2022-2023
A N N UA L R E P O RT P U B L I C ATI O N ST M A RYS A N N A P OL I S .O RG
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St . M ar y ’s A n n apo l i s 2022- 2023
ST. MARY’S PARISH & SCHOOL 5
Pastor’s Letter
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The Hispanic Ministry
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Pastoral Council
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In Their Own Words: Ministry Stories
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St. Vincent de Paul Society
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Sacramental Data
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Faith Formation
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School President’s Letter
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St. Mary’s Elementary School
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St. Mary’s High School
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Class of 2023
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College Acceptances for the Class of 2023
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Distinguished Alumni Awards
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2023 Parish & School Service Awards
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St. Mary’s Restoration & Maintenance Projects
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Financial Report
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Giving at a Glance & Support St. Mary's
2022-2023
COVER St Mary’s Church © Jeff Voigt/Owner Aerial Photographer
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One Community St. Mary’s Parish & School St. Mary’s Parish, a sacramental Roman Catholic community united in Jesus Christ our Redeemer, proclaims God’s love, serves the needs of others, educates in the faith and joyfully celebrates God’s presence and promises as we seek the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Mary’s Parish, a Catholic congregation served by the Redemptorist Order, includes St. Mary’s Church and St. John Neumann Mission Church. St. Mary’s Elementary and High School, located in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, serves students in grades PreKindergarten through 12. Anchored in faith, rooted in tradition and committed to excellence, our programs build lifelong learners who are servant leaders.
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St . M ar y ’s A n n apo l i s 2022- 2023
PASTOR’S LETTER
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HIS PAST JUNE, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REDEMPTORISTS OF THE BALTIMORE PROVINCE reappointed me to St. Mary’s Parish to serve as both superior of the Redemptorist community and as pastor of the parish. Having experienced four both challenging and joyful years at Saint Mary’s, I was delighted to receive this reappointment. It is a blessing to be part of such a vibrant parish community that continues to follow Jesus Christ and His call to love one another. We were blessed to received Father John Harrison C.Ss.R., born and raised in Annapolis, who is semi-retired, along with Father Joy Poonoli C.Ss.R., from the Liguori Province in India, who is serving as chaplain at Anne Arundel Medical Center. I believe one of the strengths of our parish is a very talented and diverse community made up of priests from India, Paraguay, Grenada, Vietnam, the United States and the land of Brooklyn. We also have four excellent and very active deacons and two men preparing to become future deacons. This past year has been one of growing in stability. We have a particular focus on evangelization, not only for those who may have drifted from the faith, as well as those who may wish to become Catholic, but for all of us that we continue to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Our liturgies, sacramental programs, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, Walking with Purpose, I Thirst, That Man is You, and Adult Education events aid in knowing and loving Jesus. We are blessed by the ongoing commitment our parishioners have to the continual adoration of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, 24 hours daily, 365 days of the year. The parishioners are also most generous with their time and talents in the variety of our ministries and in the care of those in need, in particular through the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry. Our parish school, which runs from pre-school to twelfth grade, is deeply committed to the Catholic education of our students, as are our School President Dr. Andrew Moore, our interim High School principal Mr. Joseph Kennan, our Elementary School Principal Mrs. Megan Back and all our administrators, staff and teachers. Our grade school has a waiting list and our high school has its strongest enrollment in eleven years. Recently celebrating the bilingual Thanksgiving Day Mass was a great joy to me. Saint John Neumann Church was filled with both English and Spanish speaking parishioners who thanked God in song and praise in both languages. Our Hispanic parishioners continue to grow in numbers, and we welcome the love for the Lord they bring to our parish. It is my hope over this coming term of office to which I have been appointed that we can continue to steward well the buildings and properties that have been entrusted to us. We are very blessed by our senior population, of which I am one, for participating so strongly in the many committees and ministries of our parish. It is my desire that we can continue to be a welcoming parish community as we invite others of all ages to join in the spirited life of Saint Mary’s. We pray through the power of our parish patron, the Blessed Mother, to continue to guide and bless all our parishioners and visitors.
Very Reverend Patrick Woods, C.Ss.R. Pastor STMARYSANNAPOLIS.ORG
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THE HISPANIC MINISTRY
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he Hispanic Ministry at St. Mary's has been working very hard to keep the community together. St. Mary’s Parish is very grateful to our parishioners who are very generous with their time and talents. The Hispanic Ministry welcomes our Spanish speaking parishioners and provides outreach to recently arrived immigrants, principally from Mexico, Central America and South America. We welcome them to the community, greeting them so they feel that they are at home. Their thriving ministry includes three Hispanic Masses each week. Today the Hispanic Ministry serves over 5,000 families. It is a vibrant and active community and an integral part of St. Mary’s spiritual life, growing not only in numbers but also as active members of our parish. Reverend Hever Sanchez, C.Ss.R. Vicar, Hispanic Ministry Ministry Spotlight: The Adoration Chapel There are over 75 Hispanic adorers who serve in the chapel at St. John Neumann Church. The Hispanic community feels blessed to be part of the parish and to have an adoration chapel open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Many new adores have given testimony that they have found peace, comfort and healing by the Lord from their time with the Holy Sacrament. They believe that there is not a better place that our community can be than in the Adoration Chapel.
