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

Sodality Union Bylaws

This Month's "What's in our Bylaws"?

Q: Does the Sodality Union Archdiocese Manual include a history of Sodality?

A: Yes, the Preface and Brief History of Sodality (at pages 1-2), include a history of our Sodality Union dating back to 1918 and the origin of Sodality dating back to the sixteenth century, respectively.

To access the Manual, at the SU "Home" page (this page and URL directly below), scroll down to the button labeled, "2022 Edition," which will open a new webpage that contains links to several PDFs. Click on "2022 Manual of the Sodality Union ADW (pdf)."

https://sodalityunionadw.org

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. John the Baptist, Silver Spring, MD)

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

Vice President: Janet Johnson (St. Augustine, Washington, DC)

Recording Secretary: Margaret Butler

(St. Thomas More, Washington, DC)

Treasurer: Lou Barrett

(Sacred Heart Parish, La Plata, MD)

Correspondence Secretary: Carol Floyd

Spiritual Life Committee Chair: Elizabeth Butler

Apostolic Life Committee Chair: Danita Coleman

Membership Committee Chair: Barbara Curtis

Historian: Cindy Perry (St. Hugh of Grenoble, Greenbelt, MD)

Ways & Means Committee Chair: . Bernadette White (St. Gabriel, Washington, DC)

Hospitality Chair: Emma Bakare

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

Junior Sodality Committee Chair: Martha Galvin (St. Hugh of Grenoble, Greenbelt, MD)

Public Relations: Teresa Nwankwo

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

2010-2012 Cindy Perry

2012-2014 Mildred Steptoe

2014-2016 Olga Baeza

2016-2018 Shelia Parker

2018-2020 Margaret Johnson

2020-2022 Lisa Williams

2022-2024 Martha (Marti) Galvin

Past Presidents--Welcomed to their Eternal Home

Our prayers for our very dear friends

Elizabeth Coefield (2008-2010)
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 Elizabeth Coefield was called home on April 2024. Mrs. Coefiled held several leadership positions supporting Sodality Union and her parish Sodality. We will miss her and ask our Merciful Lord to welcome her home with his eternal embrace.

Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

Past Presidents--Welcomed to their Eternal Home

Manual with Bylaws for Sodality Union ADW

2022 edition

Sodality Union Frequently Asked questions

Blessing and Thank you to all of our Past Executive Councils

Sodality Union FAQs

2022 FAQs

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

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 (DC) (2014)

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