Sodality Union
Archdiocese of Washington

Sodality Union of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

WHO WE ARE — “COME AND SEE”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Sodality Union, organized in 1918, consists of approximately 67 affiliate parish Sodalities.

Our Lord Jesus asked the first apostles, and continues to ask His present day disciples, “What do you seek?” (John 1:38). In response to His invitation to “come and see” (John 1:39), each first Saturday of the month from September through December and February through June, Sodality Union journeys on a spiritual pilgrimage to a different parish in the Archdiocese. (JOIN US on our monthly pilgrimages!) We gather in prayer and fellowship, and assemble to conduct the organization’s order of business at a host parish.

With the Holy Eucharist as the summit, and through devotion to and in imitation of the Blessed Mother, Sodalists embrace healthy habits of mind and heart, as well as Christian virtues to be good and faithful citizens, and courageous and understanding leaders for our families, our parish communities and the greater society.

The aim of each Sodalist is to love and serve Jesus through Mary—our holy and humble model—and to achieve Spiritual growth and depth, using the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius that invite us to encounter God in our daily lives.

Sodality Union is led by the Executive Council, whose members are elected officers, appointed Committee Chairs, the Advisory Committee comprising of Sodality Union’s past Presidents, and the Spiritual Moderator appointed by the Archbishop. The Executive Council is entrusted to lead the group in a harmonious spirit of cooperation, generosity and respect; to enhance Sodalists’ spiritual life; and to engage each Sodalist in service for the common good of God’s people.

Sodality Union unites the voice of parish Sodalities and encourages participation in the many spiritual and apostolic events sponsored and celebrated throughout the year by the group and by the individual parish Sodalities.

Mission Statement: TO JESUS THROUGH MARY

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Sodality Union, a Marian organization, fosters spiritual and apostolic unity among the Church of the Archdiocese; and promotes a Sodality Way of Life, a pathway to Jesus through Mary—built on Faith, Hope and Charity—“for the Greater Glory of God.”

Pray the Rosary

About Us - Executive Council

2020-2022 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Past Presidents--Welcomed to their Eternal Home

2020-2022 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Thank you blessings to all 2020-2022 Executive Council and welcoming prayers to our 2022-2024 incoming Officers!

Moderator: Father Andrew Wakefield (St. Patrick, Washington, DC)

President: Martha (Marti) Galvin

(St. Hugh of Grenoble, Greenbelt, MD)

Vice President: Helen Awatefe (St. Mary's Church, Landover Hills, MD)

Recording Secretary: Margaret Butler

(St. Thomas More, Washington, DC)

Treasurer: Lou Barrett

(Sacred Heart Parish, La Plata, MD)

Correspondence Secretary: Carol Floyd

Parliamentarian: Venita Hawkins (Co-Chair Janet Johnson)

Historian: Cindy Perry

(St. Hugh of Grenoble, Greenbelt, MD)

Program Coordinator: Lisa Williams (St. Gabriel, Washington, DC)

Spiritual Life Committee Chair: Yvette Green (Church of the Incarnation, Washington, DC)

Apostolic Life Committee Co-chairs: Danita Coleman (St. Gabriel, Washington, DC) and Janet Johnson

Membership Committee Chair: Barbara Curtis

Junior Sodality Committee Chair: Cynthia Lewis (St. Michael the Archangel, Silver Spring, MD)

Ways & Means Committee Chair: TBA

Hospitality Chair: TBA

Website Editor: Olga Baeza (St. Michael the Archangel, Silver Spring, MD)

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Past Presidents--Welcomed to their Eternal Home

2020-2022 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Past President’s Term and Name

1994-1996 Joan Butler

1999-2001 Barbara Bechet

2002-2004 Alice D. Wilson

2004-2006 Katie Jackson

2008-2010 Elizabeth Coefield

2010-2012 Cindy Perry

2012-2014 Mildred Steptoe

2014-2016 Olga Baeza

2016-2018 Shelia Parker

2018-2020 Margaret Johnson

2020-2022 Lisa Williams

Past Presidents--Welcomed to their Eternal Home

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

Our prayers for our very dear friends

Doris Edelin (1990-1992)
Graciela Stevens (1996-1998)
Phyllis Toliver (1992-1994)
Marie Brown (2006-2008)
Audrey Somerville (1986-1988)

who were called home to their eternal rest over the past few years.

