Thanks to the first 70 households to contribute, we have already reached the halfway point! Our goal is to exceed the floor of $750,000.00 and be able to complete all the projects on our wish list.

Rather than using a thermometer to measure donations, we are posting the projects that have been completed with the funds available. We want to reassure you that no money is being spent on developing the campaign or the materials. No fundraisers have been hired. Every cent donated goes directly into the projects.   No money leaves the parish.

So, when Charlie wanted to create a theater troupe at Holy Cross, he was certainly the right person for the job! Charlie was the performer and Dora was his accompanist. Father Lewis agreed to let The Players use the Social Hall (Lewis Hall) for their practices.

Holy Cross Parish, as well as the entire community, benefitted from the Demma’s talents and enthusiasm!

Created to celebrate the entire parish community—church and school—the early parish picnics were held at various local parks (for example, Twinbrook Park in 1965 and Carderock Park in 1968). In 1969, it was held on the Holy Cross parish grounds, and then for several years the picnic took place at The Academy of the Holy Cross on the field behind the Rectory and Quinn Hall. 

The annual Flea Market was begun and managed by volunteer members of Holy Cross Parish to benefit the school and was held each October from 1971 to 1996. Starting in 1997 and for several years following, the Holy Cross School parents coordinated a Spring-time flea market.

There never seemed to be an end to the “stuff” people found to donate. The Flea Market was held on a Saturday; however, there was much work to be done prior to opening the doors on Saturday morning. As people brought their donations, the items were sorted, priced, and placed on the appropriate tables in the Social Hall (Lewis Hall). The prices were low, yet the event always made a wonderful amount of money for the school. 

After a few years a “baked goods” table was added, and the Flea Market made even more money. Sales were brisk and most of the real treasures were snatched up by noon. Prices dropped in the early afternoon and by 3 p.m. most of the treasures had found a new home. In the beginning, this event never made less than $2,500 to $3,000 each year. And, in 1996, the bulletin noted it had raised $5,500 and in 1997 the amount climbed to $5,700. The Flea Market coordinators and volunteers changed over the years; however, the enthusiasm to find a bargain never waned.

In the Fall of 1968, after the riots in Washington, D.C. following the assassination of Martin Luther King, the Archdiocese of Washington adopted Project Commitment, an interracial program utilized by Catholic dioceses across the United States. Holy Cross’ group leaders were Dan Shea, Len Chiazze, and Betty McCormick. This group organized a series of evening talks related to addressing racism, such as “The Psychology of Prejudice”. Three talks were held over a six-week period; the first session was attended by 200 parishioners. Among the speakers were two professors from Howard University and American University.

Project Commitment was also interested and involved in legislative awareness and topics such as poverty and low-income housing. 

In May 1969, the group sponsored a Christian Unity Service with an African American Church, Mt. Calvary Baptist in Rockville. 170 people attended including the Holy Cross guitar group, Pastor Houston Brooks, and Holy Cross’ Father Lewis and Father Bazan. 

It appears Cardinal Archbishop O’Boyle directly communicated with the Pastors concerning the appropriate Catholic path on social issues. Holy Cross parishioner Dan Shea as well as others stepped forward to work with the Archdiocese and take on the issue of “polarization of the races” and fear of the “Black Revolution” by promoting interactive sessions on racism and other activities. Dan’s widow, Joanne Shea, remembers that Holy Cross invited children from the Ken-Gar community in Kensington to come to Holy Cross to play and that there was an all-volunteer tutoring program. 

While much of the information about Project Commitment’s activities and details about initiatives have been lost to time, a couple of its programs included clothing collections and invitations for inner-city children to come to Holy Cross (likely in the summer) for a day of games, lunch, etc.

