The dignity and beauty of the human person comes from the fact of the incarnation of God in the person of Christ. With the whole Church, St. John’s parishioners have the privilege to recognize his image and likeness within the face of every person—from the moment of his or her conception until natural death.
St. John’s has a variety of ministries to support the weak and vulnerable persons in our midst.
"When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. Once the human being declares independence from reality and behaves with absolute dominion, the very foundations of our life begin to crumble....”
Pope Francis
Laudato Si', #117
Parishioners Dan, Joe, Natalie, Mary Frances and Johnny LaHood welcome young people with multiple disabilities into their family home, St. Joseph’s House. As a parish, we are blessed to have such a work of grace in our midst.
In Summer 2012, our parish welcomed a household of adults with special needs: the newly established "St. John's House" on Harmon Road. Developed by Rosaria Communities, a non-profit work of the Archdiocese, the house is staffed by Jubilee Association of Maryland. Our friends often attend the 10:15AM Sunday Mass and appreciate our companionship and neighborly care. If you would like to become more involved in the ministry at St. John's House, contact Margie Cuff, margiecuff [at] gmail.com.
This ministry assists parishioners and members of our community in times of difficulty by providing meals and other assistance. The SJE Samaritan Hotline (301-593-1888) is monitored daily by parishioners. We provide food assistance through our food pantry and help those with other needs find the appropriate local community resources. The Samaritan Hotline is coordinated by Kathleen and Drew Ortner (301-592-8898). Volunteers are needed to monitor the hotline and assist with requests, and any amount of time you can give is greatly appreciated.
The Gabriel Project Cluster of Montgomery County is an all-volunteer non-profit that supports low-income pregnant women and their children. During the pandemic and economic crisis, the need for the Gabriel Project’s services has grown tremendously while typical sources of support are greatly reduced. Please see this flyer for more information about our virtual drive to support the Gabriel Project. You can help provide critically needed financial and material resources by donating at the Gabriel Project website www.gpmoco.org or by purchasing essential items like baby gear, diapers, and clothing through the Gabriel Project’s Amazon Charity List: GP Amazon List. Thank you for your generous support!
SJE's Kris Kringle provides gifts for families in need at Christmas. During Advent, watch the bulletin for more details.
Each year a Memorial Mass is held in memory of those who have died during the past year from November-November. For more information, contact the parish office.
The Health and Welfare Ministry provides blood-pressure screening, flu-shots, and health education services during Community Sunday (3rd Sunday of every month). We need medical personnel to continue this ministry. The time-commitment is about 20 minutes after Mass. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in volunteering.