Parish Newsletter May/June 2015
Message From Father Ron
On the Pages of This Issue Message From Father Ron (continued)
Dear Parishioners, As we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost, we recall how after the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent upon the Apostles who were gathered in the Upper Room. As the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were given the gifts necessary to go into the streets of Jerusalem to begin preaching the Good News of Jesus: His passion, death, and resurrection. We, too, are called by Jesus to proclaim His Good News and share our faith with those around us. This past spring we have celebrated the gifts and grace of the Lord Jesus as members of our parish
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family have drawn closer to Jesus in their journey with Him. On Saturday, March 14, Bishop Martin Holley confirmed 120 of our young people. We welcomed the 13 members of our RCIA class into the church at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, April 4; 140 second graders and 3 young people received their First Holy Communion on May 9, along with the ongoing celebrations of baptisms and marriages. On Wednesday, April 29, over 130 parishioners attended our Lead and Serve Forum and buffet dinner hosted by our Parish Council to learn more about the ministries and ways in which to serve our parish community. continued on page 2
Rob Maro to Celebrate His First Mass (continued) 2 Cathedral and Basilica in our “Sites” 3 Parish Forum: A Recap 4 Community Life at Blessed Sacrament 5 School Report
Former Director of Religious Education to Return to Parish to Celebrate His First Mass
5 Bulldog Race 6 Eighth Graders in NYC Source of photo: dcpriest.org
On June 21, Deacon Rob Maro, former Blessed Sacrament Director of Religious Education (DRE) 2002-10, will return to our parish as a newlyordained priest to celebrate his first Mass. A former Blessed Sacrament Coordinator of the Religious Education program (School of Religion) for children and teens, as well as for classes of adults who wish to convert to Catholicism through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), Rob was also involved in other aspects of adult faith formation, such as Baptism preparation classes
for couples, and a young adult Bible study based on the Sunday readings. His work has touched the lives of countless Blessed Sacrament parishioners. Born in Oceanside, New York, Rob grew up on Long Island, the oldest of four children. His father, now deceased, was a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and his mother was an elementary school teacher and a receptionist for a brokerage firm; now retired, she lives on Long Island. Rob credits his parents with nurturing his faith from the time he was young and giving him continued on page 2
6 Summer Art Camp for Kids 6 First Birthday in Heaven: A Poem 7 Chapel Singers Bring Music and Happiness 7
Father Ron’s message . . . continued We will celebrate our parish feast day of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday, June 7, especially at the 12:30 p.m. Mass followed by our Eucharistic Procession through the neighborhood and returning to the church for Benediction. This celebration calls us to reflect on Jesus and the gift of Himself in the Eucharist as the source and summit of our lives. Jesus feeds and nourishes us as we Artwork by Aidan Kiley Fifth Grade make our journey through this world with our hearts set on our true and eternal home—the kingdom of heaven. As we believe with all our hearts that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, we ask Him to help us to readily recognize Him in the faces of those around us, especially our family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers. We are preparing in a special way for the Priestly Ordination of Deacon Rob Maro, our former Director of Religious Education.
He and his classmates, including Deacon Martino Choi, will be ordained by Cardinal Wuerl on Saturday, June 20, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC at 10 a.m. Deacon Rob will celebrate his First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving here at Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m., with a reception to follow in the school gym. Please remember Deacon David Kruse and Cody Ford in your prayers as they prepare for their ordinations. On Saturday, June 6, Cody Ford will be ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Wheeling, West Virginia, and will return to serve us on weekends next fall. Deacon David Kruse will be ordained a priest on Friday, June 19, for the Diocese of Spokane, Washington. Once again, thank you for all you do for your parish by sharing your time, talent, and treasure. Be assured of my daily prayers for you and your families and have a blessed and safe summer. During this summer, answer Jesus’ invitation to deepen your relationship with Him by allowing some extra time for the renewal of your heart and soul. Along with attending Mass on the weekend, set some time aside for prayer, spiritual reading, daily Mass, and visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Peace,
Father Ron
