"Judith (Judy) Tomasky, 73, of Waldorf Maryland unexpectedly began her eternal rest the week of October 3, 2021. Judy was a devout Catholic and a member of Our Lady Help of Christians for 41 years. She was a lifelong accomplished artist, pianist, and photographer, and a loving family member. Time dedicated to her Catholic Faith brought her great pleasure, as she committed many hours each week worshipping and walking the Christian path at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Charles County” (extracts from obituary).

Many of us were shocked to hear about the unexpected death of Judy. She was one of the pillars of our parish, one of the "OLHOC pioneers" who joined the parish when it was established in 1980. As many of her family members reminded us: " JUDY LOVED HER CHURCH". I have decided to write this column for those of you who have joined our church recently and may have not known Judy. She is an example of the many "active" parishioners who over the last 41 years not only have "loved our church" but have also made our parish "who we are": a welcoming, prayerful and joyful community, a loving "family of families". At the repast organized by our own Marian Group in the Father Martin Hall, her daughter Lisa was talking to Fran Bryner, another of our pioneers, and they were recalling the way Religious Education took place in the homes when the parish did not have its own building. Lisa, like her three brothers, received all their sacraments at OLHOC.

Judy was an active member of our Marian Group. She had a great love for MARY. On Saturday mornings just before the 9 am Mass, Judy led the Rosary for many many years. She believed that Mary was leading her to Jesus. Not surprisingly she was involved in the Committees that helped with the projects of the outdoor Statue of Mary and the large Crucifix. She even sketched a landscape of a proposed "Mary's garden" and took many beautiful pictures of the statue of Mary, including on the very first day the Statue was put into place. I have a large frame of this beautiful picture in my office: with the sunset, Mary was glowing, like gold! At the request of the Marian Group, Judy also wrote a beautiful presentation of “Who is Our Lady Help of Christians”. We all need to learn more about our Patroness Saint.

Many parishioners will also remember Judy as one of our dedicated Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion, and as an active member of our Parish Council. Her unexpected death is still a shock for many of us. It reminds all of us that our lives are 

fragile, and we need to be ready at all times: none of us knows the day nor the hour when the Lord will decide to call us home. A reminder of the importance to go to confession regularly and attending Mass every Sunday. We will all miss Judy. We will keep praying for the repose of her soul and also for the consolation of all those who mourn her loss.

Last week, on October 13, two days before Judy’s Funeral Mass at OLHOC, I had the honor to celebrate a Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the anniversary of the last miracle at Fatima, the miracle of the sun. This was at the invitation of the Apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima. While some of our parishioners were present, Judy was with us in spirit. We were about 50 people in the beautiful Chapel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We could feel the presence of Mary and her Spouse the Holy Spirit. In this beautiful month of October, the month of the Rosary, we prayed the special rosary of Our Lady of Fatima, including Scripture readings and special Marian prayers before each decade of the rosary. It was the longest rosary that I ever prayed: it took about 40 minutes. I am confident that Judy would have loved leading that rosary. In remembrance of Judy, I invite all of our parishioners at OLHOC to PRAY ONE ROSARY this week: pray for the repose of the soul of Judy, but also pray for our entire parish, especially for families who face difficulties and also for those who have not yet returned to church (whether confession or Mass) as a result of the pandemic.

In these final days of October, let us remember all our loved ones who have already been called back home by the Lord. This year ALL SAINTS DAY falls on a Monday. It is just one week away! Come and plan to attend one of the four Masses we will have: 7 am, 9 am, noon, and 7 pm. Come also if you can at the 9 am Mass on ALL SOULS DAY Tuesday, November 2nd. Let us pray together:

"May the Divine Assistance remain always in us and may the souls of the Faithful Departed REST IN PEACE!"

One in Christ,

Fr. Alain