Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation
St. Mary's offers the sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance) on Saturdays from 1 to 2 pm and Wednesdays from 5 to 6 pm or by appointment. To schedule an appointment with a priest, call the rectory at 301-424-5550.

For a guide on how to go to Confession, see HERE and  HERE.

Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the First Time
People receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time after a period of education and preparation and before receiving their first Communion.

Children prepare through in our parish program, a Catholic school, or an appropriate home school program. Catholic adults who would like to receive this sacrament for the first time or adults who would like to become Catholic should contact the rectory. For more information, see First Reconciliation and First Communion.

About this Sacrament
Why we go to Confession     Frequently asked Questions

 "The whole power of the sacrament consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship...The sacrament [also] reconciles us with the Church.

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"' (Jn 20:19-23)  (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders
If you are discerning a call to become a priest or deacon, or would like to learn more about those vocations, please contact one of our parish priests for information and assistance.

The Archdiocese of Washington also has resources and information at dcpriest.org.

Men considering a call to serve as a permanant deacon can find information from the archdiocese here. 

If you are considering consecrated life, please consider speaking with one of our priests and seeing the resources and information here.

About this Sacrament
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry."

"The ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching, divine worship, and pastoral governance." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Cardinal Wilton Gregory's 50th Anniversary of Priesthood Ordination | Wi...

The Archdiocese of Washington is blessed to celebrate our Archbishop, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, as he reaches his 50th Anniversary of Priesthood Ordination on May 9, 2023! As we look back on Cardinal Gregory's wonderful years of service to the Roman Catholic Church, enjoy some highlights from his time as our Archbishop here in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington!

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Matrimony

The Sacrament of Matrimony (Marriage)

If you would like to be married at St. Mary's Church, please contact Kathy Yates, 301-424-5550 or stmaryrockville@yahoo.com. Please contact us at least 6 months before your before your expected wedding day and before setting a date or making reservations. A member of our clergy will meet with you to help you prepare for this sacrament.

Congratulations on your engagement!

Weddings at St. Mary's Church or Our Lady's Chapel are for St. Mary's parishioners. If you would like to become a parishioner, please contact us.

About this Sacrament

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' For Your Marriage website has information on planning a Catholic wedding HERE and more about preparing for and living the sacrament of marriage HERE.

"The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Holy Cross Hospital | Archdiocese of Washington

Cardinal Donald Wuerl reflects on the good work accomplished at Holy Cross Hospital and on the importance of the Catholic ministry of health care after he blessed and toured the new South Building at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring on Feb. 4. He called the hospital's healing work “a special reflection of Christ Himself.”

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation

We are happy to help you or your child prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which  deepens the graces of baptism, completes Christian initiation, and gives a special strength from the Holy Spirit to witness to the Faith in word and deed.

Children's and Teen's Preparation

At St. Mary's, preparation for Confirmation begins in 7th grade, and the sacrament is celebrated in the spring of 8th grade. Students preparing for Confirmation should be enrolled in a Catholic school, our Family Faith Formation Program, or an appropriate homeschool curriculum.

For older youth, special arrangements are made according to individual needs. 

To enroll your child in our parish program, or if you have a child who is homeschooled or in a Catholic school other than St. Mary's, please visit our Children & Family Faith Formation page or contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Catherine Gallerizzo Oyster, oysterc@adw.org.

Adults' Preparation

Catholic adults seeking Confirmation should contact Olivia Crosby through the rectory at 301-424-5550 or fill out the form HERE to make a plan that fits their needs. After a period of preparation (6 to 10 weeks) at St. Mary's parish, adults usually receive Confirmation on Pentecost from the Cardinal at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, DC.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Eucharist (& First Communion)

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

St. Mary's celebrates Mass every day. If you or someone you know is homebound and cannot come to Mass, please contact the rectory to arrange for a visit from a priest or extraordinary minister of Communion to bring the Eucharist.

First Holy Communion for Children

Preparation to receive First Communion (Eucharist) and First Reconciliation (Confession) usually begins in the first grade, and children receive these sacraments in the second grade. However, these sacraments can be received at any age after 7 years old, following a period of preparation.

Children preparing to receive these sacraments should be enrolled in a Catholic school, our parish Faith Formation program, or an appropriate homeschool curriculum.

To enroll your child in our parish program or if you have a child who is homeschooled or in a Catholic school other than St. Mary's, please visit our Children & Family Faith Formation page or contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Catherine Gallerizzo Oyster, oysterc@adw.org.

First Communion for Adults

Catholic adults who would like to receive the Eucharist for the first time or adults who would like to learn more about becoming Catholic, should contact Olivia Crosby, Coordinator of RCIA, through the rectory at 301-424-5550. See also Becoming Catholic.

Eucharistic Adoration

St. Mary's offers many opportunities for Eucharist adoration. Click here for information.

About this Sacrament

For guidelines on receiving the Eucharist, see the document here.

Videos, Resources, and Frequently Asked Questions about the Eucharist

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Mass of Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate 2023 | The Roman Catholic ...

With praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Archdiocese of Washington joyfully announces the 2023 Permanent Diaconate Ordination! The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, on June 3, 2023, from The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

The Sacrament of Baptism

We look forward to welcoming you or your child into the Church!

Baptisms of Infants and Children

Infant baptisms are scheduled individuallly, usually on a Saturday morning. Please contact Kathy Yates at the parish office, 301-424-5550, to discuss baptism for your child. You will have the opportunity to meet with our clergy to help you prepare.

We usually ask that families be part of the parish and registered for at least 6 months before baptism. To register, call the rectory or click HERE.

For baptisms of children over the age of 7 years old, please consut our Coordinator of Relgious Education, Catherine Gallerizzo at 301-762-7650 or email oysterc@adw.org.

Baptisms of Adults

Adults seeking baptism, please call Olivia Crosby, our RCIA coordinator, through the rectory, 301-424-5550. See also Becoming Catholic.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website