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St . M ar y ’s A n n apo l i s 2022- 2023
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PASTORAL COUNCIL
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he Pastoral Council is very excited to serve this parish focusing on evangelization, community, and prayer. As an advising body to the Pastor, we help to support and put into action his vision for the parish, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help and, most importantly, YOUR PRAYERS! Last year, we continued developing the I Thirst Program. We focused on the study “Jesus, The Way, The Truth, The Life!” The program successfully engaged many parishioners and brought them together for prayer, and faith sharing. We continue to bring all ministries together in June for the “Ministry Retreat.” This is an opportunity to share talents, information, challenges, and accomplishments for each ministry in our parish. Our next ministry retreat will be in June of 2024, and we hope everyone can participate. We welcomed three new members to the Pastoral Council, Tom Brasek, Michael Rodríguez and John Vernon, who joined at the end of 2023. They hit the ground running and are already very involved in different pillars, Pastoral Council initiatives, and ministries in the parish. As we welcomed new members, we said goodbye to Brian Madden, our Pastoral Council president for three years and member of the Council for nine years. Brian faithfully shared his time and talents with us and with the whole parish, particularly during those difficult COVID-19 years! We are thankful for Brian’s generosity and leadership. Every year, some members finish their term and leave us; please pray and consider joining the Council. Members serve a minimum term of three years and can be asked to serve a second term of three years. We solicit parishioner discernment for new members annually via the bulletin and parish website, typically in April-May. The Pastoral Council continues to develop and strengthen the I Thirst Program. This year, we focused on a study on the Eucharist to foster faith sharing in small groups. We are currently focusing on developing a Lenten Program, and we continue to grow the Program on the Seven Principles of Social Teachings of the Church. As we move to new and future projects, we ask that you pray for us. May we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, so Our Lord can show us the way ahead; that we find the courage to accept the Lord’s will and follow Him. The Pastoral Council is praying for our parish, pray for us! May we learn to love our Lord and our neighbors deeply, like our Blessed Mother did! In Christ, Silvia M. Peart, PhD President, Pastoral Council
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St . M ar y ’s A n n apo l i s 2022- 2023
St. Mary’s Pastoral Council 2022-2023 Silvia Peart President
John Jones Vice President
Sam Davies Secretary
Diane Beliveau Tom Brasek Susy Cruz Mary Ann Davies Michele Deckman Raphael Elguera John Fogarty Stacie Gormley Rick Lober Michael Rodriquez Loralea Sanderson Jaqueline Solis John Vernon Carla Wilcox
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: MINISTRY STORIES St. Mary's Parish has more than 60 ministries and organizations that are run by volunteers from the parish who donate their time to serve the spiritual, community and educational needs of our parish and the greater Annapolis community. We asked the ministry leaders three questions to try to understand what it is like to serve others in the 2023 world. We asked about what impact they feel they have had, what inspired them to get involved and what they see as their role. Here are their stories in their own words. 1) Please share a specific story or experience that illustrates the positive impact your ministry has had on someone’s life? Legion of Mary When I moved to Annapolis in October 2011, I was a member of the Legion of Mary so it seemed natural to me to continue my membership. Our mission statement is Evangelization through the rosary and works of mercy. Our works are meant to continue serving the parish when one transitions to assisted living and nursing homes with weekly visits taking Our Lord in Holy Communion and praying the Rosary with them in a group setting. On one occasion we visited a lady that had recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Her son called me early that morning to ask if I could bring Communion to her room, as she wasn't feeling well, instead of at the library where the group met for the rosary. He called me back the next day to let me know she died that evening. A more recent occasion was with a man we visit at an assisted living facility. His sister was dying of lung cancer. She was at home with hospice care. I gave him the Divine Mercy Chaplet to say for her. He was able to be with her and said the chaplet for her at her bedside days later when she died. All of our ministries have made many friendships and had gratifying moments with their service to our parish and our community.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry This family came to Annapolis from Honduras, they walked all the way up to the border, and it took them several months. They came to the U. S. because they have a disabled child, in the hope that here – in the U. S. – they could have better care for her. Unfortunately, like many immigrants who come to our country, they are misinformed and do not know the ins and outs of our healthcare system. Further, they had no status in this country, so the child could not receive the care she needed, so they were stuck. They did not have the means to go back to Honduras or to provide for the needs of the child. The family rented a room in a house here in Annapolis. Mom stayed at home caring for the kids, while their dad worked, but whatever he could make working was not enough to provide for the family, particularly for the little one who needed special care. Our ministry supported them with food and medicine but, at times when the little ones needed to go to the doctor or needed some special care, they were not able to pay their rent. We supported them in this manner, at times, but our ministry knew that this situation was not sustainable. The little one needed special care and stability, and this family needed lots of help from their extended family, which they could not receive here in the U.S. Our board discussed this case at length. We reached the conclusion that they needed to go back to Honduras, so the child could receive care and medicine and mom could have a support system provided by other family members who lived in Honduras. Mom was very lonely and caring for the little one was really taking a toll on her, particularly because her daughter was not receiving the treatment that she needed. We started the process to get their passports, which took a couple of months, then, we needed doctor’s letters and documentation so the little one could safely travel by plane. In the meantime, we asked the family if they needed anything else to prepare for their trip back to Honduras, and they asked that a priest visit them and baptize their kids. Father McKenna, our Spiritual Director, met with the family; he is such a gentle and loving pastor! He baptized the kids. STMARYSANNAPOLIS.ORG
