Our Christmas Giving Trees focus on projects beyond U.S. borders that address basic human needs and are also closely tied to and supported by Holy Redeemer parishioners. In 2015 the International Tree benefitted the Togo Mission Project (our sister parish Our Lady of Gaudalupe in Togo, West Africa) and Farm of the Child in Honduras. 

Please visit www.togomissionparish.org to learn more about the extraordinary and vital work Father William Ryan is leading.  More information about the extensive work of Farm of the Child can be found at http://www.farmofthechild.org/ 

For any questions about the Giving Trees, please contact the rectory office at 301-942-2333
 

Holy Redeemer parish provides support for this program on an annual basis.  However, parishioners who wish to donate separately may do so through contacting the program's website at www.farmofthechild.org where they specify how to donate and identify specific items within the program for which funding is needed at the present time.

The mission of Farm of the Child is to care for and improve the physical, educational, spiritual and social welfare of orphaned, abandoned and neglected children of Honduras so that they may become productive Christian members of Honduran society.  Farm of the Child is an orphanage, a Catholic school, a medical clinic and outreach program serving one of the poorest regions in the western hemisphere.  A typical family of campesinos (peasant farmers) has little or no land to farm, is extremely limited educationally, and has no opportunity to earn a decent living.  Malnutrition is rampant and starvation is not unknown.  Families are weakened by hunger and disease.  In this society, children are the ones who suffer most.  Voluntary donations are essential to the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the physical plant and for support of services to these children in need.   Those who help are remembered in the prayers of those who serve.
 

Holy Redeemer Parish hosts the monthly meetings of the local Faith and Light Community meeting every second Saturday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. from September to May.  Families and friends, share friendship, pray together and celebrate life.  Meetings of the community are posted in the church bulletin.  Refreshments are provided.  Community Service for School Service Learning Center is welcome.  Please bring your school form.  For additional information about the community, visit the Faith and Light website at www.faithandlight.org.  You may also contact Vicky Geiger at 240-893-0401 or hathawaystaff@jubileemd.org.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society.  The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.  If interested in knowing more about the local counsils of the Knights of Columbus, please contact Lawrence Grayson at 301-933-8731

Golden Girls Networking Group is a social group for women ages 60+ that meets at Holy Redeemer Church the second Thursday of the month from September through May from 1-2 pm. For more information, contact Julie Gardner at gardnersj@yahoo.com

Dealing with the death of a beloved spouse is never easy.  The Archdiocese of Washington promotes the Post Cana program for those who are faced with such bereavement.  Widows and widowers within Holy Redeemer are invited to come together and celebrate life, to share and enjoy each other's company in a warm and welcoming environment.  Annual functions are planned to provide the opportunity to get away for a day and enjoy, for example, on a bus tour, the fall splendor of leaves in autumn on the Sky Line Drive and partake of a meal together at the Lodge and visit a vineyard on the return trip.

All widows and widowers are invited to learn more about Post Cana by contacting Mary Dugan 301-873-3902 marydugan12@yahoo.com

In the event you are in need of grief counseling or assistance due to loss of a loved one, the onset of serious illness or other distressing life situation, please contact the Rectory to arrange a meeting with one of our priests. Please do not hesitate to contact us in these circumstances.

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit, humanitarian service organization that delivers hot nutritious meals over the lunch hour, to homebound, elderly and disabled individuals in our community. The meals are delivered from our kitchen by volunteer drivers and visitors who provide a short visit along with the delivery of the meals.

Several of our parishioners are actively involved in this service and speak highly of its worth and the satisfaction they derive from helping the homebound by delivering meals to them.  It is  wonderful way to respond to Christ's call to feed the hungry and serve the poor.  The demand for this service is ever increasing to the extent that there is a waiting list of individuals who wish to be recipients of the service. 

Volunteer drivers and visitors are always needed.  They commit their time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to deliver meals to client's homes.  Volunteers are also needed to work in the kitchen as meal Packers from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to pack food in individual containers. 

The program has a cook who prepares the meals each day in the kitchen at Temple Emanuel on Connecticut Avenue from which teams leave with the prepared food.  In order to volunteer as a driver or visitor you must be over 18 years of age, have a valid driver's license and have current auto insurance.  Because we have frail and vulnerable clients, volunteers may be subject to a background check.

Please contact Meals on Wheels of Wheaton (Kensington)at 301-942-1111 if you are interested in knowing more about this program or would like to volunteer.  There is also an opportunity to make a donation to the organization which will help defray the cost of meals.

Note About SOME Food Donations

Holy Redeemer Parish normally donates casseroles and fruit to SOME, a D.C. organization that fights hunger, poverty and homelessness. Since the pandemic began, SOME has not been able to accept prepared food. 

Parishioners can continue to support SOME through a monetary donation: https://www.some.org/give/donate-now-old-donate-page

DONATE FRUIT FOR S.O.M.E.
 
Holy Redeemer has supported S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat)—a nonprofit in D.C. that fights homelessness and poverty—for many years with food donations.
 
Parishioners are encouraged to bring fresh fruit to the church foyer on the second Thursday of each month by 9am (a driver leaves the church at 9am). It's helpful if your donation is labeled "S.O.M.E."
 
Here is the upcoming schedule:
Oct. 10, 2024 – apples
Nov. 14, 2024 – apples
Dec. 12, 2024 – apples
Jan. 9. 2025 – apples
Feb. 13, 2025 – apples
March 13, 2025 – apples
April 10, 2025 – apples
May 8, 2025 – oranges
June 12, 2025 - no collection this month
July 10, 2025 - no collection this month
Aug. 14, 2025 - no collection this month
Sept. 11, 2005 - apples
Oct. 9, 2025 - apples
Nov. 13, 2025 - apples
Dec. 11, 2025 - apples
 
If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Neary at kathleenseiler@hotmail.com.

 

Parishioners bring food on the first Sunday of each month for the St. Camillus Food Pantry in Takoma Park, Maryland.  Food is left at the back of the church under the steps leading to the choir loft. 

MOST NEEDED FOOD ITEMS: 
Masa Corn Flour, Vegetable Oil, Oatmeal, Fruit, Iron fortified Cereal, Rice, Black /Red Beans. Canned Tomato products, Tuna fish, Pasta, Spaghetti, Sugar, Macaroni and Cheese, Peanut butter and Jelly

 The food is distributed to those in need by the staff of the Pantry. 

Cash donations can also be made.  Pre-addressed envelopes are located in the vestibule of the church.  For more information please contact Meg McKenna at meg.mckennarn@gmail.com or 240-601-4929