The beauty of our parish liturgies, Church artwork, and environs reflects our recognition of the wonder of the Lord’s real presence in our midst.
“Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. It is an invitation to savor life and to dream of the future. That is why the beauty of created things can never fully satisfy. It stirs that hidden nostalgia for God which a lover of beauty like Saint Augustine could express in incomparable terms: ‘Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you!' ”
Saint John Paul II
Letter to Artists, #16
The Liturgy Committee identifies and coordinates the many components of parish worship in order to enhance our community’s celebrations and assist our clergy. We help our community experience their connection with God and one another.
Considering that Eucharistic celebration is central to Catholic life, we try to achieve full, conscious and active participation of all the faithful in liturgical celebrations. We take into account the various needs. Some Masses are quiet, others active or in Spanish or bilingual. Members are not ‘experts’ but will, through experience, grow in the knowledge and art of the Liturgy and hopefully empower others to serve.
For more information, contact the Parish Office at 301-229-7933.
The Church Guild ensures that our church has a liturgically correct, reverent, and prayerful environment. Our volunteers launder altar server robes*, arrange altar flowers each week, dust windowsills, keep missalettes in place, clean and organize the vestibule and bulletin boards, refill candles, polish brass, dust, and vacuum the altar and the sacristy. The guild works closely with the Liturgy Committee, particularly at Easter and Christmas. We need volunteers throughout the year for a few hours on Thursday afternoons, on special occasions, and at Easter and Christmas.
For more information about this ministry, contact Maria El-Khouri at [email protected] or Fionnuala O’Riordan at [email protected]
*This ministry maintains the sacred linenes used during the celebration of Mass. Members are responsible for picking up, washing, ironing, folding, and returning the altar linenes. Work is done on a rotating basis and new members are always welcome. Training is provided due to the altar linens' sacred nature. for information contact Maria El Khouri at [email protected]
The gift of flowers for the Sanctuary of the church is a beautiful way to celebrate a birthday, marriage or anniversary or to honor a deceased family member or friend.
If you would like to sponsor flowers on the altar in memory of loved ones, living or deceased, please print your name, phone number and the occasion or loved one you wish to remember on a purple Flower Contribution envelope available in the church pews and/or vestibule. Minimum contribution for two vases on the main altar is $90-100. Please drop off your envelope in the collection basket, or call the parish office, 301-229-7933, and your request will be posted in the weekly bulletin.
We can only honor one individual request per weekend, so please bear in mind that, sometimes, the date you require may already be taken. Also, for your information, we will not be able to accept requests for the sponsoring of flowers on specific liturgical dates.