About St. Mary · Barnesville, Maryland
St. Mary's Parish and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the tiny upper Montgomery County community of Barnesville, Maryland, canonically established in 1807 (with roots as a Jesuit mission chapel back to 1741). It is also the official diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima for the Archdiocese of Washington, a designation received from Pope Pius XII in 1958 and formally dedicated by Archbishop Patrick A. O'Boyle on May 3, 1959. Today the parish serves its rural community from a 1900-rebuilt church on Barnesville Road, with weekend and daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Fatima devotions, faith formation, and active sodality and Knights of Columbus chapters. Pastor Rev. Tony D'Souza and Deacon David L. Cahoon currently lead the community, which is affiliated with Mary of Nazareth Catholic School in nearby Darnestown.
- Established
- 1807
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Our Lady of Fatima)
- Rector
- Rev. Tony D'Souza
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the rare combination of deep historical Catholic roots (dating to 1741) and a small, tight-knit rural parish family. Worshippers can attend daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, Our Lady of Fatima devotions on First Saturdays, and a Saturday Vigil plus two Sunday Masses — all in a single, recently rebuilt historic church. A lively parish life surrounds the liturgies: a Sodality, Holy Name society, Knights of Columbus council, Haiti mission committee, Religious Education program, RCIA, and a youth group, along with beloved annual traditions like the 150-year-old Chicken Dinner. For Catholics in upper Montgomery County seeking a parish with real sacramental devotion and a genuine sense of community, St. Mary's is hard to beat.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM until confessions have ended
Adoration times
- First Friday: 9:30 AM – Noon (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
History of St. Mary's Parish and Shrine
St. Mary's is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Maryland's Piedmont. Its mission chapel was founded in 1741 by Jesuit missionaries from St. John's Parish in Frederick. The present parish was canonically established in 1807, when Fr. John Dubois asked Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore for a church in upper Montgomery County. The community donated land, timber, and labor; Fr. Dubois later went on to found Mount St. Mary's and influence Sts. Elizabeth Ann Seton and John Neumann, all of whom are carved over the present entrance.
- 1741: Jesuit mission chapel established in 'Barnstown'
- 1807: Parish canonically established under Bishop John Carroll
- July 14, 1900: Original church destroyed by fire; rebuilt by Hilton Construction with parishioner support
- 1958: Designated official Fatima Shrine for the Archdiocese of Washington by Archbishop O'Boyle
- May 3, 1959: Shrine formally dedicated
The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Following Pope Pius XII's 1958 call for a Fatima parish in every diocese, Archbishop Patrick A. O'Boyle designated St. Mary's as the Archdiocese of Washington's official Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Under Pastor Fr. Martin Hyland, indoor and outdoor shrines were erected, and the Shrine was dedicated on May 3, 1959. The altar of the indoor Shrine holds a piece of stone from the actual site of the Marian apparitions at Fatima, presented by the then-Ambassador of Portugal.
- Indoor Shrine with relic stone from Fatima
- Outdoor Shrine on the parish grounds
- First Saturday Fatima Devotions follow 9:00 AM Mass
- Prayer Garden with Stations of the Cross
Architecture and Sacred Art
The present church is the 1900 rebuilding by the Hilton Construction Company, after fire destroyed the original. Above the entrance, stone reliefs depict Fr. John Dubois flanked by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann. The glass-etched front doors tell the parish's spiritual story: a chalice and wheat (the Eucharist) on one, a dove over an open Bible (the Holy Spirit) on the other.
- Hilton Construction Company rebuild (post-1900)
- Stone reliefs of Fr. Dubois, St. Seton, and St. Neumann above entrance
- Etched-glass doors depicting Eucharist and Holy Spirit
- Indoor and outdoor Fatima Shrines
- Prayer Garden and Stations of the Cross
Cemetery and Memorials
Behind the church lies St. Mary's Cemetery, the final resting place of C&O Canal workers who perished in a 19th-century cholera epidemic, as well as many Civil War soldiers from the campaigns that passed through Barnesville. The cemetery also includes an outdoor altar and a Memorial to the Unborn.
- Mass graves of C&O Canal cholera victims
- Civil War soldiers' graves
- Outside Altar
- Memorial to the Unborn
Devotions
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish maintains several traditional Catholic devotions. The Rosary is prayed every weekday at 9:30 AM (after the 9:00 AM Mass). First Saturdays feature Our Lady of Fatima devotions following the 9:00 AM Mass, in keeping with the parish's role as the Archdiocese's Fatima Shrine.
