About Sts. Philip and James · Baltimore, Maryland
Saints Philip and James Catholic Church is a vibrant, diverse parish and university parish in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, serving both the local Charles Village community and the Catholic students, faculty, and staff of Johns Hopkins University. Since July 1, 2010, the parish has been entrusted to the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph, at the request of then-Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, who merged the parish with the Hopkins Catholic community. Under the leadership of Dominican friars, Saints Philip and James is committed to offering beautiful liturgy, deep formation, Eucharistic adoration, and service to the poor, with daily Mass, daily adoration, a robust food pantry, a community garden, and an active Newman Center ministry for Hopkins students. Its mission is simply stated: 'To Encounter Jesus Christ in His Church and to Share Him with Others.'
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- Saints Philip and James (the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Weibley, O.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
Saints Philip and James offers daily Mass, a daily open adoration chapel (8 AM – 7 PM), and one of the most architecturally significant churches in Baltimore — all in the walkable Charles Village neighborhood steps from the Johns Hopkins campus. As a Dominican-run University Parish, it pairs beautiful liturgy (including a weekly ad orientem Mass and a monthly Spanish Mass) with serious intellectual formation, a vibrant student Newman Center, a food pantry, and a community garden that feeds the poor. Whether you are a Hopkins student looking for a Newman Night and a Wednesday Holy Hour, a young family seeking Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, or a Charles Village neighbor wanting a diverse, faithful community, you will find a place here.
Mass times at Sts. Philip and James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM (after daily Mass)
- Wednesday, 6:30 PM (during Holy Hour)
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment with a chaplain
Adoration times
- Daily, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel (on the side of the church closest to the rectory)
- Monday – Friday, 12:00 PM
- Wednesday, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Holy Hour)
- Wednesday, 7:30 PM (after Holy Hour)
- Saturday, 8:00 AM
Welcome & Mission
Saints Philip and James Catholic Church and University Parish is a diverse community in the heart of Charles Village, Baltimore, serving both neighborhood residents and the Johns Hopkins Catholic community. Under the pastoral care of the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph since 2010, the parish exists to 'Encounter Jesus Christ in His Church and to Share Him with Others.' Pastor Fr. Michael Weibley, O.P., invites all — from college students to young families to longtime Charles Villagers — to find a home here through worship, formation, fellowship, and service.
- Mission: 'To Encounter Jesus Christ in His Church and to Share Him with Others.'
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Weibley, O.P.
- Cared for by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph since July 1, 2010
- Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:45 PM
History
Cardinal James Gibbons laid the cornerstone of the first Saints Philip and James church on September 5, 1897 — a building still standing, now home to the Johns Hopkins University Press. As Charles Village grew with the university, the present, much grander church was dedicated on June 15, 1930, blending Greco-Roman and Byzantine styles in a design by Theodore Wells Pietsch. The parish's history took its modern shape on July 1, 2010, when Archbishop Edwin O'Brien entrusted Saints Philip and James to the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph and merged it with the Hopkins Catholic community, forming today's University Parish.
- 1897: cornerstone of the original church laid by Cardinal Gibbons
- 1930: present church dedicated on June 15
- 2010 (July 1): Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph entrusted with pastoral care
- Newman Center moved to the lower level of the parish rectory
Our Church Building
The present building is considered one of the most beautiful and architecturally significant churches in Baltimore. Designed by the much-acclaimed Baltimore architect Theodore Wells Pietsch, it incorporates the finest features of the Greco-Roman and Byzantine styles. Inside, the walls display the pioneering work of John J. Early, who was the first to use marble chips in concrete in Baltimore.
- Architect: Theodore Wells Pietsch (Baltimore)
- Interior: John J. Early (pioneer of marble-chip-in-concrete)
- Style: Greco-Roman and Byzantine
- Original 1897 church: now home of the Johns Hopkins University Press
Dominican Friars & Staff
A community of Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph, supported by a small lay staff, ministers at the parish. The current pastor is Fr. Michael Weibley, O.P. Two Dominican friars serve as dedicated chaplains to the Johns Hopkins Catholic community.