Our beloved Past President Doris Edelin was called home on September 30, 2023. Mrs. Edelin held several leadership positions supporting Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian's Church community. We will miss her.

Mrs. Edelin's funeral services will be held on October 13, 2023. Her Parish Sodality will pray the Rosary at 9:00 AM.

Visitation will continue and her Funeral Mass for prayers for the repose of her soul will be celebrated at 11:00 AM.

Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church

1357 East Capitol Street, SE

Washington, DC 20003

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

See link below for the 2014-2016 Biennial Report containing the EC's reports.

Sample Biennial Report

Sodality Union Bylaws

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

Sodality Union Frequently Asked questions

Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws

2022 edition

Sodality Union Frequently Asked questions

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

Sodality Union Frequently Asked questions

Sodality Union FAQs

2022 FAQs

Membership

Sodality Union "unite[s] the Sodalities of the Archdiocese in a fourfold bond of Community: (a) a common Commitment; (b) a common way of life; (c) a deep concern for all; and, (d) a filial love for Mary." (Sodality Union Manual)

SODALITY UNION AFFILIATED PARISHES

The Sodality Union Executive Council thanks all Sodality members for uniting with us in our spiritual journey, and remains in prayer to Jesus through Mary with affiliate parish Sodalities:

Assumption (DC), Church of the Incarnation (DC), Holy Angels (MD), Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian (DC), Holy Family (MD), Holy Redeemer (MD), Jesus the Divine Word (MD), Mount Calvary (MD), Nativity (DC), Our Lady of Fatima (Riverdale Park, MD), Our Lady of Mercy (MD), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (DC), Our Lady Queen of Peace (MD), Our Lady of the Wayside (MD), Shrine of Sacred Heart (DC), Sacred Heart (MD), St. Anthony of Padua (DC), St. Augustine (DC), St. Benedict the Moor (DC), St. Bernadette (MD), St. Bernadine of Siena (MD), St. Bernard of Clairvaux (MD), St. Columba (MD), St. Dominic (MD), St. Elizabeth (MD), St. Francis de Sales (MD), St. Francis Xavier (DC), St. Gabriel (DC), St. Hugh of Grenoble (MD), St. Jane Frances de Chantal (MD), St. John Baptist de la Salle (MD), St. Joseph (Largo, MD), St. Luke (DC), St. Margaret of Scotland (MD), St. Martin of Tours (DC), St. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine (Barnesville, MD), St. Mary (Bryantown, MD), St. Mary (Clinton, MD), St. Mary (Piscataway, MD), St. Michael the Archangel (Silver Spring, MD), St. Philip (MD), St. Pius X (MD), St. Raphael (MD), St. Thomas the Apostle (DC), St. Thomas More (DC), St. Teresa of Avila (DC), St. Catherine Laboure (MD), Mother Seton (MD), St. Vincent de Paul (D)

Sodality Union Membership and Governance

Sodality Union “serve[s] as a voice of the Sodalities [throughout the Archdiocese] so that they may speak and act as a unit in Christian values.” Members from all parish Sodalities are invited to join us on our monthly “pilgrimage” to host parishes throughout the Archdiocese. Come learn about and share in the spiritual and apostolic works of Sodality Union.

“Each Sodality duly authorized by the Ordinary within the Archdiocese of Washington shall be eligible for membership. … The General Body shall include individual members of all affiliated parish Sodalities.” Affiliated parish Sodalities' are invited to send their annual dues by September 30 directly to our Treasurer. For direct contact information, please see the president’s monthly letter sent to all Prefects via email or contact us at ExecCouncil@SodalityUnionADW.org. .or "Contact Us" below.

Sodality Union of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

To Jesus Through Mary