LISTEN TO THE VOICE CRYING OUT: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD: COME DECEMBER 13! Once again we have entered the ADVENT Season: awaiting the First COMING OF CHRIST. Once again we can hear the VOICE of JOHN THE BAPTIST shouting in our ears: "PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD." Can you hear ...

As we enter the four weeks of ADVENT, may we all focus on JESUS, may we all KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS. Our parish THEME this Advent is: RECONCILIATION-EUCHARIST- ADORATION. We are invited to reconcile with JESUS (OLHOC Advent Penance Service 7 pm Monday, December 13), to be totally with HIM (HIS Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) at every Mass, every EUCHARIST (the greatest miracle on earth) and to ADORE HIM in silence, keeping our...

"JESUS CHRIST is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH...Behold, HE is coming amid the clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced HIM." We have just reached the end of the Liturgical Year. We celebrate CHRIST THE KING and can meditate on the above beginning of the last Book of the Bible: Revelation (1:5-8). I was touched by those five words: "EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM !" Every eye, everyone without exception will see Him even those who have pierced His Heart with major sins. HE IS THE KING OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. HE is the Ruler and the King of everyone! Last week...

You may have noticed that over the last few weeks we have begun to display different color pictures on the cover of the printed version of the Weekly Bulletin. Last week, many of you had no problems recognizing on our cover picture one of the two "young" saints surrounding Sister Rosario at the end of the All-Saints Mass: Mother Teresa is so easily recognized with the blue/white colors of her sari. The other Saint was the Blessed Virgin Mary, the greatest of all the saints. Looking at all the children " Saints" before they processed in the church, I had to ask some of them: SAINT WHO? You may be familiar with...

My great JOY on ALL SAINTS DAY was that our church was packed with children and their parents! I had nothing to do with this little miracle...This was due to the initiative of Sister Rosario, our Coordinator of Religious Education, with the support of all our CCD teachers and aides. Instead of CCD classes last Monday evening, the entire focus was for CHILDREN, Youth, and their parents to participate in the ALL SAINTS MASS and have a procession with many children dressed as their favorite SAINT. We felt the presence of the Saints in our church: they are an integral part of the Church, and we worship with them at every Mass. Another little miracle was that...

When was the last time you talked to a blind person? You may have "seen" blind people begging for help at the entrance of a metro station or crossing a busy intersection alone with the help of a white cane or a specially trained dog. But you may not have had the opportunity to become one of their friends. At OLHOC, many of us have been blessed to know two amazing blind persons: Velma and Peter. Both have attended daily and Sunday Masses regularly. Both have become friends for many of us worshipping at Our Lady. Velma passed away several years ago, and many still remember her as a RCIA teacher. She taught for many years. She did so always with great passion and great love of Christ. Her greatest desire was...

"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...

In the amazing encounter of JESUS with the RICH YOUNG MAN (Mark 10: 17-30), the word "Look" is mentioned three times. First, JESUS is LOOKING AT the young man. Then, HE LOOKS AROUND and talks to HIS disciples and finally, HE LOOKS AT THEM. QUESTION: Right now, as you are reading this column, IS JESUS LOOKING AT YOU? The answer is YES! JESUS IS GOD. And as God, He is present everywhere, He has all powers. He knows everything about each one of us: our past, present, and future. He can certainly look at us at all times. I recall a retreat for priests given by Father George Ashenbrenner (Jesuit Spiritual Director) several years ago. He told us that every morning, as he wakes up he can hear Jesus say:

We can all give THANKS TO GOD for CELEBRATING THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE with Bishop Dorsonville last Sunday! OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST had invited all of us to COME AND CELEBRATE on a beautiful, sunny and long Sunday afternoon going into a refreshing evening. Many of us responded to the invitation with much enthusiasm. One could sense the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT and of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST in our church and throughout the outdoor PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. We can all give THANKS TO GOD for the GIFT of the large number of VOLUNTEERS who made this Celebration, this FIESTA a REALITY. It was truly an effort of the entire parish, including: the Hispanic Community, the Youth Group, the Music Ministry, the Marian Group, the Ushers/Greeters, the Altar Guild, the Altar Servers, the Knights of Columbus, the Men's Group, the Couples for Christ, our entire staff and clergy. Everything that had been planned did take place with...

This is a follow-up to last week's column announcing the OCTOBER 3rd CELEBRATION. Yes, YOU ARE ALL INVITED: COME AT 5 PM this Sunday! COME and CELEBRATE with Bishop Dorsonville. Our Lord Jesus is inviting you! You can't reject HIS invitation! There is much to celebrate: 10 Years of Hispanic Ministry, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (anticipation of October 7), Dedication of our renovated Chapel to Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patron Saint of the Americas , Protectress of the Unborn, and Queen of Evangelization), Blessing of the new, inspirational painting of Divine Mercy (last painting by Orlando Lagman), Outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament , Praying for Unity in the EUCHARIST (Paschal Mystery and Holy Communion), unveiling of the EUCHARISTIC DISPLAY to be one of the focus of our YEAR OF EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL, and FIESTA in the Father Martin Hall (food and music). Come and dress in your best attire, including

Bishop Dorsonville is coming SUNDAY OCTOBER 3rd, as we CELEBRATE 10 years of Hispanic ministry at OLHOC. On this occasion, he will also bless the recently renovated daily Mass Chapel and dedicate it to “Our Lady of Guadalupe". At the turn of the 21st century (1999), Pope John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe the "Patron Saint of the Americas" (including our own country USA) and the "Protectress of Unborn Children". It is fitting that this dedication takes place at the beginning of October, which is the RESPECT LIFE MONTH, and also the month of Our Lady of the Rosary. Bishop Dorsonville is not only overseeing the large and growing Hispanic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Washington. He is also...

