates, and notices is available by sign-up through the parish website.
- Address: 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029
- Phone: (410) 531-6040
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
- Website: https://stlouisparish.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Augustin Vérot1855–1858
French Sulpician; also pastor of St. Paul's, Ellicott City. Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Florida by Pope Pius IX.
- Fr. Hugh Griffin1858–1887
Held the first Clarksville Picnic in 1878.
- Fr. Paul Griffith1887–
Third pastor; oversaw building of the 1889 Stone Chapel and rectory; first to reside in the rectory.
- Fr. Joseph Walter
Succeeded Fr. Griffith.
- Fr. John Gaynor
- Fr. Snyder S. Hurlburt
- Fr. Edward Reilley
- Fr. Carl Liljencrants
- Fr. William Howard Bishop1917–1937
Founded the League of St. Louis (1922); opened St. Louis School (1923); launched the League of the Little Flower (1934); later founded the Home Missioners of America / Glenmary Fathers.
- Fr. Joseph Leary1937–
Succeeded Fr. Bishop.
- Fr. Michael Egan1940 (joined), 1943 (pastor)