St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church sits along Adelphi Road in Hyattsville, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Washington, where it has gathered English and Spanish-speaking Catholics since 1958. The parish describes its own identity with a single sentence on its materials: "St. Mark the Evangelist is a culturally diverse community acknowledging the unique gifts and abilities of each person through which we build the Body of Christ." That bilingual, multicultural character shapes every part of the parish, from its weekend Masses to its food pantry, from its religious education programs to the rosary and devotional life that fill its chapel.
A Parish Born on a Former Farm in 1958
Sixty-five years ago, the land where St. Mark's now stands was twelve acres of Buddington Farm, near the intersection of two rough roads - Colesville Road, now known as Adelphi Road, and University Boulevard, then still under construction. In 1958 the Archdiocese of Washington purchased the property and broke ground for a new parish. Father Louis W. Albert was appointed founding pastor, and on September 1, 1958, St. Mark's officially became a parish. The first Mass was celebrated on the first Sunday in October.
The school opened September 15, 1958, with grades one through four, staffed by the Religious of Jesus and Mary, who traveled daily from Regina High School on Riggs Road. In 1961 additional classrooms were constructed and the rectory was enlarged, making room for kindergarten through eighth grade and for four priests. The convent followed in 1968, giving the Religious of Jesus and Mary a permanent home within the parish complex. By November of 1970 the parishioners of St. Mark's had constructed and paid for, in full, a total of $1,230,000 in buildings and improvements - a tribute, the parish notes, to "the People of God, St. Mark's family."
After twelve years, Father Albert was reassigned, and Father Richard A. Hughes became the second pastor. The parish debated for several years whether to build a permanent church. With construction costs in mind, the decision was made to construct a social hall and convert Albert Hall, the old school auditorium, into the worship space. Ground was broken on March 31, 1974, for what became the Carnelian Room - a hall used for basketball, bingo, wedding receptions, school functions, and other gatherings. In February 1975, Albert Hall was dedicated as the worship area.
Just two months later, in April 1975, a fire almost destroyed the new worship space. With a great deal of hard work, the damage was repaired, and in 1976 an altar for the Blessed Sacrament was added to conform with new liturgical directions. A new garage for storage was built in the same period. Looking back on those first twenty-five years, the parish writes: "We, the People of God, St. Mark's family, have much to be proud of. We have faced good and bad times. We have supported one another in ways that may never be known or recorded by anyone but God."
The Pastor: From Managua to Hyattsville
The current pastor, Father Roberto Cortés Campos, brings his own long journey into the life of the parish. He was born in Managua, Nicaragua, in the midst of a large Catholic family. During the civil war in his home country, his family emigrated to the United States in the early 1980s. Before entering seminary, he worked in different fields, including as a program director and on-air personality at WMET in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and studied at Montgomery College and the Oblate College in Washington, D.C.
Father Roberto was a member of the Hispanic community at St. Michael's in Silver Spring, where he served on the parish council, helped coordinate the liturgy for the Spanish Mass, and was a catechist for many years. In 1995 the late Cardinal James Hickey accepted him as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington and sent him to St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami for philosophy. He was later sent to Rome for theological studies and graduated from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family. He was ordained in May 2002.
In October 2002 Father Roberto was named chaplain for the Spanish Charismatic Renewal of the Archdiocese of Washington, a role he still holds. He was named pastor of Nuestra Señora Reina de las Américas in Washington, D.C., by Cardinal Donald Wuerl in 2008. Today, alongside his pastoral work at St. Mark the Evangelist, he serves as director of Radio Vida en Abundancia ("Life in Abundance"), WDON-1540 AM.
Assisting at the parish is Permanent Deacon José Renato Molina. Religious education is directed by Genara Romero, who can be reached through the parish office and works with parents preparing children from age seven through seventeen for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Wendy Bonilla directs the music ministry for both English and Spanish celebrations. Two coordinators lead the adult formation programs: Nick Guevara for the English RCIA and Rina Canales for the Spanish RCIA. The parish office is managed day to day by the office manager, with Henry Sanchez serving as secretary.