Rob Maro to celebrate his first Mass . . . continued the greatest gift parents could give a child: the gift of faith that has carried him through difficult times and remains a great source of strength and joy to this day. Asked about his vocation discernment, Rob responded, “I feel very blessed because I have had so many good people in my life who have been a great witness and helped me in my discernment, but the most decisive factor was my time as DRE at Blessed Sacrament. The Lord afforded me a rich opportunity to work closely with two wonderful pastors: Msgr. Thomas Duffy and Msgr. John Enzler, as well as the many parochial vicars at Blessed Sacrament. The staff and parishioners of Blessed Sacrament also played a critical role in my discernment through their encouragement and prayers. I wouldn’t be where I am today, were it not for the courage of those who asked me, ‘Have you ever thought about being a priest?’ It was a real joy to work at Blessed Sacrament, and I am so grateful that my time as a DRE was the path that God used to lead me to the priesthood!” “A priest,” Rob said, “brings Jesus to people through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and all of the sacraments, but he also brings the people to Jesus through teaching and preaching, and by simply being present to them as a spiritual father. I anticipate embracing all of those aspects of the priesthood with much 2
joy and enthusiasm. The beauty of the priesthood to me is that there is not simply one way to do this.” And what message would Rob like to share with Blessed Sacrament’s parishioners? He said, “First, I would like to say thank you to all the parishioners and staff at Blessed Sacrament who encouraged me towards this vocation when I wasn’t sure of it myself. I wouldn’t be here without you. I can’t even begin to express what a great joy it will be for me to celebrate my first Mass with all of you on June 21. Second, if you know of someone whom you think has a call to the priesthood or religious life, please don’t hesitate to encourage him. And finally, to anyone who is considering a call to the priesthood or religious life, I would encourage you to be not afraid. I had a lot of fear and uncertainty that I had to work through when I first began to take this call from God seriously. As I began to trust Him more and more, I realized that I had nothing to fear. God is so good and is never outdone in generosity. No matter what your vocation in life, whether that is married, single, priesthood, or religious/consecrated life, give it all to Jesus with much love and generosity—you won’t be disappointed! “ Join Rob at his first Mass, appropriately scheduled for Father’s Day. Pray for him as he follows in the line of Melchizedek—a priest of God, forever!
Both Cathedral and Basilica in Our “Sites”
Inside St. Matthew’s Cathedral
Father Ron celebrates Mass at St. Matthew’s; Tim Gorman assists as altar server.
Organ in St. Matthew’s Cathedral; photo by Lisa McKinnon
Entrance to St. Matthew’s Cathedral
Bascilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Photos by Joe Bozik
By Joe Bozik Our Springtime faith journey on April thirteen Featured two magnificent, local destinations The Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
As our hour-long tour came to a close We exited past memorials of Cardinals remembered, Then saw parking enforcement waving our charter bus To keep moving and circling the block once more.
As we were greeted by our leader Father Ron, We boarded our bus by 9:30 a.m., Clutching our snackie-goodie-bags in hand Prepackaged with love by our well-organized Rita Killian.
A short drive uptown to the Brookland area We arrived at the footsteps of the colossal Basilica, In time for lunch at the lower level cafeteria,
A ten o’clock arrival at St. Matthew’s Cathedral was In time for Mass celebrated by Father Ron, With readings well-spoken by John Vittone And assisted by our altar server, Tim Gorman.
Eager to use Gift Shop coupons arranged by Marie Garrovillas. With seventy-some chapels to visit on two levels And one more under construction to open next year, Our lively docent guide, Sal Mazzuca, Gave us as an engaged and educated tour.
Now with spiritual nourishment of morning Mass, We were prepared for our breathtaking tour Of stunning mosaics, paintings and rainbows of marble Including the JF Kennedy memorial inscription on the floor.
Being the largest Catholic Church in the U.S., Standing at four-hundred fifty-feet long Still amazingly it can fit comfortably Inside St. Peter’s in Vatican City, Rome.
Our knowledgeable tour guide, Bob Gallagher, Pointed out Apostles, Saints and symbols, Heights of domes, stained-glass windows and the organEven a crafty family crest showing a squirrel.
As many times as some of us have been to these places, Each time seems to unlock new highlights. For truly we in this Diocese are blessed to have A Cathedral and a Basilica in our “sites”.
Construction at this site began in 1893. In 1895, in a side chapel, the first Mass was said; Then the 200-foot domed Romanesque Revival Church Was, in 1913, decisively dedicated. Becoming the new Diocese of Washington, In 1939 as an outcome from Baltimore, St. Matthews serves as seat of Archbishop of DC, Currently (since 2006) Donald Cardinal Wuerl.
The next faith journey is this autumn. Check upcoming parish bulletins for details, or contact Rita Killian:
[email protected] or 202.363.5069.