CHRISTIAN UNITY 

When parishioner Fran Kleinhenz lived in Ohio, she participated in her parish’s Christian Unity program that calls together all Christian churches to jointly pray together one Sunday afternoon a year. Fran brought this idea to Holy Cross, and in January 1970, Fran and Joe Weiss of the Social Concerns Committee invited clergy of St. Jane de Chantel, St. Luke’s Episcopal, Trinity Lutheran Warner Memorial Presbyterian, Bethesda Methodist, Bethesda Congregational, and Bradley Hills Presbyterian churches to an ecumenical service in the afternoon of the last Sunday in January. The program for this service was prepared by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor, Garrison, NY. It consisted of hymns sung by combined choirs of the churches, prayers, a sermon, and a benediction at the conclusion of the service. Afterward, there was the opportunity to socialize and a light buffet. As the years passed, word spread of this beautiful gathering and more churches took part. This ecumenical gathering lasted 25 years.

In April 1975, the fall of Saigon signaled the end of the Vietnam war and saw Vietnamese families fleeing their country. Holy Cross Church got involved in sponsoring the Minh family. They lived on Keswick just off Strathmore. Parishioners, including Mrs. Paulene Morrison, Mrs. Marge Gott, as well as others, fixed up the house prior to the family’s arrival; and Paulene Morrison taught English to Mrs. Minh. Their support from and relationship with Holy Cross is shown by these bulletin notices:

June 8, 1975 – The Sunday bulletin mentions Holy Cross hosting a Vietnamese family. 

August 10, 1975 – The parishioners were asked to approve the parish’s support of a Vietnamese family. Two days later Holy Cross adopted the family and there was an excellent response from the parish with increases in monetary donations and donations of necessities to help get the family settled.

December 19, 1975 – Mr. Minh Van Hoany, his wife, and three children ages 21, 12, and 8 years old were due to arrive on Monday December 20, 1975. Mr. Minh had owned a print shop in Saigon. They were settled in a small house in Garrett Park without a lease with the owner who was scheduled to be out of the country for the following 8 months. Poor box contributions aided this family as did donations of bedding, linens, pots and pans, and other incidentals to set up a home. There were committees assigned to assure the family had whatever they needed. By 1977 the family was completely self-sufficient.

June 1981 – The Minh family planned a “thank you” dinner in the Social Hall for all in the Holy Cross Parish who helped them when they arrived in 1975. They asked all who aided them to phone the rectory and leave their name and address so the Minh family could extend to them a proper invitation to dinner. They really wanted all who helped them to come to this dinner.

July 19, 1981 – The Minh family went to Baltimore to apply for citizenship. Parishioner Mrs. Paulene Morrison and Father Lewis were witnesses for Mr. and Mrs. Minh and their three children. Note in Sunday Bulletin: “Holy Cross Parish is very proud of what you have accomplished within five years after arriving in the United States of America”.

October 4, 1981 – The Minh family wanted to remember Catholics left behind in Vietnam. They arranged to give a benefit dinner at Holy Cross for the priest, two convents, and the poor parishioners in Vietnam who were in desperate need of help.

In December 1977, Holy Cross adopted a second family from Vietnam. Nguyen Ngoe Nhan, his wife, and four children were “boat people” who arrived in June 1978 after fleeing Vietnam by sea following the end of the Vietnam war. The parish was able to secure for them the same dwelling in which the first family (Minh) had lived. Mr. Nguyen spoke English and needed a job. Donations through the Holy Cross poor box helped fund this family. Then, in October 1978, there was a fire and once again the Nguyens lost all their possessions. Fortunately, the family did not suffer any injuries. The Nguyen family left Maryland and relocated to Kansas where, through a relative, Mr. Nguyen found a very good full-time job to cover the cost of living in Kansas. 

OF INTEREST: There was a third Vietnamese refugee family in Garrett Park. Though not sponsored by Holy Cross, they were warmly welcomed by the community—the Le family. Their home was on Clermont with a Garrett Park family who Mr. Le knew from his job as a high Vietnamese government employee.

In addition, in 1975, parishioners Jerry and Judy McDonough added to their family of four children by adopting two Cambodian refugee brothers, Joe (Viseta Nuon) and Terry (Pithon Nuon); their older brother was adopted by another family. 

a game, but the cumulative Jackpot prizes. Carmine (Cappy) Capozzolla was the caller for years. His chatter and banter ensured a fun-filled evening. The Jackpot would rise to thousands of dollars and increase weekly… until some lucky attendee would win.