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Our Ministry received gift card donations from Walking with Purpose, we used them to buy the white dresses for the kids (we see them here in the picture). Father McKenna talked to them, comforted them, and helped them prepare for the journey. Our Ministry purchased the plane tickets and Susy Cruz and her husband drove them to the airport and stayed with them until they boarded the plane. Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry has touched many lives through the years, particularly those most in need in our community. Although this ministry has changed many people’s lives, it has changed primarily mine. As I do this work, I have learned to be less judgmental and more merciful and more attuned to the needs of others instead of mine. I have learned to listen more and talk less, and to receive others with an open heart. May Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us and help us to find the strength and wisdom to continue this journey! Thank you to all our members and to St. Mary’s Parish for your support! 2) What inspired you to become more involved in your ministry? Partners in Mission Partners in Mission assists parishioners in strengthening and empowering their spiritually via faith sharing, prayer, and the sharing of communal activities through Redemptorist values. A hallmark of Redemptorist life and spirituality is the primacy of mission. Our shared mission is the proclamation of the Good News of Plentiful Redemption, God's overabundant love and mercy, by witness within the context of daily interactions, including within each members’ existing ministries. What inspired me to become involved with Partners in Mission was hearing testimonies of parishioners and also watching the Redemptorists be the face of God for individuals at their darkest times. I admire that the Redemptorists have chosen to imitate our Redeemer in a way that results in a unity between spirituality and ministry. By being a Partner in Mission, I allow my hope, spirit, compassion, and light to shine in a way that will amplify my gifts and talents, to and through the Redemptorists. My goal is to thereby maximize the joy and celebration of the Good News of plentiful redemption that we collectively bring to those who have a history of poverty, abandonment, and spiritual longing. I pray that the wounded of our world can experience through our witness the overflowing abundance and wonder of God's infectious love, mercy and graces! Come join us! Special Gatherings (formerly the Women’s Group, the Social Club) Women’s Group launched in 2008 with approval from then pastor, Fr. John Kingsbury. The goal - to provide social activities for the women of the Parish. Inspiration was fueled from conversations with elderly, widowed, single and retired women whom we learned just wanted to have “fun.” A friend and I began to ponder a women’s club, an idea that had been 10
St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
bandied about in the past. We formed a committee of likeminded friends to “just do it.” The introductory meeting in January 2008 brought 105 women to Seelos Hall. Over the next ten years, the popular ministry featured monthly luncheons and programs of interest, which expanded to include “Mornings of Reflection” (mini retreats) with guest priests including Fr. Joe Breighner, columnist and tv/radio personality from Baltimore, and Fr. Leo Patalinghug, “the cooking priest,” as celebrity presenters. Bus trips came next with destinations to Emmitsburg Mother Seton Shrine, Frederick, Baltimore and Washington, D. C., and more. The vibes were loud and clear. We like this. “Women’s Group” gave way to “Social Club” as men were invited to participate. The committee saw the delighted response and felt anew we were fulfilling a social need for many parishioners. After the pandemic, we scaled back to occasional events under the banner “Special Gatherings.” A beautiful Christmas Luncheon in December 2022 entertained another record 105 men and women in Seelos Hall. Our bus trip in April was sold out. We’d like to continue such gatherings but need new volunteers for our ministry. We pray energetic, younger parishioners will step forward to lead and discover the reward is so much greater than the effort involved. 3) How do you see your role in serving the community and fostering spiritual growth among the members of your congregation? Walking with Purpose Our role in serving the community, and fostering spiritual growth among members of our community, is the cornerstone of being a member of Walking with Purpose (WWP). WWP is a Catholic Women’s Bible study serving 118 women at St. Mary’s. Our mission is transforming hearts and bringing women closer to Christ as we find Him in scripture. Through our weekly, small group meetings, we study the gospels, women of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, and so much more. Together, we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance as we pray each time we gather. Moreover, once a month, all nine of our groups convene for fellowship. These Coffee Connect gatherings are times of growing in our faith as we welcome various speakers and participate in faith-based activities that enrich our faith journey. These evenings are both enlightening and
inspiring, enabling our participants to build a stronger relationship with our Lord, and with others, in our families and communities. Our mission is also one of service to others within WWP as well as to those in need. Being a member of WWP is a safe place to grow spiritually, filled with love and acceptance. We are encouraged to evangelize, bringing others in to grow in our faith and in friendship with one another. New members are always welcome. Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion As an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, EMHC, I am serving the community by helping to distribute Holy Communion during Mass and other special days. My participation in this ministry has profoundly deepened my love for the Blessed Sacrament. I am committed to the Church’s understanding of the Real Presence. I am fostering spiritual growth among the members of the congregation by fulfilling my role with knowledge and reverence. To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with my
own hands is a privilege and one which indicates an active participation in the ministry of the Eucharist. My experience as an EMHC permeates all my actions and relationships in my home, in our parish and local community. The fullest and most central expression of our ministry is our participation in the celebration of the Eucharist. As an EMHC I am called to further service of the Body of Christ, the Church, as I share the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ with God’s people. Like all ministry, this is a great honor and a great responsibility. As I undertake it, I grow in my devotion to the liturgy, to the Church that celebrates it, and, most importantly, to the Lord, through whom, with whom and in whom we live and move and have our being. This is a most beautiful ministry. Time taken to reflect on its meaning and practice has deeply enrich my own awareness of the mystery of Christ and that of the people we serve. These stories represent only a few of the many stories out there in our parish. We encourage you to join a ministry and to start creating your own ministry story!
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY A Mass to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) conference at St. Mary’s was held on February 26, 2023 at St John Neumann Church. Celebrants were Fr. Mike Houston, Fr. Pat Woods and Deacon Steve House. SVDP held weekly Outreach Sessions at St. Mary’s Church on Monday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Over the past year, we provided funds in 450 cases to families and individuals facing eviction or utility shut offs. In some cases, we coordinated our assistance with other organizations. We also covered the first week of rent at halfway houses for 80 individuals recovering from addiction and handed out 350 grocery store, gas and bus cards.