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Parish Forum: Lay Leadership and Service at Blessed Sacrament Demystifying Parish Structure/Highlighting Volunteer Opportunities By David Byers, Parish Council President When he opened the Parish Forum on April 29, Father Ron remarked that Blessed Sacrament now serves 3,700 households, about 10,000 people in all. We’re familiar with Father Ron’s ministry and the clergy who assist him. We’re touched by the ministry of our excellent parish staff. The forum, though, was about the ministry of the rest of us—the 10,000. Blessed Sacrament’s laity serve through 99 ministries, six commissions, and a council advisory to the pastor. The structure resembles a pyramid lying flat, broad at one end and narrow at the other. It is a practical expression of Blessed Sacrament’s mission: “a Catholic community within the Archdiocese of Washington, centered on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Focused on the Paschal Mystery and through the grace of the Sacraments, we serve God’s people through evangelization, education, stewardship and social justice.” The 99 recognized ministries cover a huge gamut. There are one-time events like the Msgr. Corbett Lecture or the Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive. There are seasonal ministries like the Christmas Tree Sale or the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), all-year-except-summer ministries like DisAbilities or Bible Study, and even “permanent” service like extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, ushers, and the ongoing work of maintaining and improving the buildings and grounds. The Parish Council and its six commissions make this colorful mix of ministries, if not manageable, then at least comprehensible. The council and commissions
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provide a framework for creative and effective work for God and neighbor. Here’s how the system works. Each ministry relates to one of the commissions, and the commission chairs are ex officio members of the Parish Council. This arrangement provides a pathway for a ministry to share information with the parish at large, or to report a problem. Some, like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, have their own structure and rules and usually need little from the council, but the Community Life Commission gives them a pathway to the wider parish if they need it. The structure also gives ministries a way to make concrete proposals and get things done. For example, the Communications Commission recently got permission to reanimate the parish Facebook page, which had lapsed. The Faith Formation Commission got the go-ahead to create a new “house church” program this past Lent, and to bring alive the concept of “intentional discipleship” next year. The Administration Commission is working its way through a list of maintenance needs. That’s why the vestibules have new carpet and paint and the aging carpet throughout the church will soon be replaced as well.
Community Life, Communications (just created), and Administration. The life of these commissions is quite complex. For example, Outreach covers 35 different services, from the Environmental Action Committee to our soup kitchen ministry. For further information on all six commissions, go to the parish website, click on the “Ministries” tab on the top bar, and choose the commission of interest from the drop-down menu. You will find a link to all the ministries that commission relates to, plus contact information for the chair and the various program heads. Over 120 parishioners attended the Parish Forum, which posed the questions “How Can I Help?”; “What Can I Give Back?”; “Where Do I Fit In?” If you missed the forum and are still looking for answers, check out the parish website. Or simply get in touch with Council President Dave Byers (
[email protected], 301.681.7014) or Vice-President Ceil Malphrus (
[email protected]). Opportunities abound for all 10,000 of us!
Finally, the commissions and the council allow for coordination and prioritization of ministry ideas. What happens if two or three commissions come up with major projects at the same time? If it is not practical to proceed with all of them, the council would advise Father Ron on the wisest use of available time, talent and treasure. Blessed Sacrament’s commissions are Worship, Outreach, Faith Formation,
Artwork by Chloe Lee Fifth Grade
Community Life: Alive and Booming at Blessed Sacrament By Tricia Burke, Chair, Community Life Commission We all know that Blessed Sacrament is full of life every Sunday as we come and go to Mass and CCD. But there is a vibrant atmosphere the other six days of the week—and it’s not just the kids on the blacktop. A parish is a seven-day community, and Blessed Sacrament is probably more of an eight-day-a-week community. Every day: morning, noon and night, Blessed Sacrament has something going on to make its parishioners feel at home here and truly realize and gain from the potential of our community. The Community Life Commission encompasses all ages and all interests through its missions: it’s Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and CYO sports; it’s Youth Group; it’s Faith in the Workplace—men who come together one morning a month for a talk and discussion; it’s MOMS group—mothers reaching out to each other with help and grace; it’s Sodality—women of all ages cleaning our
Artwork by Julia Clark Fifth Grade
beautiful altar and volunteering everywhere in our city. It’s the Ray Manning Center, a bevy of activity for those lucky enough to enjoy their well-deserved retirements; it’s the DisAbilities ministry for our intellectually and developmentally disabled parishioners and volunteers who want to be a friend; it’s the Filipino Community Committee serving a large and vibrant community within our parish; it’s Prayer groups and Renew outlets for those of us who want a further knowledge and understanding of Christ in our community; it’s the Welcoming Committee making sure a harried mover has one less thing to worry about—Blessed Sacrament will surely be their new home away from home. The Community Life Ministry is also any other type of ministry you, the parishioners, think we need. We are here for every age, every level, every day. Be a part of the active Blessed Sacrament Community Life!