Later, Liz Troy and the Respect Life Committee began holding a benefit bingo every October in Lewis Hall to benefit Centro Tepeyac, a Catholic organization that counsels women against having an abortion and offers them assistance. This bingo event still takes place, though was put on hold due to COVID-19. Since it is a fundraiser, each attendee is asked donate packages of disposable diapers or to make a cash donation to participate. This annual event has been well-attended with folks from our parish and neighboring St. Jane de Chantel as well as other parishes who supported Right to Life. Families often come with children who are delighted to win a prize. Local merchants have contributed generously when asked for a donation. Because of fundraisers such as the Holy Cross bingo, Centro Tepeyac was able to outfit a van for their outreach program and this enabled them to reach even more women. 

Note: Centro Tepeyac is the name of the hill in Mexico where in December 1531 the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego and the miracle of the tilma occurred.

organization and deliver them to the organization’s locations. In 1989, the name of the tree was changed to the Giving Tree. Our parish’s response, from the very beginning, has been overwhelming. Many, many people have had a Merry Christmas because of the generosity of Holy Cross parishioners.

“Aristotle’s Nichomachean ethics as a common base for believers and non-believers.” Dr. Keys was for three days a principal participant in the give-and-take on Christians and politics, the Church’s mission in the formation of Europe, the historical experience of science and faith, and Christian heritage and new European culture. Unless memory ill serves us, no Holy Cross parishioner has ever been the Vatican’s voice on such issues.

Dr. Keys is a graduate of Holy Cross School, Oakcrest High School, Boston College, and Toronto University. A distinguished scholar, Dr. Keys is associate professor of political sciences at the University of Notre Dame, author of “Aquinas, Aristotle, and the Promise of the Common Good”, and the daughter of parishioners Bert (deceased) and Liz Keys of Locust Hill, a neighbor off Rockville Pike. Congratulations, Mary! (Bulletin July 1, 2007 edited for updates)

Haiti. The Centro Cultural Batahola Norte is a technical training and holistic education project for women and youth founded in 1983. 

Christine and a fellow Boston College graduate moved to Nicaragua to lay the groundwork for a new 2-year volunteer program “Friends of Batahola Volunteers”. They developed an English language program, something the community specifically asked for since English is a valuable asset in obtaining jobs, especially in tourist and business sectors. (Bulletin August 19, 2007, edited for brevity)

When the President’s mother, Mrs. Rose Kennedy, visited the family she attended daily 8:30 a.m. Mass. Her favorite seat was the first pew, center aisle on the left side of the church. 

CAMP SHRIVER: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, influenced by her father’s JPK Jr. Foundation and her relationship with her sister, Rosemary, who had an intellectual

For several weeks each June between 1961 and 1968, a group of about 50 children with intellectual disabilities came by bus from Washington, D.C. They were from local institutions and agencies and ranged in age from 6-16 years old. The goal was for the campers to work one-on-one with their counselor.

counselors were invited into the grand family room for indoor activities such as singing and arts and crafts. Mrs. Shriver, her five children, and some of her nieces and nephews worked with the campers each day. (source: www.SpecialOlympics.com)

minority members to the force. One person said Jim was the highest-ranking civilian at a police agency in the United States. Five years later he was named evaluation manager of the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Jim and his wife, Michele, had stopped practicing their Catholic faith only to return and lapse again.

In 1973, Michele died five years after a cancer diagnosis and their youngest child was just 8 years old. Jim was 47 years old. 

In 1978 he was offered early retirement. His children were scattered: one son joined the Merchant Marines, another son and his daughter were in college, and the youngest was now 12. He was 52, had taken an early retirement, and was now trying to deal with his new life.

The first day after retiring, Jim went to Mass. This was a surprise because the family had not been to a church in the five years since his mother’s death. Living in Bethesda, Maryland, Jim Murray found himself at Holy Cross Church in Garrett Park, MD, about a 10-minute drive from his home. He was seeking a priest with whom he could speak and to whom he could confess. 