Ahead of both Thanksgiving and Christmas, our Holiday Share Program delivered grocery store cards to 400 families and 100 seniors. SVDP also coordinated the delivery of Christmas presents donated by St. Mary’s parishioners to 1,000 children. Seniors also received pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas. In January, SVDP took part in the annual county-wide Winter Relief program by providing meals and housing for seven homeless individuals for one week in Seelos Hall. SVDP supplied tents, sleeping bags, long underwear, hats, gloves, and socks to 80 homeless individuals. The Anne Arundel County Homeless Coordinator provided the list of needed items. Once a month, our members cooked dinner for the residents of the Light House Shelter. Every other week, we delivered the food collected in the Red Wagon at St. John Neumann to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank or the Light House Shelter. In addition, SVDP conducted two food drives (spring and fall) in support of the Light House Shelter, with parishioners donating 400 bags of non-perishable goods each drive. STMARYSANNAPOLIS.ORG
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SACRAMENTAL DATA (2022-2023)
417
215
143
BAPTISMS
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST
CONFIRMATIONS
91
129
86
MARRIAGES
FUNERALS
ADULTS, CHILDREN, & TEENS
*These numbers include Hispanic community data.
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
FAITH FORMATION Faith Formation A return to in-person sessions opened many opportunities for families to learn together, to hold parent sessions and to build community. As the primary catechists, parents committed to attending Sunday Mass as a family each week, to attending a monthly Living in Faith Together (LIFT) family gathering, and to teaching the assigned lessons at home. One-hundred-and-thirty nine (139) families with 232 children participated in the program. “The in-person sessions have been very meaningful for our family. Love the new model. The parent part during the classroom piece allows me to learn as well and share/discuss with my kids.” – Faith Formation Parent First Reconciliation & First Eucharist Continuing with the focus on the family, parents were instrumental in preparing for their child’s First Reconciliation and Eucharist. Interactive, in-person retreats were held for both sacraments in which parents accompanied their child to various stations. After First Reconciliation, St. Mary’s welcomed 148 children to the table of the Lord. Vacation Bible School In June, Faith Formation held a “Stellar” Vacation Bible School (VBS) where 90 children learned to shine Jesus’ light. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 enjoyed Bible stories, snacks, games, music and cool science experiments, and raised money for City of Agape. The week ended with a family Mass and Kona Ice. Middle School & High School Youth Ministry St. Mary’s youth ministry provided opportunities for all middle school and high school young people to grow in their faith, find fellowship with peers, and serve others in our community. A highlight for our middle school participants was attending the archdiocese-sponsored Rise Up! Middle School Day at Mount St. Joseph. A highlight for the high school youth ministry was presenting bilingual Stations of the Cross with the Hispanic ministry teens during Lent. Confirmation St. Mary’s joyfully celebrated a Confirmation Mass with Bishop Bruce Lewandowski in November. Ninety-seven (97) high school teens received the sacrament. Young Adult Ministries Young adult ministry continued to grow with more social events through Anne Arundel Catholic Young Adults. Local events sponsored by St. Mary’s included bible studies, the Theology on Tap speaker series, a monthly Holy Hour with praise and worship music, a Mardi Gras party and their yearly retreat at the beach with the Redemptorists. STMARYSANNAPOLIS.ORG
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SCHOOL PRESIDENT'S LETTER
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THIS YEAR HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME OF PROGRESS AND CHANGE at St. Mary’s School. As the School President, I feel so honored to be entrusted with this position, and I am thrilled to be leading our school at such a moment of optimism and opportunity. We are continuing to sail forward this year on a course toward innovating in our School, while maintaining the very best traditions that make St. Mary’s a great community and educational experience. In the past year, our Elementary School enrollment has expanded to full capacity with waiting pools in all ten grades, from pre-K to eighth grade. In the High School, enrollment is also a bright spot, as we matriculated the largest freshman class in nearly 20 years, and started school in the fall with the largest high school student body since 2007. This class of 150 ninth graders is entirely balanced, with 75 students from St. Mary’s, and 75 new students from other middle schools. With those exciting developments, we have responded to this enrollment boom by supporting our faculty and students in a variety of ways. In the Elementary School, we created four new classroom spaces and hired seven new teaching positions, including three full-time middle school teachers to lower class sizes for students at that critical age. We have hired one new position specifically to support our large freshman class and are currently engaged in searches for a new Principal and Athletic Director, providing an exciting opportunity for fresh vision and leadership in our school. The creation of a High School Learning Difference Program in 2022 led to the addition of a parallel program with a dedicated Coordinator for our Middle School students with special learning needs. And in the year ahead, we have plans to expand and modernize classroom space for both parts of the school, from three brand-new classrooms for mathematics, a completely gutted and renovated Science Lab wing in the High School, a new lighted and turf practice field for our athletes, while upgrading numerous safety and security measures. We have expanded our service offerings to new locations in the area and out-of-state trips; we are enjoying the largest registrations in years for our Kairos retreats, and we are doing more service hours as a school than ever before. Once again, every single graduate of the Class of 2023 was admitted to college – a 100% rate – and a school record was set by 42 seniors committing to play college athletics. We have added and funded a series of new scholarships for academic excellence, extracurricular distinction, and diversity, while establishing a parent-led fundraising organization for music and theater, named the St. Genesius Society. And of course, in addition to all of the exciting progress in academics, athletics and activities, we always center ourselves in our spirit of community – a community of love and Catholic values. The sense of Catholic identity, the feeling of family, and the commitment to strengthening our Parish and our School for the benefit of our entire community is what we do every day. This is why we say: Once a Saint, Always a Saint Sincerely,
Dr. Andrew Moore President, St. Mary’s School
