RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program: Adults interested in looking into or joining the Catholic Church are invited to participate in a faith-sharing process designed to acquaint them with our Catholic tradition, introduce them to our community, and help them discern the Lord's call in their lives. Please contact Maria Stanton at the rectory at 301-253-2027.
CIC (Christian Initiation of Children) Program: This program is for children 8 years and older, whether baptized or un-baptized to become members of the Catholic Church. Through CIC classes children will develop a relationship with God and learn their identity as Children of God as they prepare to receive the Sacraments they have missed since Baptism, or to join the Catholic Church through Baptism.
The Sacrament of Baptism joyfully celebrates the entrance of new members into our Catholic Christian Community. Parents who wish to have their child baptized are requested to attend our baptism preparation class. To register, please call the parish office and speak with Patti Woods, several months in advance. Baptism Prep Form Godparent Information Form
As a community and as individuals, we are aware of many areas and experiences in our lives that cry out for the healing power and presence of God's forgiveness. Individual Reconciliation is available in the church every Saturday or by appointment.
We are a Eucharistic community, and as such we encourage full and active participation at Sunday Liturgy, where we remember the death and resurrection of Christ with thankfulness and hope. Please notify the Rectory when a member of the Parish is sick, homebound, or in the hospital; is unable to attend Church; and wishes to receive Holy Communion at home.
Children grade two and above who have not yet received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are invited to register for these sacramental preparation programs. All sacramental preparation programs require parent participation. Some meetings will be for parents alone and others will be for parents and their sons and daughters together. Registration in a religious education program [RelEdForm2008.pdf](classroom, lectionary, Atrium, or Catholic School) is required for everyone in sacramental preparation.
Youth grades eight and above who have not yet been confirmed are invited to register for preparation. Confirmation is celebrated in the Fall of the year. Preparation begins in one school year and is completed in the next. Confirmation I is for those just beginning their preparation. Confirmation II is for those who began the preparation this past year and will be confirmed in the next school year.
In the sacrament of marriage, a man and a woman pledge their love and commitment to one another in the presence of God and the Church. Couples planning to be married should contact the priest or deacon regarding marriage preparation at least six months in advance.
The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God's grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Permanent Deacons: The title "deacon" comes from a Greek word meaning "servant." In the Catholic Church, a deacon is ordained by the bishop and is a member of the clergy. Once ordained, the deacon enters into a new set of relationships: he is permanently and publicly configured to Christ the Servant, he shares in the pastoral responsibility of the bishop to care for all the people in the diocese, and he becomes an integral part of the ministerial structure of the Church, in partnership with priests, serving the needs of the entire diocese. By virtue of his ordination, he is called to the three-fold ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Charity.
Office of Priest Vocations: The Office of Priest Vocations in the Archdiocese of Washington promotes awareness of and assists men discerning priestly vocations, screens applicants for diocesan seminary formation, and oversees formation and evaluation of seminarians for the Archdiocese of Washington. Contact:
Monsignor Rob Panke, Director of Priest Vocations
Call the Parish Office to schedule a Funeral. "In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity. Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just."
Please click here to view eight videos from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops describing the sacraments. |