Mass in Two Languages, One Body of Christ
St. Mark's is, in practice, two worshipping communities in one parish. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish is intentional about weaving the two together. The parish asks new members to register so that they can be welcomed, communicated with, and served more fully, and welcomes them with the words: "We are glad to have you join us and invite you to get involved in some of the parish groups and ministries."
The bilingual character shapes sacramental preparation as well. Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, marriage, confession, and the funeral rites are prepared in both English and Spanish, and baptism registration forms can be downloaded in either language. The parish's emphasis on bilingual formation reflects the diverse reality of Hyattsville and the surrounding communities of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Mass times are kept current on the parish's official schedule, which is updated regularly. Visitors planning a first visit are encouraged to confirm the day's times through the parish office.
The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
One of the most distinctive devotional features of St. Mark's is its Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, located at the side entrance of the parish house. "Jesus is waiting in the Blessed Sacrament to receive and bless us when we accept his invitation to spend an hour with him," the parish explains. The chapel is open every day except holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., giving parishioners and visitors a quiet place for prayer throughout the day.
For those unable to come in person, Mass and other celebrations are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, which has become a way for homebound parishioners, those who travel, and Spanish-speaking Catholics beyond the immediate area to stay connected to the parish's liturgical life.
Reconciliation and the Other Sacraments
The Sacrament of Confession is offered every Saturday at the church. Confessions in English run from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m., and confessions in Spanish from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Those who cannot make the scheduled times may schedule an appointment at the parish office during the week.
The parish walks its people through the traditional five steps of a good confession: examination of conscience, sorrow for sins, purpose of amendment, confession of sins to the priest, and completion of the assigned penance. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to bring their baptismal certificate and, if they are already civilly married, that certificate as well, and to schedule an appointment with the pastor through the parish office. Funerals are arranged by appointment with Father Roberto through the parish office, with the parish following the Church's teaching that the bodies of the deceased are to be treated with respect and charity in the faith and hope of the resurrection, and that the pious custom of burying the body is preserved, while cremation is permitted when not chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.
Forming Faith: Catechesis and RCIA
St. Mark's takes seriously its work of forming children and adults in the Catholic faith. For infants and children under the age of seven, parents download a baptism form, register at the parish office, and complete a brief preparation process. For children and youth from seven to seventeen, Genara Romero coordinates the catechesis program that prepares them for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Forms are available in both English and Spanish.
Adults who wish to become Catholic, or baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation or full reception into the Church, find two parallel tracks at St. Mark's. The English-language Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is coordinated by Nick Guevara, and the Spanish-language RCIA is coordinated by Rina Canales. Each track walks inquirers through the periods of inquiry, catechumenate, and mystagogy that have been part of the Church's adult initiation since the Second Vatican Council, with adapted formation for those whose baptismal or sacramental history differs.
For those seeking to deepen their faith beyond the basics, the parish has historically supported a range of lay-led groups. The parish has historically supported retreats, Bible study groups, adult inquiry classes, the Sodality, the Holy Name Society, the Cana Movement, days of recollection, parish missions, lectors, ushers, family liturgies, and special teen and youth liturgies. The parish blog continues that tradition by publishing regular Sunday and weekday reflections in both English and Spanish, drawing on the readings of the day and on the homilies and writings of Pope Francis and other Catholic voices.
Music, Lectors, and the Liturgical Team
Music at St. Mark's is bilingual and serves both the English and Spanish Masses. Wendy Bonilla directs the music ministry and coordinates the cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists who lead the congregation each week. Lectors and ushers - mentioned in the parish's own history as essential to the liturgy since the earliest years - continue to be drawn from the lay faithful.
The parish is intentional about involving families in the liturgy through family liturgies, and teens and youth through special liturgies tailored to them. Catechists for the parish school and CCD programs - referenced in the history of the parish - were long central to that work, and today's religious education program continues that tradition under Genara Romero's direction.