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
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ST. MARY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL New Leadership and Thriving St. Mary’s Elementary School (SMES) is thriving because of the implementation of several exciting initiatives by the new school leadership team. Firstly, they completed a brand-new parent-student handbook that outlines the expectations for all students. This handbook serves as a guide for both parents and students to understand the school's policies and procedures. Additionally, the team has developed a new middle school schedule that aims to enhance the learning experience for students. This schedule has been carefully crafted to ensure that students have a well-rounded education and are able to engage in various subjects and activities. The team has also made changes to the recess period, specifically for upper middle school students. They have incorporated unique social-emotional learning times during recess, providing students with valuable opportunities to develop their social skills and emotional intelligence. Another important achievement of the leadership team is their collaboration with St. Mary's High School. They have actively worked towards fostering partnerships and establishing a strong relationship with the high school, which benefits both institutions and their students. Furthermore, the team has created a new discipline policy with distinct consequences for disciplinary issues. They have also sought input from various committees to ensure that the policy is fair and effective in addressing student behavior. Overall, the new leadership team has demonstrated their commitment to improving the school environment and providing a better learning experience for all students. Following an incredible pool of qualified applicants, SMES was delighted to welcome a record number of new students to campus in the 2022-23 school year. New students’ experiences were a strong priority to ensure a smooth transition and connection to the school community. New student events, welcome days, picnics and a scavenger hunt were designed to alleviate stress and provide campus and staff familiarity for all of our new Saints! The prioritization of improved school culture was evident in the daily and weekly efforts made to make families, students and faculty feel their importance to the school community. Whether it was a hand-written note to home, a quick complimentary email, a free ice cream treat, a favorite lunch or a bouquet of flowers, the leadership team made every effort to reach each and every individual in a personal and impactful way. 16
St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
Saints Spirituality In addition to the top priority of prayer in the students’ lives, SMES is dedicated to showcasing its spirituality through various charitable contributions and outreach efforts. The school actively supports and collaborates with several organizations to make a positive impact in the community. One of the organizations supported by SMES is Bosom Buddies Charities, which focuses on assisting breast cancer patients and their families. The school also participates in Fish For A Cure, an initiative aimed at raising funds for cancer research. St. Mary's Elementary School organizes an annual Jacket/ Coat Collection for the Annual Health and Wellness event, where they collect warm clothing items to donate to those in need during the winter months. The school also participates in the Christ Child Collection, which collects donations to aid families in need during the holiday season. In addition, St. Mary's supports the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Parish Winter Relief program, which provides shelter and support for homeless individuals and families. During Catholic Schools Week, St. Mary's Elementary School hosts Pajama Day to raise funds for a Saints in Action project, which benefits Casey Cares, an organization that supports critically ill children and their families. The school also organizes a Lenten Rice Bowl Collection, which raises funds for Catholic Relief Services to support projects worldwide. Lastly, SMES actively participates in the Maryland Green School Collection, promoting environmental sustainability and awareness among its students. Through these charitable contributions and outreach initiatives, SMES embodies its spirituality and strives to make a difference in the lives of others. Exceeding Expectations SMES students completed standardized testing and watched the school flourish under the guidance and care of the most dedicated teachers and staff. Their newest standardized testing platform NWEA: Map testing was administered in three sessions: Fall, Winter and Spring. Students participated in the testing utilizing their strong instructional foundations to achieve distinguishing scores in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The school score profile elevated St. Mary’s Elementary School to the approved non-public schools eligible to apply for National Blue Ribbon status as an exemplary high performing school among the nationwide sample. This is the first opportunity for renewing this distinction since 2012!
The school’s technology integration reached a high level with the addition of a state of the art Viewsonic board in every teaching area as well as plentiful devices for equivalent student access. The beautification of campus was prioritized and included exterior painting, murals, seasonal decorations and space planning. The SMES team communications to the Saints community and families were enhanced by a new weekly blast format and website upgrades. Safe and Secure In the 2022-23 school year, St. Mary's Elementary School implemented a range of safety upgrades to enhance security on its campus. These upgrades included the installation of extra security cameras to monitor the premises and provide comprehensive surveillance. Additional door locks have been installed throughout the campus to further secure the buildings. To improve the safety management system, the school has upgraded its infrastructure to ensure effective crisis response. This included the installation of a brand-new intercom system that allows for phone access to call law enforcement in case of emergencies. This new system will enable quick and direct communication with authorities, ensuring a prompt response. Elementary school teachers participated in specialized training in crisis response and medical assistance. This equips them with the necessary skills to handle emergency situations and provide aid to students if needed. To control access to the campus, the school has implemented measures such as locking the front gates and funneling all visitor traffic to one entrance/exit on the rear side of campus. This helps staff to actively monitor and regulate entry onto the premises, ensuring that only authorized individuals are granted access. To this end, an important campus-wide decision was made to introduce a full-time security officer to campus for the 2023-24 school year. These safety upgrades at St. Mary's Elementary School aim to create a secure environment for students, staff, and visitors, prioritizing the well-being and protection of everyone on campus.
