About St. Martin of Tours · Gaithersburg, Maryland
St. Martin of Tours is a Roman Catholic parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Washington, canonically established on December 12, 1920. One of the most culturally diverse parishes in the archdiocese, it celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, with Sunday Masses offered up to eight times a day. The parish runs the oldest Catholic school in Montgomery County (founded 1925), an Adoration Chapel open nearly every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., a food pantry serving over 300 families, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a robust Family Ministry staffed by Dominican Sisters.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Rev. David G. Wells
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Martin's welcomes one of the most diverse Catholic congregations in the Archdiocese of Washington, with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. It pairs that cultural richness with deep, lived ministries: a Food Pantry serving more than 300 families, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, daily Eucharistic Adoration from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in a dedicated chapel, an active Family Ministry staffed by Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, and the oldest Catholic school in Montgomery County. Whether you come for a 6:30 a.m. weekday Mass, Sunday liturgy with four languages, or to volunteer in the pantry or school, this is a parish that has welcomed immigrant families, workers, and lifelong Catholics for a hundred years.
Mass times at St. Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM (until confessions have ended)
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and 7:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM
- Friday: 7:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and 7:30 PM
- Saturday: After 9:00 AM Mass, and 3:30 PM–4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (First Friday: 7 AM – 7 PM in the Chapel, then Adoration in the Church after the 7 PM Spanish Mass)
- Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM, and 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Adoration in the Church after the 9 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Our History
St. Martin of Tours was canonically established on December 12, 1920, when founding pastor Fr. John Stanislaus Cuddy celebrated the first Mass in a chapel made from three surplus Army mess halls relocated from Washington's Camp Meigs. The property on Summit and Frederick Avenues had been acquired in 1914 thanks to Catholic landowner John B. Diamond and Ignatius T. Fulks (who sold his share for $10). Longest-serving pastor Fr. Paul E. Meyer (1945–1975) built the present brick church, dedicated in 1957, and guided the parish from a few hundred families to over 3,500. The new school/Parish Center was dedicated by Cardinal James Hickey on September 17, 1988. The delayed centennial dinner was held in late 2021, with current pastor Father David Wells noting that 'the pandemic brought out the best in our parish.'
- April 17, 1914: Deed for the Summit/Frederick Ave property recorded in Montgomery County.
- December 12, 1920: First Mass celebrated; parish founding date.
- September 1925: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur open the first Catholic school in Montgomery County.
- December 7, 1928: Founding pastor Fr. John Cuddy killed at the Gaithersburg railroad crossing.
- February 22, 1946: Silver Jubilee celebrated under Fr. Meyer.
- November 11/17, 1957: Altar and church dedicated; relics enshrined.
- September 17, 1988: New Parish Center and School dedicated by Cardinal Hickey.
- 2020: Parish hosts Cardinal Wilton Gregory's first parish Mass after his elevation.
- 2021: Centennial dinner celebrated (delayed from 2020 by COVID-19).
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish offers one of the most linguistically diverse schedules in the Archdiocese of Washington, with Sunday Masses in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, and weekday Masses in English at 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM. The 8:00 AM French Sunday Mass is celebrated in the school gymnasium.
- Weekday English Masses: Mon–Fri 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM
- Tuesday & Friday Spanish Mass: 7:00 PM
- Thursday French Mass: 7:00 PM
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English), 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 5:00 PM (English); 8:00 AM (French, in gym); 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 6:30 PM (Spanish)
St. Martin of Tours School
Founded in 1925 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, St. Martin's School is the oldest Catholic school in Montgomery County, Maryland. After 87 Sisters served there from 1925 to 1973, a lay faculty took over. The current school building was dedicated on September 17, 1988, by Cardinal James Hickey. Today the school serves approximately 200 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with about 85% Catholic and roughly half of families with roots in Central and South America — and others from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Principal Stephen Lamont has led the school since 2018.
- Opened September 1925 — first Catholic school in Montgomery County
- Original 1925 building razed; current building dedicated 1988
- Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur taught 1925–1973 (87 sisters)
- Pre-K through 8th grade; ~200 students; 85% Catholic
- Weekly school-wide food drives for the parish Food Pantry
- Students participate in parish outreach (food pantry volunteering, foster-child collections)
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Martin's is directed by David Guillen, with Barbara Kuhn as assistant. The office coordinates religious education for parish children (CCD), sacramental preparation, and the RCIA program for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church — coordinated by Deacon William Vita Jr.
- Director of Faith Formation: David Guillen
- Faith Formation Assistant: Barbara Kuhn
- RCIA Coordinator: Deacon William Vita Jr.
- Faith formation for parents of religious-education students
Family Ministry
St. Martin's Family Ministry is staffed by two Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima: Sister Mariana de Jesús, OP and Sister Providencia Negron, OP. Their charism of service reflects the parish's patron saint — reaching, supporting, and empowering immigrant families, unaccompanied minors, and married couples through counseling, retreats, small faith communities, and a marriage-preparation program based on the 'Transformed in Love' curriculum. They lead children's groups (altar servers, girls' choir, vocational discernment), accompany Hispanic communities, and welcome new families with registration and baptism interviews.