In 1979, Jim Murray met with Father Lewis at the rectory and made a general confession and began to attend not only Sunday Mass at Holy Cross Church, but also daily Mass. 

Father Lewis asked Jim to be a Eucharistic minister and a lector. He taught SOR (called CCD at the time). Some parishioners will remember him as “the man who cried in church”. Jim called it his “gift of tears”. He did not sob, but tears uncontrollably streamed down his face during Mass so much so that one person approached him with concern to ask, “What is going on?” He liked the people of Holy Cross and joined prayer groups, made religious retreats with the men of Holy Cross Church, and then found himself drawn to continue his pursuit of the tremendous urge to follow whatever God had planned for him. His son says that in 1979 his dad “fell madly and passionately in love again. With God.” (page 183 The Father and The Son)

Jim estimates the “gift of tears” continued for approximately five years. He is quoted as saying that out of 365 days a year he shed tears 360 days. But they didn’t stop completely.

When his youngest son, Matt, was 16, they sat down to discuss the future. Jim planned to sell the family home and he and Matt would move to an apartment. Around this time, Jim began to search in earnest to discern his future direction. Jim had met a Jesuit priest who suggested he visit Loyola Retreat House for a “directed” retreat which would last 4 weeks. Because of his family commitments, the priest set up spiritual exercises that Jim would do at home three times a day for several months and come back to see the priest every week. Jim set up a private space in the basement of his home. He felt closer to Christ; once experiencing His presence.

Sunday Bulletin October 11, 1987—Jim reported: in good health, had an early summer illness and was teaching courses on marriage and moral personhood to the Abbey’s High School students. He was studying pre-theology and philosophy courses at St. Meinrad Seminary and that the next move depends on his Abbot. He reported that he was studying to be a Monk. 

Sunday Bulletin July 16, 1989—Jim reported that he had been accepted by St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana and would begin seminary work in the Fall of 1989.

There were no more letters to Monsignor Gatto, with whom Father Murray had corresponded after the death of Father Lewis in 1983.

his other duties at St. Bede Abbey and Academy, he was a frequent retreat master and served as a confessor and spiritual director for area clergy and laity. He is survived by his four children, four grandchildren, and his monastic confreres.

Quotes from his son Matt, author of The Father and The Son:

“Dad suddenly seemed like the only one I had ever known who had followed his beliefs to their limits.” Page 47

“Everyone watched him—not until the Abbot spoke again and people turned their attention away from my father did he remove his glasses and wipe his eyes with his handkerchief.” Page 48

 “I wasn’t ready to dismiss the possibility that God had called my father to this new life.” Page 49

and said he wanted to memorialize a pew and offered to donate $1,000 for that honor. (Bulletin February 15, 2004)

The congregation sat on metal folding chairs while the pews were removed and taken offsite for refinishing.

Based on that one parishioner’s offer, Msgr. Gatto began a campaign to memorialize the pews for a $1,000 donation, which was the actual cost of refurbishing a single pew. A brass plate engraved with the name the donor desired was permanently affixed to the inside of each pew. The parishioners responded enthusiastically, and you can now see that every pew has a memorial plaque. (Bulletin March 24, 2004)

Pew cushions were added shortly thereafter to complete the renovation.

BUILDING THE RECTORY 

sent on to the Chancery. The congregation was asked to PRAY. Our request was granted! The rectory was going to be built.

The completion date was targeted between March 5th and March 30th, 1966. The house in Garrett Park that served as temporary rectory was put up for sale: first to any interested parishioner and only then through the open market.

An “Open House”, the first look at the Rectory, was held on Sunday May 15, 1966, just 15 months from the “letter of request”.

Center will also provide a space for prayer, reflection, and engagement for religion classes and faith-centered activities.

In addition, the campaign funds are earmarked for ongoing maintenance of the church, school, and entire parish campus.

In 1970, Holy Cross School was in need of a fresh coat of paint. Parishioner Dave Thomas headed a group of volunteers and painted the classrooms and the hallway. The paint they used was carefully chosen for the color and ease in cleaning. 