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ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL St. Mary’s High School (SMHS) had an exciting school year with the highest enrollment in more than a decade and notable successes reached both in and outside of the classroom. The Learning Differences Program has expanded and now helps more than 50 students; this program works with all students who seek assistance to reach their academic goals and potential, as well as working with those with diagnosed learning differences to design a framework and accommodation plan to foster accessibility to the curriculum. The Environment Program continues to partner with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to offer a field experience at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Four new clubs were added(Botany Club, Girl’s Lunch Club, Crochet Club and Chess Club) for a total of 24 clubs offered to all students. The Charles Carroll Scholar program is on track to set a school record of nine senior scholars! A Saint of the Week Program was begun, celebrating Saints who go above and beyond helping students, teachers and faculty. Sixty (60) student nominations were received in just the first three months of the school year. Beyond these general positive developments, several milestones were achieved: Spirituality The spirituality of the students is a top priority. This year SMHS offered their first “Girl’s Retreat” at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House. This fun, thoughtful, 24-hour event included talks, conversation and time to share thoughts about what it means today to be women who are cherished by a loving God. Forty-four (44) female students from all four grades attended, supported by five faculty members. In addition, the school continues to participate in Kairos retreats and day-long retreats for each grade. One of the deacons assigned to St. Mary’s, who has 40 years of experience as a child therapist and psychologist, addressed several important mental health topics in his faithbased presentation for all students. He also gave a special parent presentation titled, "Bringing Kids Up: Some Basics," to continue the conversation around mental health, family
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
structure, care, communication, boundaries, respect and responsibility. Service continues to be strong at SMHS. During Catholic Schools Week on Community Appreciation Day, students completed service activities for various members of our community. They made cards for priests, neighbors, soldiers, law enforcement and businesses and blankets for Project Linus; created Blessing Bags and Kindness Kits for the Annapolis Light House Shelter; and even made valentines for the residents at Baywoods Continuing Care Retirement Community. During a game hosted at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, St. Mary’s High School honored five Redemptorist priests, one deacon and one School Sister of Notre Dame who were celebrating milestone years of service: Father Alistair Elias, CSsR: 10 years Father Mike Houston CSsR: 25 years Deacon Leroy Moore: 35 years Father Vang Cong Tran, CSsR: 40 years Father Eric Hoog, CSsR.: 50 years Sister Sharon Slear, SSND: 60 years Father James O’Blaney, CSsR: 65 years Success of Dual Enrollment Continues This was the second year of the SMHS Dual Enrollment Program in cooperation with Notre Dame College of Maryland. The program began last year with 8 courses and 97 students enrolled and 291 college credit hours awarded. This school year, 207 students took a dual enrollment course and that was just for the Fall Semester. Juniors and Seniors holding a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher have the option to select up to three designated courses for dual enrollment credit in the junior year and up to three in the senior year. Courses successfully completed with a grade of C or higher earn college credit through Notre Dame of Maryland University, which may be transferable upon graduation.
A Season for Championships Four conference championships in one season is an amazing feat and that is what SMHS accomplished in the Winter of 2023. It is not just the outstanding hard-working athletes of the championship teams for Girls Indoor Track, Boys Varsity Swimming, Girls Varsity Basketball and Boys Varsity Basketball who felt pride in their accomplishment—it was the whole school! Students, faculty and staff rallied behind the teams and came together as a community to support them. For the first time in SMHS history, the varsity girls basketball team and the varsity boys basketball team won conference championships in the same year! World Debut of an Original Musical St. Mary’s High School Theater staged the world-wide debut of Mids and Johnnies: An Annapolitan Operetta. The show, featuring script, music, and lyrics by a local playwright, is set in and around Annapolis. Meant for a hometown audience, it featured the traditional rivalry between the midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy and the students of St. John’s College. The lyrics and melodies from the show cited everything Annapolitan, from local restaurants and landmarks to the history that defines the city. Both lifelong locals and more recent transplants enjoyed seeing Maryland’s capital come to life on the St. Mary’s stage. This artistic experience actually became an opportunity to educate the audience about the process of writing, revising and workshopping through a talkback with the playwright, student actors and technicians and production staff after one of the shows. SMHS is honored and proud to have been selected to perform a show that captures the spirit of the city.
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CLASS OF 2023 On May 25, 2023, St. Mary’s Celebrated the Class of 2023 with the Seventy-fourth Commencement Exercises in the Carroll Gardens. This year’s address to the graduates was given by Meghan Ryan Nemzer ’2003. The Class of 2023: •
Devoted more than 10,500+ hours to serving others.
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100% of students who applied to college were accepted.
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$12 million+ earned in academic scholarships.
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17 will attend a Catholic university.
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42 will play a sport at the collegiate level.
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4 will attend service academies. 2 ROTC scholarships received. 2 will serve in the military immediately.
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30 will graduate as 13-Year Club members.
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The 131 members of the Class of 2023 were accepted at 122 different colleges and universities.
Valedictorian: Joseph John Hayburn Salutatorian: Kyra Span Obert