Artwork by Tessa Kiyonaga Second Grade
Artwork by Drew Pagliaro Third Grade
School Report By Stella Glasgow, Fourth Grade May is an exciting month at Blessed Sacrament School. We started the month with the Mission Fair on May 1st. The Mission Fair is a fun way to raise money for the Holy Cross sisters who are building a school in Uganda. Students got to dunk teachers in a dunk tank, play games, win prizes and much more. On Saturday, May 2nd, parents and kids joined in the Bulldog 5k and the fun run. Kids who ran the fun run got a medal and a ring pop after they finished.
On May 8th the school celebrated Grandparent’s Day, an opportunity for students to show their grandparents all of the things they have been doing this year. The second graders received their First Eucharist on May 9th. They have been practicing the whole year for this; this is big year for them. These are some of the exciting events that have been going at Blessed Sacrament School in May.
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Gathering for Some Fun at the Annual Bulldog Race/Fun Run
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It was early morning on a sunny, bright May 2nd, Derby Day, and the runners were Blessed Sacrament’s best: students, parents, alumni, friends and families united for fun. During the previous two days, trees, flowers, and grass had burst in a pageant of local color, traffic was re-routed, police were positioned to ensure the runners’ safety, and Chevy Chase was ready for the Bulldog Race.
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Eighth Graders Visit New York City
Eighth grade cantors, led by music teacher Bridget Forcey, sang at St. Malachy’s Church in New York City.
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And they also made an appearance in Times Square!
Kids’ Summer Art Camp Returns to Blessed Sacrament For many summers, students age 4 through high school have had an awesome art adventure while developing their talents at Blessed Sacrament School’s art studio. Led by long-time Blessed Sacrament art teacher, Judy Kearns, students work in clay, painting, drawing, tiedie, with new projects each week. This is a great opportunity to develop young talent and for older students to work on pieces for their college portfolio applications. Classes will meet 12:30-3 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament School art studio during the weeks of June 22-26, June 29July 2 (reduced fee), July 6-10, July 20-24. No camp July 13-17. Contact Judy Kearns,
[email protected] for more details.
First Birthday in Heaven A Poem written on the first anniversary of the author’s mother’s death By Joe Bozik So what must it be like Not having your loved ones, With you on their birthday, Because they are now gone? Is there something special About all of those firsts During this very year; Sometimes feels more like worsts?
Lighting many candles; Sharing this first birth date.
These details don’t matter – Make portions a big one.
With others who too share, This first birthday up here, Since dying and arriving Within the last full year.
Imagine other people Gone years ago, and yet They too had first birthdays With cake and singing, I’ll bet. And now they celebrate With millions of older souls, Each day, one more party – These simple birthday symbols.
That first round birthday cake Imagine it chocolate; Bakers mixing batter – That spoon, who gets first lick?
Yet every day, how can this be Of cakes, frosting and candles? Well you see, here in heaven All things are possible.
Imagine this party table In Garden of Eden, Surrounded by roses, Forget-me-nots, even. Who will be around table Singing, smiling, happy – Imagine Jesus himself: Seems very heavenly.
Artwork by Lizzy Rosettie Second Grade
Or could this table be At one edge of eternity, Peering over to one side Viewing earth again, you see. Imagine thousands here At these tables, patient,
So many birthdays past; Some barefoot, shoed, in sandals – Jesus leading the song, Then blowing out candles. Do they add more candles For good luck; to grow on?
So bring on more cake And don’t forget ice cream. Call Jesus over this way To sing with Him again. All these firsts happening During this first year up there, Knowing this, gives us comfort; Seems so special, so dear. Happy Birthday Mother! Enjoy with your Brethren, Today, this your very First Birthday in heaven!
Chapel Singers Make Music While Making Others Happy By Ginny Curtin The Blessed Sacrament Chapel Singers is a music outreach ministry of the parish. We are an a cappella group, and we are in our eighth year of singing for seniors. We have sung at senior residences, local group Christmas luncheons and wandered through the wards at Sibley Hospital, caroling for patients. We also had the pleasure to visit the Little Sisters of the Poor to sing with Msgr. Duffy and his neighbors at the Jeanne Jugan residence. We practice on Monday nights in the chapel, rehearsing for our performances. Watch the parish bulletin for a start-up date or contact Ginny Curtin for more information: gucurtin@ gmail.com.
Note of Thanks From the Editor: Many thanks to all of our contributors during the 2014-2015 year. Without our many writers, student artists, and photographers, we could not have published our quarterly Parish Newsletter. Together, we helped communicate the activities of our very busy parish.
Editor:
Pat Watson
Layout:
Delphine Clegg
Parish Logo Designs:
Ellen Smyth
Artwork:
Blessed Sacrament School students under the guidance of their art teacher, Judy Kearns
May/June 2015
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3630 Quesada Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20015 202.966.6575 www.blessedsacramentdc.org