The next year, 1971, a group of volunteers from the Holy Cross Players, Boy Scouts, the Men’s Club, and the Home and School Association volunteered to paint the Social Hall (Lewis Hall). It took three weekday evenings to get the job done. The Sodality purchased new draperies that were installed before school was back in session.

In July 1972, parishioner Jack Gott assembled a volunteer group of men and women to paint the interior of the Convent (Quinn Hall).

Around 1977-1978, when the interior of the church needed to be painted, former parishioner and Holy Cross 7^th grade teacher, Tim McNiff, painted the entire church by himself in a soft yellow color. When he completed the very high peak of the right transept (St. Joseph’s altar) he painted AMEN on a portion of the wall yet to be 

May 1968: Father Lewis issued a statement regarding the need to increase school tuition to:

This did not include book rental, school bus, or milk at lunch which were billed separately. And there was an Alternate Plan: if you contributed $5 per week in the Sunday envelope system, there was NO TUITION. Your weekly envelope told the rectory which plan you chose to use. You could not combine your parish debt reduction donation in the $5 per week envelope. The plan was designed as an aid to Holy Cross families. The $5 per week was less than half of the school’s operating cost per child. Additional fees were not considered tuition and were billed separately. 

June 1971: Tuition was increased from $12.50 per month to $17.50 per month and there were no more book rentals. Textbooks were to be bought and then re-sold at the end of the year. Used books were passed along like this until there were changes to the current editions.

Vatican II (1962-1965) brought many changes to the Mass: the priest would face the people while saying Mass, Mass would be said in the vernacular (as opposed to Latin), new missals were needed because of changes to the liturgy, and all women were required to have their head covered in church. The lace mantilla became a very popular head covering. In the late 1960s, head coverings were no longer required.

Bulletin December 1965—Christmas Mass was sung in English instead of Latin for the first time.

In April 1971, the bulletin announced changes in receiving Holy Communion. Instead of kneeling at the altar railing to receive the Host, each person would now stand at the altar railing. Then, in May 1971, “Worthy Persons” designated and with a mandate from the Bishop were permitted to take Holy Communion to the sick and home-bound, and to assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion during Mass.

Bulletin November 9, 1972—Lenten changes: Once divided by “Lent” and “Passiontide”, the church now wishes to emphasize the unity of the season. There will be no more veiling of crucifixes, statues, and crosses during Lent. 

Bulletin October 2, 2012—The new translation of the prayer texts will more closely reflect the original Latin texts. 

Bulletin November 25, 1984—On a Monday evening in November 1984, approximately 50 parishioners attended a presentation by Mr. Patrick Holtkamp, a representative from the Rambusch Church Design Company. The presentation was based on a document issued by the Bishops of the United States for the implementation of a Liturgical Renewal as it pertains to places of worship. The point was very clearly made that what we were beginning that evening was a study to see how the Bishop’s document could best be applied at Holy Cross. Among the areas of concern were the enlargement of space in the sanctuary, a place for the baptismal font, the color of the church, placement of the celebrant’s chair, and enhancement of the tabernacle. The study would take six months or more. The results will be made known and a decision to act or not will be made.

Bulletin April 14, 1985—The exterior doors to the church and rectory were refinished using money from the Capitol Funds Campaign. 

Bulletin July 21, 1985—Roadway repaving will take 3 days and cost $45,000 because of extensive patching. 

(bread of angels) and they are sculpted to call our attention more vividly to that bread of angels which is the Blessed Sacrament, the Body of Christ really and truly present together with His soul and divinity behind those majestic doors. To complete the presentation a dove, the sign of the Holy Spirit, hovers from the peak of the dome.

Bulletin October 27, 1996—The Over 50 Club held a 50/50 raffle with the goal to raise money to build an enclosed walkway between the sacristy and the rectory. The principle involved was to sell 500 tickets for $100.00 each with the possibility of raising $50K. That would make it possible to divide half of it among five winners, each receiving $5K and the other half will be used to build the enclosed walkway. The raffle ended 12/6/1996. There were 3 - $2,550 winners and 3 - $850.00 winners. One winner had 3 owners! $25K went to the parish.