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES FOR THE CLASS OF 2023 Alvernia University Mercer University at Charlotte Anne Arundel Community College Milligan College The University of Tampa Appalachian State University Monmouth University The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Auburn University Montana Technological University The New School Bellarmine University Morgan State University Towson University Bucknell University Mount St. Mary's University Tulane University of Louisiana California College-San Diego Northeastern University Union College (NY) The Catholic University of America Northland College United States Air Force Academy The College of William & Mary Pace University, New York City Campus United States Naval Academy College of Charleston Palm Beach Atlantic University University of Vermont Clemson University Pennsylvania State University-Penn State University of Colorado Boulder Coastal Carolina University Main Campus University of Connecticut College of Wooster Pepperdine University University of Dayton Community College of Baltimore County Purdue University-Main Campus University of Delaware Dickinson College Providence College University of Georgia Drexel University Radford University University of Hartford East Carolina University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Kentucky Elon University Rhode Island School of Design University of Maryland-Baltimore County Fairfield University Rhodes College University of Maryland-College Park Flagler College Rochester Institute of Technology University of Mississippi Florida Atlantic University Roger Williams University University of Notre Dame Florida International University Rutgers University University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Florida Southern College Saint Francis University Campus Fordham University Saint Joseph's University University of South Carolina-Columbia Frostburg State University Saint Michael's College Ursinus College Georgia State University Saint Vincent College Villanova University Gettysburg College Salisbury University Virginia Military Institute Goucher College Shenandoah University Virginia Tech High Point University Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Wake Forest University Hofstra University Southern Connecticut State University Washington & Jefferson College Iowa State University St. Bonaventure University Waynesburg University James Madison University St. John's University-New York West Chester University Johns Hopkins University St. Mary's College of Maryland Western New England University Keystone College Susquehanna University Westminster College King's College Temple University West Virginia University La Salle University The College of Wooster Widener University Limestone University The University of Alabama Wilkes University Louisiana State University The University of Denver Williams College Loyola University Maryland The University of Miami Wittenberg University Lynn University The University of North Carolina Wofford College Marquette University at Chapel Hill Xavier University McDaniel College The University of North Carolina York College of Pennsylvania
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS On November 3, we celebrated our Distinguished Alumni Awards at Pascal Field. Honored that evening were Phil Jones ’69 who received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Bryan Levy ’90 who received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award and Thomas Kupstas who received the Distinguished Alumni Honorary Award. Phil Jones was born in Annapolis, attended St. Mary’s for 12 years; he played football (winning the Unsung Hero Award) and lacrosse and graduated in 1969. He graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 1973 with a degree in American Studies and Economics, playing lacrosse for their team. He continued his education with graduate school at Johns Hopkins University and University of Baltimore. Phil was a banker for 47 years, serving at various institutions. He was the National Director for Sales and Marketing for the Resolution Trust Corporation, formed to solve the Savings and Loan Crisis, for five years. Phil has kept his close ties with St. Mary’s throughout the years; he has been a member of the Royal Blue Club since its inception and a Board Member for 20 years. Phil’s last position before retiring was the Director of Development for St. Mary’s; during his tenure, funds were raised to build the Team House. He is married to Trish Jones and has two daughters and four grandchildren. Bryan Levy was born and raised in Annapolis, and as a 6th generation Eastport resident, his devotion to this community runs deep. Bryan graduated from St. Mary’s in 1990, earned his Bachelor’s degree from Salisbury State University in ’94 and a dual Master’s degree from the University of Maryland in ’98. Bryan married Tanya, another St. Mary’s graduate, and after both graduated from Salisbury, they went on to build a beautiful family consisting of two daughters, Addie and Destyn, and son Bowen. Bryan has been a coach for over 25 years. He coached St. Mary’s varsity boys basketball in the late 90s and middle school basketball when Addie attended, in addition to spending time coaching soccer and lacrosse. As a coach, Bryan’s focus went far beyond what his players could accomplish on the court or field. His leadership impacted generations of players who went on to make their own meaningful contributions to our community. Bryan’s first born, Bowen, was diagnosed with autism at age 2. In 2007, together with family and friends, Bryan started The Bowen Foundation for Autism. Their goal was and is pretty simple: to award grants to local families who are struggling to pay for needed services and goods to benefit children with autism in Maryland. Since its inception, the Bowen Foundation has raised close to $750,000. Focused not only on fundraising, but on community engagement, education and awareness, 22
St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
Bryan has spearheaded events like bowling tournaments, fishing tournaments, family 5Ks, charity happy hours and the infamous Football Bash at Navy Stadium. He has partnered with countless local businesses in collaborations that bring attention to the foundation’s cause as well as benefit the autism community. Everyone who interacts with Bryan and the foundation becomes more aware of how to be inclusive and supportive of people to whom they might not otherwise be connected. When Bryan and Tanya tragically lost Bowen in 2019, their commitment to advocacy for the autism community did not waver. In fact, Bryan continues to champion improvements in staffing, training and safety protocols for students receiving special education in our county. In Bowen’s memory, Bryan has vowed to continue to work with local families to fight for the care and respect that children with disabilities deserve. Thomas Kupstas has been a partner in his firm Kupstas & Kupstas, LLC for over 40 years and has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Maryland and Pennsylvania since 1980 after graduating from St. Bonaventure University in 1979. He lives in Annapolis with his wife Jamie and is the father of three adult children, Justin, Abigail and Emily, who are all members of the St. Mary’s thirteen-year club. Tom is a loving grandfather to nine grandchildren and expecting his tenth early next year. Tom has been a parishioner and active member of St. Mary’s Parish for over 45 years. Tom was a member of the St. Mary’s School Board from 2013 to 2019 and served as its chair from June 2015 to June 2019. He served on the Board of Directors of St. Mary’s Athletic Association from 1998 until 2010. During that tenure he served as treasurer from 2004 to 2008.
2023 PARISH & SCHOOL SERVICE AWARDS Parish & School Service Awards were presented on June 8, 2023. Employees were given service awards for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service. Special Awards were given to the following people: President’s Award: Brooke Richardson SSND Charism Awards: Diana McLoud & Georgia Wyatt School Board Awards: Meredith Brooks & Pamela Hernick Redemptorist Award: Leah Caputo Also honored were retirees Sandy Gateau, Edna-Wynne Raley, Elizabeth Stone and Georgia Wyatt.
