The links on this page are meant to connect you with some very practical information about the ongoing life of St. Rose of Lima Parish, as well as to provide you with access to some other information resources that have to do with the larger Church of which we are a part. Learn about the History of St. Rose. Read our mission statement under Vision and Planning as well as what we have in store for our church. You can also meet our Staff, get any contact information here, and read about the Councils of St. Rose. There is information about our Cemetery as well as a section for Frequently Asked Questions, which should help you find your answers or direct you to the place in this site you are looking for. Finally, you can browse through the Favorite Links that will direct you to sources of information about the larger Catholic Church of which St. Rose is a part. While these links point you to reliable sites, since they take you beyond our own web site, we are not responsible for their content.

Beginnings - 1812
The beginning of St. Rose of Lima Parish goes back over 150 years, when a Protestant named Francis Cassatt Clopper and his Catholic wife, Ann Jane Byrne of Philadelphia, bought a plantation overlooking the Seneca River in what is now Seneca Creek State Park. There, in 1812, they built the Woodlands, a 24-room mansion which soon became the center of Catholic life for the families in the area. Masses were often celebrated in the large ballroom. The Archbishop of Baltimore and visiting priests made it their headquarters while in the area.

First Building - 1836
In order to please his wife and her sister, Mrs. Ellen Maher, Francis Clopper donated a portion of the far corner of The Woodlands estate for the building of a church in l834. Mrs. Maher became the major benefactor for the construction of the church, but others also contributed to the project.

Planned to be the most beautiful church in Western Maryland, it was built of brick manufactured on the Clopper estate. A brick porch led into a foyer which opened on the main body of the church. A balcony in the rear overlooked 13 rows of pews on each side. (The first two rows on the right side were reserved for the Clopper family.) There were five windows on each side and two windows in front above the porch. Mr. Clopper was given the honor of choosing a name for the new church. He chose St. Rose in honor of Rose Landry White, who was then Mother Rose. As superior of the Sisters of Charity of Emmitsburg, Maryland, Mother Rose had succeeded Mother Saint Elizabeth Seton after having served as her assistant.

The new church became a center for the faithful in the area. Once a month a priest traveled from Rockville to say the Sunday Mass, which was followed by Benediction in the afternoon. The priest stayed the night and celebrated Mass again the next day, after which he would visit the families in the area. In summer, the priests moved to The Woodlands and made their rounds from there. An important summer event was St. Rose's feast day. Not only the resident faithful, but also former pastors and parishioners who had moved away, would return to celebrate. Many of the families who were in that community are still remembered: in history, Scott and Taney; in places, Diamond, Clopper and Waring; and in families who still live among us, Gloyd, Stang, Stewart and Caulfield.

During the Civil War, while Maryland remained in the Union, many of her citizens were sympathetic to the South. Travel was restricted in the southern parts of the state, south of Baltimore. Though there were no battles around St. Rose, many soldiers from both sides passed through the area. One, a seriously wounded member of Company D, 14th Virginia Cavalry, found refuge at The Woodlands, where he was baptized and died. William D. Scott was buried after dark in front of St. Rose Church by the Cloppers. His tombstone remains under the large oak in front of the church.

Destroyed by Fire - 1883
The original church building, made of brick, stood for 47 years until destroyed by fire on April 2, l883. Since there was no water to quell the flames, the building was soon in ruins; only the vestments and the communion vessels were saved. Some of the bricks from this original building are preserved in the cross in the brick walk leading to the church entrance.

The exact cause of the fire will never be known. Among the stories told is one suggesting that a mouse upset a box of matches, igniting a quantity of linseed oil. Another story is that an altar boy did not totally extinguish the incense when putting away the censer.

Present Church Building - 1883
The white wooden church which now stands on the site of the brick church contains the original cornerstone in its northern foundation wall. While the cornerstone gives 1838 as the date of the original church, it is believed that the stone mason misread 1836 on a piece of paper and carved the wrong date. In 1987-88 a major renovation of the church was undertaken. Structural damage required the complete replacement of the roof as well as straightening of the walls. The building was completely gutted to install new electrical, heating and cooling systems. Nearly all of the furnishings were also replaced at the same time. A more detailed record of the project is contained in the Memorial Book placed in the church. The pride we feel in the beauty of the renovated church is an expression of reverence for our predecessors in the faith whose efforts made St. Rose Parish possible. In addition, it is an expression of hope in the future generations to follow us, who will continue to find there a place of prayer and refreshment. It is our hope that this will enable them to carry on the spirit of St. Rose.

From Mission Church to Parish
From its inception, St. Rose had been a mission church. It first was part of the parish of St. Mary in Rockville. Later, it became a mission of St. Mary of Barnesville. In 1921, the parish of St. Martin was founded in Gaithersburg, with St. Rose as a mission church.