- Fr. Michael Weibley, O.P. — Pastor
- Fr. Josemaría Guzmán-Domínguez, O.P. — Chaplain & Director of the Catholic Community at Hopkins
- Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, O.P. — Associate Pastor & Chaplain of the Catholic Community at Hopkins
- Fr. Bertrand Hebert, O.P. — Associate Pastor; Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
- Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak, O.P. (in residence) — St. Mary's Seminary & University
- Fr. Reginald Whitt, O.P., J.C.D. (in residence) — Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
- Patrick Weikle — Music Director & Organist
- Jay Lampart — Bookkeeper; Facilities Director also on staff
- Emily Carroll — Campus Minister; Amira Rady — Development Coordinator; plus Office Manager
Catholic Community at Johns Hopkins (Newman Center)
The Newman Center — housed on the lower level of the parish rectory — serves Catholic undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff of Johns Hopkins University. Through the website jhucatholic.org and the parish itself, students find Mass, confession, adoration, peer-led small groups, semesterly retreats, rosary nights, community service, game nights, and socials. Newman Night gathers every Wednesday at 8:00 PM in the Parish Hall, then moves to the Newman Center.
- Hopkins Catholic website: jhucatholic.org
- Instagram: @jhucatholic
- Weekly Newman Night: Wednesdays at 8:00 PM (after 7:30 PM Mass)
- Small groups, retreats, rosary nights, service, and socials
Faith Formation
The parish's formation work aims to 'form educated, passionate, and faithful Catholic leaders, transformed and united by an abiding encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the sacraments, and the Word of God.' Programs include children's religious education, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Theology for the Laity, a parish book club, and Sacramental Preparation.
- Religious Education / Sacramental Preparation for children
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Suzanne Schlattman, Coordinator) — includes the Toddler Atrium
- Theology for the Laity
- Parish Book Club
- FORMED digital platform — search 'Saints Philip and James' at FORMED.org
Outreach & Service to the Poor
Faith in action runs deep at Saints Philip and James. The parish operates a food pantry and supports it through St. Patrick's Community Garden, where parishioners grow fresh produce on the church's north lawn. There is also a Parish Mental Health Ministry and a Culture-of-Life commitment woven into the parish mission.
- Food Pantry
- St. Patrick's Community Garden (Coordinator: Lee Truelove) — provides fresh produce to the food pantry
- Parish Mental Health Ministry
- Building the 'culture of life' as part of the parish mission
Parish Leadership
Parish governance is supported by elected and appointed lay leaders who serve alongside the Dominican friars.
- Finance Council Chair: John White
- Parish Council Chair: Patricia Ellis
- Parish Corporators: Ed Dickey and Jim Anthony
Patron Saints & Feast Day
The parish is named for Saints Philip and James the Less, two of the original Twelve Apostles, whose joint feast day is May 3. The two saints are honored together because their relics were brought to Rome together in May of 560 A.D. and placed in a basilica near the center of the city. St. Philip is venerated as patron of hatters, pastry chefs, and bakers; St. James the Less is patron of hatmakers, pharmacists, and Uruguay.
- Feast Day: May 3
- St. Philip — patron of hatters, pastry chefs, and bakers
- St. James the Less — patron of hatmakers, pharmacists, and Uruguay
Visit, Park, and Connect
The parish sits at 2801 North Charles Street in Charles Village, an easy walk from the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus. Beyond the daily Mass and adoration schedule, the parish invites you to encounter Christ through the Newman Center, the book club, the food pantry, the garden, or simply helping to clean the church — there is something for everyone here.
- Address: 2801 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
- Phone: (410) 235-2294 — Emergency line: 443-212-6039
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish lot at 28th & Charles; Sunday overflow parking on the JHU School of Education lot; street parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Weibley, O.P.January 2022 – present
Arrived in Baltimore from Providence College, where he had served five years as chaplain, administrator, and professor. Ordained 2016.