It has come to our attention that a parishioner of St. Paul Catholic Church had a positive test result for COVID-19 last week. Please join me in keeping this person in prayer for a safe and full recovery. This parishioner was at the Sunday, 8:30 a.m., Mass on January 10, 2021. It is possible that parishioners were exposed to the virus prior to January 10th. We urge you to consult with your physician if you or any member of your family displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Click the picture for a link to the full content of the letter.

On New Years Eve, December 31, Mass will be at 9:00 AM and a Vigil Mass will be at 5:00 PM. January 1 is The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation. On New Years Day, January 1, Mass will be at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. All Masses will be held in Church, no sign up is needed to attend. Every year on January 1, the Holy Father marks the World Day of Peace with a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace. For more information click the picture.

This year as we prepare to receive our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas we will work within Montgomery County COVID-19 guidelines. Signup is required to attend Mass, your ticket must be presented to the usher upon entering the Church. Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4:00 PM (live-streamed*), 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM (live-streamed*) and 10:00 PM. Christmas Day Masses will be at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. *During the live-streamed Masses (4:00 and 8:00) Msgr. will make an announcement at the appropriate time for those who choose to watch virtually from the parking lot to come to the portico in front of the church to receive communion. Click the picture for more information and signup links.

We are pleased to welcome you to Saint Paul Church for Mass as a community! Our weekend Masses are Saturday at 5:00 PM (also live-streamed, link below), Sunday at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Signup for weekend Mass is required, no signup is needed for weekday Mass at 9:00 AM. We also have a signup link for volunteer Ushers. We continue to follow all ADW and State/County guidelines. Friday, January 29 is the March for Life, Saint Paul will have Adoration in Church after 9:00 AM Mass until 5:00 PM. For more updates and signup links click the photo.

Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. For more information and a link to Advent resources click the photo.

Saint Paul will honor World Day of Prayer for the Sick with Mass at 7:30 PM on Thursday, February 11, 2021, all are invited. February 11 was designated as World Day of Prayer for the Sick by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses and for those caring for and comforting the sick. The day coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes. Click the picture for more information.

A parishioner of St. Paul Catholic Church has self-reported a family member in their household had a positive test result for COVID-19 on November 6, 2020. The parishioner is under the care of a medical professional and we will keep them in prayer for a safe and full recovery. The parishioner was last at St. Paul’s on November 1, 2020 at the 5:00 PM Mass. It is possible that parishioners were exposed to the virus prior to November 1. We urge you to consult with your physician if you or any member of your family displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Click the picture for a link to the full content of the letter.

On December 1, 2020, please put #IGiveCatholic in your browser and search for St. Paul Damascus Md and donate to help support St. Paul Clinic in Honduras. For more than 20 years, Saint Paul Church has provided medical and dental care to more than 100,000 impoverished Hondurans. Our support includes medicine, supplies and operational expenses for the clinic in Tegucigalpa Honduras. This year is especially hard with the Pandemic and Hurricanes Eta and Iota. For every $10 you donate your name will be put in a drawing for a gift basket. Click the picture for more information.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Tuesday, December 8. This is a Holy Day of Obligation, Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 AM, 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. We honor Mary because God favored her with a special grace (at the moment of her conception), and her decision to cooperate with it has blessed humankind. Click the picture for more information.

Bible Study on Romans: The Gospel of Salvation begins the week of November 9. There will be sessions In person on Monday evenings, In person Tuesday mornings, or Virtually on Wednesday mornings! Sign up for the session day that works best for your schedule. Participants will meet weekly for 8 sessions. Click the photo for more information.

Saint Paul collection drives help those in need in our local communities and beyond. Click the photo to see ways you can help. Thank you in advance, we appreciate your continued generous support.

We have re-designed our programs to provide a safe, yet effective, way for our parish children to continue their instruction in our Catholic faith. We understand that this is a challenging year and believe that now more than ever, leaning into our faith will help our families see God’s presence in these difficult times. For more information and a registration form, visit our Faith Education page or click the photo.

All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, Sunday, November 1, 2020 – Mass will be in Church at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All Souls Day is Monday, November 2, 2020 - Mass will be in Church at 9:00 AM and in remembrance of the souls of our departed loved ones, a Memorial Mass will be held in Church on November 2 at 7:30 PM.

As with everyone during this difficult time, our parish family is feeling the strain psychologically and financially. We remain hopeful. That hope comes from 'rays of hope' that are given by the Good Lord in times of difficulty. The Catholic Standard featured an article highlighting St. Paul "Rays of Hope". Click this photo (our stained glass window) for a link to the Catholic Standard article, to submit your Ray of Hope, and to view those sent in by fellow parishioners.

The theme for 2020 is “Live the Gospel of Life”. Join Catholics nationwide in celebrating Respect Life Month throughout October and reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life. Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the First Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. Click the photo for more information.

On July 8, 2020 Saint Paul Parish welcomes Msgr. Edward Filardi as our New Pastor. Msgr. comes to us from Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, Maryland. Parishioners are eager to meet you and look forward to following your guidance as we walk our faith journey. For more information please click the photo.

This is a difficult moment as your pastor that I must share with you. About a month ago, I received a call from Bishop Michael Fisher, the director of clergy for the Archdiocese of Washington. He asked me to take a new assignment. I told him that this was something I needed to think and pray about. In the end, I told him several days later that I was willing to make the move. For now, the one thing I want to say to all of you is something I have said to many of you personally through the years and I said it this past week to Archbishop Gregory. St. Paul’s is the best assignment I have ever had. I will truly miss you. It is my sincere hope that I will be able to celebrate Mass with you in person before I leave. Until we can all gather again at the altar of the Lord, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Click the photo of Father Pierce for the full text of his Letter to Parishioners.

Saint Paul Clinic in El Rosario, a small hamlet in the hill side of Tegucigalpa Honduras, provides daily health care by wonderful doctors, a dedicated dentist, and gives medication to all who are in need through the generous donations of Saint Paul Catholic Church and other supporting parishes. We typically provide opportunities to volunteer on mission trips to the clinic twice a year. Click the picture for more information.

For those of you who may not have heard, one of our young adults died on April 21, 2020. His death has brought a really intense sadness and grief to many in our parish in particular to our teens and young adults. At his funeral, our parking lot was full while our Church was virtually empty. Such is the state of things in this world created by the pandemic. Yet, even in the wake of this tragedy, in the disjointed way we were able to express our unity, I still can see hope. Click the photo for more information.

On behalf of our clergy, ministry leaders and staff, we pray for you. Father Pierce Live Streamed Holy Week and Easter Services which can be replayed at any time, see our Facebook link below and scroll through the postings. The Easter Season continues through Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2020. We wish you a blessed and joyful Easter season and look forward to gathering with you in Church as soon as we are able. Click the picture for more information.