St. Mark's Food Pantry
For more than three decades, the parish has run one of the most visible ministries of service in the area: St. Mark's Food Pantry. According to the parish, the pantry has been operating since 1991 with an all-volunteer team. It provides food at no cost and without obligation to the homeless, the poor, the unemployed, senior citizens, and children in need. Hundreds of families continue to be helped through this ministry.
The pantry's mission is to "improve food security, promote healthier eating and better hygiene in our community with love, compassion, respect and dignity in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." It accepts dry and canned goods dropped off at the parish office between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, donations deposited in the baskets in the church, and contributions through a dedicated GoFundMe campaign. Checks and cash, marked "FOOD PANTRY," can also be brought to the parish office or placed in the Sunday Mass offering envelope.
"The need for food in our community is overwhelming and heartbreaking," the parish writes. "Your donation will empower us to continue the fight against hunger." Every dollar received by the pantry is used for the purchase of much-needed food for neighbors in the surrounding community.
Becoming a Parishioner: The Importance of Registration
St. Mark's is unusual in how directly it speaks about parish registration. The parish explains that, while registering in one's local parish is not a common practice for Catholics in Latin America or Europe, it is a common and important practice in the United States. Registration helps the parish keep in touch with its members and helps the parish provide sacramental records, letters of good moral character, and material and spiritual support in times of need.
The parish is explicit that registration information is completely confidential and will not be shared with any government or law enforcement agency. Registration forms are available from the ushers at Mass or from the rectory office during the week, and can be downloaded in both English and Spanish from the parish's online resources.
The parish also notes that, as registered members, parishioners have opportunities to participate in traditional religious festivals - the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Altagracia, the Lord of Miracles, and the Stations of the Cross - and in the wider life of the parish community. Registered parishioners may also be eligible for credits or subsidies that could lower the cost of tuition for their children at local parochial schools, should they choose that form of education.
A Parish Shaped by Prayer
Prayer is woven into every part of St. Mark's identity. A parish prayer, available in both English and Spanish, captures the community's voice. In Spanish, the prayer reads in part: "Tu pueblo, convocado en San Marcos humildemente ante tu presencia, unido en oración viene a decirte lo mucho que te amamos y te necesitamos... Ayúdanos, Señor a hacer tu voluntad siempre y así ser mejores administradores de tus dones y talentos." In English, it asks the same: "Help each of us, O God, to be open to your will so that we may better serve you as stewards of your gifts and talents... Help each of us to show love, generosity, and friendship to those who are different from us and to those in need."
Beyond the Eucharistic adoration chapel and the regular sacraments, the parish maintains a blog of weekly reflections - in English and Spanish - that follows the Church's liturgical calendar through the year. Reflections range from Advent and Christmas meditations on the journey of the Magi and the Holy Family, through Lenten reflections on the temptations of Jesus, Easter meditations on light and darkness, Pentecost reflections on the work of the Holy Spirit, Ordinary Time reflections on stewardship and discipleship, and Marian reflections on the role of Mary in the work of salvation. Homilies and writings from Pope Francis are shared alongside the parish pastor's own reflections, making the blog both a teaching tool and a record of the parish's spiritual life.
Visiting St. Mark the Evangelist
St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church is located at 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20783, in the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and can be reached at 301-422-8300 or by email at rectory@stmarkhyattsville.org. Saturday confessions are offered in English from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. and in Spanish from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is open for Eucharistic adoration every day, except holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The parish's Mass schedule, which includes both English and Spanish celebrations, is updated regularly. Sunday and weekday Masses are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, and online giving is available through Faith Direct. A volunteer-run food pantry has served the surrounding community since 1991 and welcomes donations of dry and canned goods, checks and cash marked "FOOD PANTRY," and contributions through its GoFundMe campaign. Whether one comes as a first-time visitor, a returning Catholic, a family preparing a child for the sacraments, an adult discerning entry into the Church, or a neighbor in need of food, St. Mark's opens its doors as the bilingual Catholic community it has been since 1958.