St. Rose of Lima became a parish on June 1, 1972, approximately 160 years after Francis Clopper and his wife, Ann, came to the area. In 1976, The Parish Centre (PC) was built, and in 1991 and 1995, additions were made to it to provide more meeting and office space.

The Following Priests have Served as Pastor or Administrator:
Rev. Joseph Byron, Pastor - June 1972 to June 1983
Msgr. Robert Lewis, Pastor - June 1983 to Nov. 1983
Rev. Raymond Fecteau, Administrator - Nov. 1983 to Jan. 1984
Rev. Francis Murphy, Pastor - Jan. 1984 to June 1985
Rev. John Vail, Administrator - July 1985 to March 1986

Rev. Robert Duggan, Pastor - March 1986 to July 2005

Msgr. Paul Dudziak, Pastor - July 2005 to present

The Parish of St. Rose of Lima is a home for all who seek to live as committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Our vision statement, just fifteen words long, states:

In Christ,
We are Bread for one another:
Broken...we gather
Nourished...we reach out

In the spirit of Vatican II's call for individual conversion and communal transformation, we commit ourselves to be an evangelizing community of disciples. We will do this by:

• living our faith fully and enthusiastically;
• sharing it with others, by word and witness;
• working to transform the world in Christ.

Pastoral Planning at St. Rose
Since 1990, St. Rose has tapped the resources of parishioners expert in strategic planning to help us develop a clearer vision of who we are and where we want to go as a community. The four documents listed below contain the written fruits of parish-wide consultations, self-studies, needs assessments, listening sessions, debates and deliberations, and countless hours of thoughtful and prayerful reflection by the members of our community. Each of these five-year Pastoral Plans was many months in the making, and each captures both who we were at the time they were formulated as well as who we longed to become over a period of time. We hope they will stir in you some measure of the enthusiasm and excitement felt by those who were part of their formulation (and who, of course, continue to work on their implementation).

Pastoral Plan - 1990-1995
Our Mission to the Millennium - 1995-2000
All Are Welcome - 2000-2005
All Are Welcome II - 2005-2010

Unity-in-Diversity Committee
As a result of the mandate in All Are Welcome, a Unity-in-Diversity Plan has been developed and a committee established to oversee its implementation. The Unity-in-Diversity Committee is an outgrowth of this Plan, promulgated on September 15, 2001. The Committee is charged with "promoting, monitoring and serving as a resource for the full implementation of this plan."

Pastoral Council
The primary role of the Council is to advise the pastor in all areas of parish life and, through a process of dialogue, to identify specific pastoral needs and make recommendations. The Council is responsible for developing the parish Vision Statement and our five-year Pastoral Plan. The Council also coordinates and evaluates the implementation of All Are Welcome.

 

The Pastoral Council is made up of a chairperson, secretary, 9 leaders from all areas of parish life, up to 3 at-large members, a Finance Council chairperson, pastoral staff members, and, on alternate years, a vice-chairperson.

 

Finance Council

The Finance Council is comprised of laypersons who advise the pastor on matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the parish. The Council consists of six to eight members plus the pastor; they usually meet four times a year. The pastor appoints members, typically for three-year terms. The major responsibilities of the Council are to review and approve the parish budget and financial reports, ensure that parish finances are managed in an effective manner, review the financial position of the parish, and work to safeguard the financial assets of the parish. The Council also makes recommendations to the pastor regarding the investment of parish funds.

Committees of the Finance Council support the overall function of the Council. Chairs of the Committees are members of the Council. Committees report their activities to the Council, and the Council provides oversight of their activities. The following are current committees of the Finance Council.

• The Budget Committee is entrusted with the following responsibilities:
  1. To review as needed the implementation of the Archdiocesan bookkeeping and accounting system for all parish finances.
  2. To ensure that the Annual Financial Report is submitted to the Archdiocese in a timely fashion.
  3. To ensure that all requirements of federal and state law relating to parish finances are met and that accurate records of tax payment are maintained.
  4. To ensure that tax exempt forms, as required by law, are submitted to appropriate civil authorities and records of same for all church-owned properties are maintained.
  5. To safeguard the assets of the parish from loss or damage through appropriate review of insurance coverage.

• The Investment Committee is entrusted with the following responsibility:
  1. To monitor the deposit of parish funds in interest-bearing checking and saving accounts, and in other appropriate kinds of investment accounts; and to make recommendations for changes in deposit/investment strategies that might be necessitated by evolving economic circumstances.

GENERAL

What times are Mass held?
See Mass Schedule

Are your facilities wheelchair accessible?
Both of our worship spaces are wheelchair accessible.  Please ask one of our ministers of hospitality to assist you in finding a spot. Please note that there are no restrooms in the Historic Chapel.

Do you offer Mass in Spanish?
Yes! Mass in Spanish is held on Sunday at 1:00pm.