- Daily Rosary, Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM
- First Saturday Fatima Devotions after 9:00 AM Mass
- Holy Day and federal holiday observances as announced
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the standard Catholic sacraments by appointment. Baptisms and weddings are scheduled through the parish office; weddings require at least six months' notice after initial contact. Children prepare for First Communion and Confirmation through the parish Religious Education program.
- Baptism: by appointment
- Wedding: by appointment, minimum 6 months lead time
- Confession: Saturdays 3:15 PM and by request
- First Eucharist and Confirmation: via Religious Education
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Mary's runs a parish-based Religious Education program from September through May for children in grades K–8, meeting on Wednesdays (K–5 from 4:00–5:15 PM; grades 6–8 from 7:30–8:30 PM). For older teens, a High School Youth Group meets Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Adults preparing for full reception into the Catholic Church join the parish's RCIA process, and adult faith formation opportunities are offered throughout the year.
- Religious Education K–5: Wednesdays 4:00–5:15 PM
- Religious Education 6–8: Wednesdays 7:30–8:30 PM
- High School Youth Group: Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Runs September through May
Parish Organizations and Ministries
A small parish punches above its weight with active lay organizations. The Sodality and Holy Name Society sustain traditional Catholic fellowship; the Knights of Columbus council runs the parish's major fundraisers and service projects; the Haiti Committee directs mission support to Haiti; and the Music Ministry (Director of Music and Organist) provides liturgical music at every Mass. The parish also hosts the annual Chicken Dinner — now 150+ years old — and a fall Ham & Turkey Dinner as major community fundraisers.
- Sodality
- Holy Name Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Haiti Mission Committee
- Music Ministry (Choir and Organist)
- Pavilion Manager (Fr. Reid Pavilion event space)
- Annual Chicken Dinner (summer)
- Ham & Turkey Dinner (fall)
Mary of Nazareth Catholic School
St. Mary's is one of seven regional parishes affiliated with Mary of Nazareth Roman Catholic School, which serves PreK through 8th grade from its campus at 14131 Seneca Road in nearby Darnestown. The school is led by Principal Mr. Michael J. Friel and Assistant Principal Katherine Schultz and provides faith formation aligned with Archdiocese of Washington standards.
- Campus: 14131 Seneca Road, Darnestown, MD 20874
- Phone: 301-869-0940
- Principal: Michael J. Friel
- Assistant Principal: Katherine Schultz
- Affiliated parishes: Mother Seton (Germantown); St. John Neumann (Gaithersburg); St. Mary's Shrine (Barnesville); St. Rose of Lima (Gaithersburg); St. Paul (Damascus); Our Lady of the Presentation (Poolesville); Our Lady of the Visitation (Darnestown)
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Mary's is currently led by Rev. Tony D'Souza as Pastor, supported by Deacon David L. Cahoon. Day-to-day operations are handled by Secretaries Denise Crawford and Brenda Evans, with Elizabeth Smith directing Faith Formation. The staff team coordinates parish ministries, Religious Education, Music Ministry (Director of Music and Organist), Pavilion events, Sodality, Knights of Columbus, and the Youth Group.
- Pastor: Rev. Tony D'Souza
- Deacon: David L. Cahoon
- Faith Formation Director: Elizabeth Smith
- Secretaries: Denise Crawford, Brenda Evans
- Music: Director of Music and Organist
- Pavilion Manager
Visiting and Contact
St. Mary's is located in the small, rural community of Barnesville in upper Montgomery County, about an hour northwest of Washington, D.C. The church is wheelchair accessible, and visitors are warmly welcomed. Federal holiday Mass times vary, so the parish recommends calling the rectory at 301-972-8660 or checking the website before visiting on a holiday.
- Address: 18230 Barnesville Road, P.O. Box 67, Barnesville, MD 20838
- Phone: 301-972-8660
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmaryshrine.org
- Wheelchair accessible
- Facebook: SaintMarysBarnesvilleMD
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Duboisearly 1800s
Founder of the 1807 parish; later founded Mount St. Mary's, spiritual director to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bishop of New York who ordained St. John Neumann.
- Fr. Martin Hylandlate 1950s
Pastor under whom the indoor and outdoor Our Lady of Fatima Shrines were erected; the Shrine was dedicated by Archbishop O'Boyle on May 3, 1959.
- Rev. Kevin P. O'Reillyapprox. 2008–2025
Long-serving pastor who retired to Florida in 2025; presided over his last weekend Masses at St. Mary's on March 15–16, 2025. Served the parish for 17 years.
- Rev. Tony D'Souza2025–present
Current pastor; previously pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Church in Washington, D.C.