- Crisis intervention and counseling
- Attention to families in need and orientation
- Marriage preparation (Transformed in Love)
- Faith formation for parents
- Youth groups, retreats, encounters, workshops
- Support for immigrant families and unaccompanied minors
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a defining mark of St. Martin's. The parish Food Pantry — housed in the building that once was the 1949 school annex — serves more than 300 families and is regularly stocked by schoolchildren through food drives. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (parish conference) provides person-to-person emergency assistance, and the parish has a long tradition of the 'Lord's Table' and social-justice work. Miguel Hernandez serves as Director of Volunteers.
- St. Martin's Food Pantry — 300+ families served
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Lord's Table
- Counseling service
- Parish-based social-justice ministry
- Director of Volunteers: Miguel Hernandez
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Martin's is led by Music Director Greg Gannon (x214). The parish supports choirs in multiple languages to serve the diverse congregation, including a girls' choir associated with the Family Ministry. Bilingual Mass aids are available for download from the parish website.
- Director of Music: Greg Gannon
- Choirs serving English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole Masses
- Bilingual Mass aid downloadable from stmartinsweb.org
Parish Staff
The current parish staff, as listed by the Archdiocese of Washington and the parish website, includes pastor Father David G. Wells, parochial vicars Father Stefan L. Yap and Father Joseph F. Heisey, three deacons, and lay and religious staff covering administration, communications, faith formation, music, family ministry, and reception.
- Pastor: Rev. David G. Wells
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Stefan L. Yap, Rev. Joseph F. Heisey
- Deacons: Jorge Gatica-Delgado, William Vita Jr. (RCIA), Mauricio Rivas
- School Principal: Stephen Lamont
- Director of Faith Formation: David Guillen
- Faith Formation Assistant: Barbara Kuhn
- Director of Music: Greg Gannon
- Director of Volunteers: Miguel Hernandez
- Communications: Luis Vides
- Family Ministry: Sister Mariana de Jesús, OP and Sister Providencia Negron, OP
- Bookkeeper: Jorge Ochoa
- Administrative Assistant / Data Coordinator: Szilvia Molnar
- Receptionist: Diana O'Keefe
Architecture & Sacred Relics
The present church is a brick building with limestone trim, built by a Bethesda construction company for $257,000 in less than a year and dedicated on November 17, 1957, by Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle. The high altar was consecrated three days earlier, on November 11, 1957, by Auxiliary Bishop Philip Hannan (later Archbishop of New Orleans), and enshrined with relics of the holy Martyrs Eudoxius and Honestus, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. A 200-day indulgence is granted to those who visit on the consecration anniversary.
- Built 1956–1957; dedicated Nov. 17, 1957
- Capacity: 500
- Altar relics: Sts. Eudoxius, Honestus, Francis Xavier, and Thérèse of Lisieux
- 200-day indulgence on the anniversary of the consecration
Parish Office & Visiting
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed 12:30 PM–1:30 PM for lunch). The building that serves as the parish office is the original rectory built by Fr. John Callaghan in 1929–1930. The parish is wheelchair accessible.
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed 12:30–1:30 PM)
- Phone: 301-990-3203
- Email: [email protected]
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Stanislaus Cuddy1920–1928
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass on Dec. 12, 1920 in a chapel made from Army mess halls; organized the parish's Knights of Columbus council; killed at the Gaithersburg railroad crossing on Dec. 7, 1928 — the bridge over Rt. 355 is now named for him.
- Rev. John J. Callaghan1928–1935
Appointed days after Fr. Cuddy's death; native of Washington, ordained 1918; built the original rectory (today the Parish Office); died Apr. 9, 1957; buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Washington.
- Rev. Michael Joseph Finnerty1935–1942
Baltimore native, ordained 1922; opened up the partition in the mess hall church so the full building could be used for worship; died May 26, 1953.
- Rev. John H. Twamley, S.S.1942–1945
Sulpician; greatly reduced parish debt and moved all Masses from the mess hall to the school auditorium; died Dec. 11, 1971.
- Rev. Paul E. Meyer1945–1975
Longest-serving pastor (30 years); born 1902 in Baltimore, ordained 1928; built the 2-room school annex (1949) and the present church (dedicated 1957); grew the parish from a few hundred to over 3,500 families; named a Prelate of Honor by Pope Paul VI in 1970; died Feb. 22, 1993; buried near the church.
- Rev. DiNorcia1975–1991
Led the campaign for a new Parish Center and School; broke ground with Cardinal Hickey and Bishop Alvari Corrada del Rio in June 1987.
- Msgr. Michael Mellone1991–2003
Served a diverse community; remembered the Pantry, the Lord's Table, counseling service, school, and religious education programs.
- Rev. David G. Wellspresent
Current pastor; presided over the delayed centennial dinner in 2021; oversees a multilingual parish (English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole) and major outreach ministries.