Does being divorced mean that I am not able to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church? And does an annulment make the children of that marriage illegitimate?
If you are divorced and have not remarried, the Catholic Church recognizes that you are in good standing and you can receive the Sacraments. If you have remarried, you need to have the first marriage annulled in the Catholic Church before receiving the Sacraments. An annulment does not make the children illegitimate. An annulment is a judicial decree which states, that for some reason, the union was not sacramental.

How can I get my baby baptized at St. Rose?
Call the parish secretary at 301-948-7545 and complete an intake form with her over the phone. She will then mail you information about our process. Please note that the process takes 4-6 months to complete. Parents are encouraged to complete the process prior to the arrival of their child whenever possible.

I am an adult and am interested in finding out more about becoming a Roman Catholic. What should I do?
Call our parish office at 301-948-7545 and ask to speak with our pastor. He will set up a meeting with you to discuss your interest.


BECOMING A MEMBER

What is involved in the registration process of becoming a St. Rose member?
The first step is attending a Newcomers' Gathering, a 45-minute session that provides an opportunity for you to get to know more about St. Rose, to meet other newcomers, and for the staff and welcoming committee members to meet you. Newcomers' Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of the month, after the 11:15am Mass. At this session, you will receive a welcome packet, which includes a Census Form. Once you return the completed form to the Parish Office, you will be registered.

I can still participate in St. Rose without having a registered membership. So, why should I formally register?
Formal membership signifies our commitment to authentic relationship to each other in community. On a practical level, you will receive all our communications which non-registered people do not receive. You will have the opportunity to pledge your time, talent and treasure in support of parish life, and in return know that the community supports you. In addition many parishes require a statement from our pastor confirming registered and active parish membership for anyone being asked to fulfill the role of godparent and/or confirmation sponsor.

I’ve been coming to St. Rose for a couple years. Now that I’m ready to join the parish, why should I attend the Newcomers’ Gathering?
Yours might be a face that is familiar, but we’ll take your picture and work at remembering your name so that we can greet you and introduce you to other parishioners next time we see you. Please take 45 minutes to introduce yourself to us! Newcomers' Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of the month, after the 11:15am Mass.


OUTREACH

I've heard that St. Rose runs a furniture program. I'd like more information.
St. Rose is proud to offer the only furniture donation/distribution service in Montgomery County!; Our furniture services are provided by referral only. If you are in need of furniture, please have your case worker, social worker, or church pastor call our Furniture Hotline: 301-482-2947.
If you have furniture to donate, or would like to join our volunteer team, please call the Furniture Hotline: 301-482-2947.

I also heard that St. Rose is going to have an Outreach Facility on its property?
the parish envisioned an Outreach Facility that would be housed on the St. Rose property. A two-year study of under-served people and the services available for them--input from the parish and the community--concluded that a residence for adults with developmental disabilities is needed. The Pastoral Council approved this concept in 2001.

St. Rose will provide the land and community/spiritual support, and Montgomery County has agreed to fund the construction of the building from its affordable housing fund. Rosaria Communities, Inc. will manage the facility, and Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects Inc. will design the building. The facility, on the site of the old Meeting House, will house 3 residents and construction should be complete in late 2006 or mid 2007.

YOUTH MINISTRY

How do I enroll my child(ren) in Religious Education?
Registration forms can be found in the Parish Centre Foyer. Complete and return the form to any St. Rose staff member. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our Religion Education program.
Please Contact Tom Hild 301-948-7545 x224 | thild@strose.com for grades 6-12 and Cheryl Shalgian cshalgian@strose.com for grades K-5.

How do I enroll my child(ren) in First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, or Confirmation?
Our Sacramental Preparation process is separate from the Religious Education Program. For program information and how to get started, please contact:

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
Cheryl Shalgian, 301-948-7545 x245 | cshalgian@strose.com

Confirmation
Tom Hild, 301-948-7545 x224 | thild@strose.com

How can I get my teenager more involved at St. Rose?
St. Rose has a dozen different programs and ministries for young people! Youth are also encouraged to be involved in the life of the parish by helping with liturgy, service, committees, and Religious Education. Tom Hild can help get you started with and answer any of your questions about our Youth Ministries, 301-948-7545 x224 | thild@strose.com

As a service to our parishioners and visitors, we offer a number of useful links that connect you the larger Church of which we are a part. Since these links are not part of the St. Rose Parish Web Site, we cannot take responsibility for their contents.
 

Archdiocese of Washington

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

New American Bible

Documents of Vatican II

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Encyclicals of John Paul II

Encyclicals of Paul VI

Encyclicals of John XXIII

The Lord’s Day (John Paul II)

The Holy See

The Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 ed.

Catholic News Service

Catholic Online

Catholic Information Network

Eternal Word Television Network

Catholic Communication Network

Catholic World News

 

St. Anthony Messenger/Franciscan Communications

 

FundraiserRewards Program

 

iGive

 

CatholicGiving

 

Vehicle Donation Program

 

Catholic Charities Domestic and International Adoption Programs

 

Families Adopting Children Everywhere (a local support group)

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