ST. PATRICK, CUMBERLAND
Youth group spruces up St. Patrick’s
Scraping, scrubbing, cleaning, painting, repairing and spackling were all accompanied by smiles when a group of 30 youths, ages 16-18, from St. Cecelia in Philadelphia stayed for a week in the community center of St. Patrick, Cumberland, to help the parish “spruce-up” and spring clean, even though it’s summer.
“They asked for a list,” said Teresa Files, administrative assistant for 18 years, “and we gave them a list. We never thought they’d be done everything. They are so enthusiastic!”
The parish typically hosts several youth groups each summer who work through different community programs in mission work. It’s the first time a group has focused its efforts on St. Patrick as a project.
Camping out in the community center in sleeping bags, the kids accomplished many repair jobs on parish grounds: laid new ceramic tile in bathrooms, cleaned windows, stripped and waxed floors, painted three floors of the community center, painted the back porch of convent and outside picnic tables, repaired ceilings and more.
But it wasn’t all work and no “pray.” The faith-based group took time out each evening to hold prayer services to affirm their hard work.
“Monsignor (Thomas) Bevan is very happy they’ve been here,” said Mrs. Files. “They’re great kids, very respectful and hardworking.”
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OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, ESSEX
Essex parish recipient of AED
After several of its parishioners suffered heart attacks and even death during Mass, Monsignor Robert L. Hartnett, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Essex, decided to purchase an automatic external defibrillator (AED).
AEDs are devices that can shock an abnormal heart rhythm back to a normal rate and save someone’s life. When placed on a victim’s chest, its sensors detect the heart rhythm and automatically provide the proper amount of electric shock to put the heart back in normal rhythm.
The parish was unable to purchase AEDs in previous years due to other urgent financial matters (plumbing trouble, electrical problem, organ fire), so Conrad Gilbert, a member of the parish council, brought the parish’s need to the attention of his employer’s nonprofit foundation.
Midatlantic Cardiovascular Foundation, part of the Midatlantic Cardiovascular Associates, decided to provide an AED to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a parish of more than 2,300 families with a high percentage of elderly.
During a Mass on July 20, the device was officially presented to the pastor.
“We’re really very, very grateful for this donation,” said Monsignor Hartnett.
Midatlantic Cardiovascular Foundation has quietly donated AEDs to schools and other eligible nonprofit institutions where a need is identified.
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OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, ELLICOTT CITY
Learning Latin
Latin, the official and universal language of the Catholic Church, may be long gone from most liturgies, but Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City, is conducting a seven-week Latin class at the parish.
Liturgical Latin began July 12 with one-hour Saturday classes after Mass; 23 attended. The parish also offers a beginning Chant Schola.
Father Erik J. Arnold, pastor, and Father Lawrence P. Adamczyk, associate pastor, are supportive of these endeavors, and they encouraged the group to begin the classes.
To the group of parishioners eager to start, it seemed something was missing from the liturgy.
“Our first discovery,” said student Leon Keller, “was that although we had general guidelines of pronunciation and translation from our chant books, we wanted to know more about Latin. We kept asking ourselves how could we have been so eager to throw away such a treasure?”
The class helps people to read, pronounce and sing Latin chants. Mr. Keller said he and fellow students enjoy the classes, especially the information about how this ancient language was used long ago and how it still accompanies Catholics to this day.
The teacher, John Cahill, is a parishioner of St. Nicholas in Laurel.
“The church,” he said, “asks that the faithful be able to sing and say at least the ordinary parts of the Mass in Latin. We hope someday this forgotten beauty to the liturgy will be in all our parishes.”
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ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, SEVERNA PARK
St. John’s children’s choir attend festival
The children’s choir of St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park, attended the Pueri Cantores American Festival July 3-5 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Led by Mary Tamplin, children’s choir director, the children participated in Mass and the opening ceremony of the National Independence Day parade, “A Capitol Fourth.” Other choirs came from New York, Georgia, Florida, Texas, California and Montreal.
St. John’s Children’s Choir is part of the music ministry of five vocal choirs and two handbell choirs under the direction of liturgical music; the director is Kevin M. Clemens.
The mission of the American Federation Pueri Cantores is to assemble choirs of boys and girls throughout the United States to sing the peace of God.
The principal concelebrant and homilist of the July 5 Mass was Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.
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OUR LADY OF FIELDS
Prayers for life
As part of the national 40 Days for Life campaign, parishioners of Our Lady of the Fields, Millersville, are holding daily hour-long prayer services before the Blessed Sacrament. The services are led by Father Jon Kightlinger, associate pastor, or Deacon Nick Pitocco and are designed to support a culture of life through prayer. They are held 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7:45-8:45 p.m. on Sundays.
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