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
PARISH & SCHOOL RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS 2023 Money donated to the Restoration and Maintenance collections was used to fund the following projects in 2023. These projects are in addition to the day to day maintenance done to keep the buildings in operation which includes replacing bulbs, replacing drive belts and other consumable maintenance items and routine painting and housekeeping. • Athletic Training Room renovation in the High School • Elementary School playground resurfacing and equipment replacement • Building an access road at St. John Neumann in preparation for HVAC replacement • Replacement of the HVAC system in the Elementary School Main Building • Mechanizing the gate of the upper parking lot on Duke of Gloucester Street and the Shipwright Street gate
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FINANCIAL REPORT July 1, 2022—June 30, 2023 Consolidated Financial Report
Revenues, Gains & Other Support
2022-2023
2021-2022
Tuition & Fees $17,091,428 $16,370,012 Offertory & Collections* $2,734,888 $2,673,213 Contributions & Fundraising $2,652,268 $3,292,677 Grants $314,231 $245,341 Endowment income and gains $1,490,509 ($1,365,596) Other Income $765,201 $695,333 Loss of Disposal of PPE ($2,249) ($425) Total Revenues, Gains & Other Support
$25,046,276
$21,910,555
*Restoration and Maintenance not included as it cannot be used for operational expenses
Expenses Instructional $11,962,528 $11,148,023 Tuition Assistance & Scholarships $1,257,630 $1,144,691 Ministries & Other Programs $2,922,747 $2,484,749 Athletics & Student Activities $1,811,699 $1,633,476 Diocesan Assessment $668,008 $665,283 Technology $466,226 $348,168 General & Administrative $3,501,172 $2,922,613 Development $496,996 $591,636 Loss on Uncollectible Pledges Total Expenses $23,087.006 $20,938.639 Net Income $1,959,270 $971,916
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
Trends in Offertory $2.9M $2.8M $2.7M $2.6M $2.5M 6/2012
6/2013
6/2014 6/2015
6/2016
6/2017
6/2018
6/2019 6/2020
6/2021
6/2022
6/2023
Investments - Endowment 2022-2023 2021-2022 Catholic Community Foundation $3,252,281 $3,208,977 Common Fund $8,469,600 $7,550,975 Total Endowment $11,721,881 $10,759,952
Restoration and Maintenance Funds Collected $702,424 $651,407 Funds Expended $555,957 $422,861
Net Placed in Reserve for Future Use
$146,467
$228,546
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GIVING AT A GLANCE
SUPPORT ST. MARY’S
St. Mary’s Parish & School is blessed to be a community joined by faith and rooted in tradition and excellence. Thank you for your continued support!
By our baptism as Catholics, we are called to be stewards of God’s gifts to us - to use them in ways that build up our families, our parish, our community and our world. It is crucial that our school, campus ministries and religious education programs teach our children, and the world, to embrace the Gospel.
• Total Poor Box Collections for Fiscal Year ending 6/30/23 were $176,790. These funds were donated to the following organizations: Birthright - $7,625 Warriors to Lourdes - $613 Little Sisters of the Poor - $6,650 Our Lady of Guadalupe - $49,623 St. Vincent de Paul - $87,401 The Light House Shelter - $24,876 • Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG): Exclusive of the Poor Box, OLG received $72,756 in donations; including both the Poor Box and designated donations, the total was over $122k •1,665 gifts were made toward tuition assistance totaling $158,899.50 • Received $68,911.25 in tuition assistance donations from 215 parish families • 292 parish families donated $1,836,177.09 to the St. Mary's Parish & School Annual Fund* * We received a $1 million-dollar donation so that is why this is so much higher than the previous year
Staying Connected St. Mary’s utilizes Flocknote to stay in touch with our community via email. Stay in the loop by signing up at: flocknote.com/ stmarysparishannapolis @st._marys_parish_and_schools
Ways to Give to St. Mary’s Faith Direct Faith Direct is a safe, secure giving platform allowing church goers to give electronically. Tuition Angel This is the church’s effort to support the next generation of Catholic children attend St. Mary’s School. Weekly Giving This can be done through collection at Mass. Planned Giving Please consider making a gift through your will or living trust. Donor Advised Fund A simple, flexible and tax-efficient way to give to your favorite charities. Gift of Stock and/or Securities You can contact your financial advisor to transfer stock or securities to St. Mary’s.
facebook.com/stmarysannapolis @StMaryAnnapolis Text App to phone number 88202 and select St. Mary’s Parish – Annapolis as your parish
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St . M ar y ’s An n apo l i s 2022- 2023
Please contact Director of Development Jody Brooks at 410-990-4070 or jbrooks@stmarysannapolis.org if you have question or would like to make a gift.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION Redemportist Community
Michele Dougherty, Office of Faith Formation 410-990-4062, mdougherty@stmarysannapolis.org
Very Rev. Patrick Woods, C.Ss.R., Pastor 410-990-4011, frwoods@stmarysannapolis.org
Sharon Graham, Coordinator of Liturgy 410-990-4014, sgraham@stmarysannapolis.org
Rev. Alistair Elias, C.Ss.R.
P. Hever Sanchez, C.Ss.R., Vicar 410-990-4033, hsanchez@stmarysannapolis.org
Rev. John Harrison, C.Ss.R. Rev. Michael S. Houston, C.Ss.R.
Elmer Guevara, Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry 410-990-4015, eguevara@stmarysannapolis.org
Rev. John McKenna, C.Ss.R.
Silvia Peart, Pastoral Council President pc@stmarysannapolis.org
Rev. James O’Blaney, C.Ss.R. Rev. Joy Poonoli, C.Ss.R. Rev. Hever Sanchez, C.Ss.R. Rev. Clement Vadakkedath, C.Ss.R. Deacon Leroy Moore Deacon George Russell Deacon Anthony Norcio, JCL Deacon Steven House In Residence Rev. Eric Hoog, C.Ss.R. Rev. Peter Vang Cong Tran, C.Ss.R.
Dr. Andrew Moore, President of St. Mary’s School 410-990-4235, amoore@stmarysannapolis.org Megan Downs Back, Principal of St. Mary’s Elementary School 410-990-4143, mback@stmarysannapolis.org Joseph Keenan, Interim Principal of St. Mary’s High School 410-990-4218, mimes@stmarysannapolis.org Jody Brooks, Director of Development 410-990-4070, jbrooks@stmarysannapolis.org Mark Hartzell, Chief Administrative Officer 410-990-4042, mhartzell@stmarysannapolis.org Christine Bervid, Evangelization & Communications 410-990-4228, cbervid@stmarysannapolis.org
“We will never be disillusioned or lose our way if we are guided by God.” Pope FranciS
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