We had an AWESOME 40-HOUR ADORATION preceding our 41st birthday OUTDOOR MASS and annual picnic. WE THANK GOD for our staff, ourclergy and all the volunteers who made these three events possible, including the Altar Guild, Marian Group, the Knights of Columbus, the Couples for Christ and our own Parish Council. God has kept pouring so many blessings on our children, youth, parents, teachers at the beginning of a new School Year! THE 40-HOUR ANNIVERSARY ADORATION has become MORE and MORE BEAUTIFUL over the last three years. In addition, this year we experienced NEW SIGNS FROM GOD, which could be interpreted as "little” miracles. The first SIGN from GOD happened...

We are entering our fifth decade! We are no longer a baby. HAPPY 41st OLHOC!!!We are getting up in age. But we remain one of the youngest parishes of the Archdiocese. MAY GOD CONTINUE BLESSING our parish and all our parishioners! May we keep the pioneering spirit of our founders! When Cardinal Hickey established our parish, he put us under the "double" protection of OUR BLESSED MOTHER. First, he chose her as our patron saint. Our name will always remain "OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS”. Second, he also chose the Feast Day of OUR LADY OF SORROWS, SEPTEMBER 15, to be the day of our birth. I will never forget my first day...

Lots of excitement in the last few days as our children and youth are coming BACK TO SCHOOL or entering college. Vacation time is over! Also, a great change from last year: teaching will now be in person! With the excitement comes some anxiety about adapting to a new situation and also possible future changes/uncertainties. ONE SIMPLE MESSAGE: "BE STRONG, FEAR NOT!” says the LORD to those whose hearts are frightened (through the great prophet ISAIAH: 35:4 in First Reading of this coming Sunday Masses). YES! DO NOT BE AFRAID! Do not be anxious. May all children, youth, parents and teachers have TRUST IN GOD! Parents and teachers you are the ones to witness that LOVE OF GOD to your children and youth. Recall the powerful words of St Paul to the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS" (Philippians 4:6-7). Parents, you are invited...

Tuesday morning (August 24), as every morning I was spending time in silent meditation in the presence of the exposed BLESSED SACRAMENT in our little chapel at the rectory. This is the best moment of my day. A time for silent ADORATION. A time for silent REFLECTION in the presence of the Lord. I was meditating on the Gospel of the day, Feast of St BARTHOLOMEW APOSTLE: JOHN 1:45-51. Three simple WORDS touched me: "COME AND SEE". These are the words Philip told Nathanael, who is identified later as Bartholomew. Philip was filled with the JOY of having encountered Jesus who had asked him: FOLLOW ME! He wanted to share that JOY with his friend Bartholomew: He had just encountered the Messiah. This is what EVANGELIZATION is all about: to be a living WITNESS OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, to share the JOY OF OUR FAITH with others and invite them to encounter Christ: COME AND SEE! COME AND SEE JESUS! COME TO MASS! I was looking at

Exactly two years ago, many Catholics were SHOCKED by the results of a Pew Research Center survey on the BELIEF in the real presence of Jesus, body and blood, in the EUCHARIST. The headlines in the media were: "Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ", or "Pew Survey shows majority of Catholics don't believe in Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist". I too was shocked at the headlines...but looking at the details of the survey, I was less shocked. The survey selected people who identify themselves as...

Some parishioners have asked me to use the weekly column to talk about MAINTAINING REVERENCE IN OUR CHURCH. I am happy to do so for two reasons: 1. REVERENCE is an integral part of our on-going parish focus on EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL and 2. in my 11 years at OLHOC, at different times we have tried different ways to encourage such REVERENCE IN OUR CHURCH and clearly the TIME HAS COME TO RENEW OUR PAST EFFORTS ! How can we...

"EUCHARIST, PRIESTHOOD, UNITY" are the three words that summarize the legacy of Father Narcisse Martin (1845-1923), who spent the last 29 years of his life as PASTOR evangelizing and serving the entire area of Waldorf (St Peter) and Brandywine (St Michael and St Dominic). This large territory included the one now covered by our own parish OLHOC, which was established in 1980, 57 years later (territory served earlier by St Peter). Before coming to Waldorf, and for over 16 years,...

Through the prophet Isaiah, GOD INVITES ALL OF US: "COME TO ME: LISTEN, THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE" (Isaiah 55:3). THIS IS AN INVITATION TO CONVERSION. This is an invitation to the NEW COVENANT with God, leading to Eternal Life. This is an invitation to RETURN TO GOD. This is an invitation to leave behind our worldly foolishness and attachments to sin. This is an INVITATION TO RETURN TO THE CONFESSIONAL (RECONCILIATION with God) and return to MASS and the EUCHARIST. Because of the pandemic,...

GOD WANTS US TO REMEMBER the LITTLE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE that happened at OLHOC last April. GOD WANTS US TO SHOW UTMOST REVERENCE and RESPECT for the EUCHARIST. GOD WANTS US TO REMEMBER the picture of the host with blood after having been abandoned for 15 hours on the floor of our church (see picture below). For the next five Sundays, GOD WANTS US to HEAR JOHN's ENTIRE CHAPTER SIX, all about the GREATEST MIRACLE ON EARTH: the transformation of the bread and wine into THE BODY and BLOOD of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, a miracle that occurs at every Mass and is much greater than our "little" Eucharistic miracle of last April. Every three years, in the Year of Mark and during the Summer, we hear...