To Jesus Through Mary
Mission Statement
Sodality Union Events
Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws!
To access the current version of the Bylaws, go to the "Home" page.
Thank you and God bless the Bylaws Committee for all the work over the span of a few years and for sharing their gifts and talents to revise the RCADW Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws.
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Sharing our Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11)
Now in regard to spiritual gifts, . . .. [t]here are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many.
2024 -2026 Term!
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EVENTS AND Meetings
Upcoming Apostolic Life Committee Event
February 7, 2026 (Junior Sodality Committee)
Zoom meeting details forthcoming to Prefects via email.
March 7, 2026 (Apostolic Life Committee and return all Scholarship Raffle donations)
[Seeking host parish]
March 7, 2026
Sodality Union Annual Lenten Retreat
[Time: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Theme: "In Times Like These - Transforming Our Mustard Seed of Faith"
Venue: Church of the Incarnation, 880 Eastern Ave. NE, Washington DC, 20019
April 11 (Spiritual Life Committee)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
[Details forthcoming]
May2 (Apostolic Life Committee)
[Seeking host parish]
June 6 (Biennial luncheon)
[Seeking host parish]
Any notice about General Meetings via Zoom will be provided.
Sodality Union Events
President's Letter
January 2026
Dear Prefects and Moderators,
“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.” Psalm 66 1-5.
Dear Prefects and Moderators,
Welcome back and a Happy New Year to you all.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our Chairladies for their outstanding performance in the past year and for the dedication with which they carried out the affairs of the Sodality Union. Your commitment, leadership, and service are truly appreciated.
I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to all committee members for your continued support and hard work. May God reward each of you abundantly for your selfless service.
Furthermore, I wish to express my gratitude to the Priest, Prefect, and Sodalists of Mt. Calvary for graciously hosting us in December. I also take this opportunity to thank Emma Bakare, along with the Prefect and Sodalists of Queen of Peace Parish, for hosting our Christmas Party.
On behalf of our Moderator, Rev. Fr. Wakefield, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. May the Lord richly bless and reward each and every one of you. Amen.
Finally, Sodalists, Pope Leo [approved the publication of new Regulations of the Roman Curia, which implement the reform put in place by the Apostolic Constitution "Praedicate Evangelium."]
In all things let us continue to thank the Lord and Bless his Holy name.
Evangelizing in the Spirit: To Jesus through Mary.
Peace and Blessings,
Helen Awatefe
President, RCADW Sodality Union
*The "reform has three main characteristics: continuity with the Church’s tradition, administrative adaptation, and a synodal thrust."
[See Events and meetings for upcoming General meetings]
MODERATOR'S CORNER
Fr. Andrew Wakefield's Homily: 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a
So here we are-quite the week it has been as we have survived Snowcrete, and even now, we are in this sort of winter frozen tundra, the bitter cold, the snow and ice. Hopefully, school is back in-person on Monday. There is so much that divides us these days, so many barriers that we create and impose, but I think a winter storm like we’ve had reminds us of our common humanity. A common humanity that is vulnerable and fragile; a common humanity that can be overwhelmed and anxious. We come before the Lord because there is something in us in need of hope and restoration, in need of lifting up, in need of help, all of us in need of grace.
I imagine we have all been shaken to the core a bit in the last few weeks by everything we are aware of happening in the world and in our own country. So many people-many of us, perhaps, -grieving and rattled by what is happening to our immigrant brothers and sisters not only in Minneapolis but even here, in the DMV. Our very pro-life social ethic, premised on the innate inviolable dignity of every person, is so challenged these days in policies, words, and actions that seem indiscriminate and reckless; so much premised, it seems, on fear and dehumanization, far beyond the rationalizations of the need for law, order, and enforcement of our laws. I strongly encourage you to read some of the words of our own archbishop, Cardinal McElroy, who in recent days has publicly called upon government officials at every level to recommit themselves to policies that uphold life, dignity, and the rule of law. None of these are exclusive to each other.
We, ourselves, can feel powerless in the face of injustices taking place, not just here in the United States but throughout the world, as it can feel as though we are slipping back into the annals of history when systemic racism and xenophobia led to unimaginable suffering. A time of history that really is not that far in the past; history that seems to be repeating itself.
But Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt25:35), so clear and simple, yet profoundly challenging, are our impetus as Christians: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” Catholic Social Tradition recognizes the right of nations to regulate their borders and control immigration. But they must do so always with justice and mercy, with an eye towards the common good and the recognition of the biblical and Christian principles that the goods of the earth belong to all people and that people have a right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. Often these principles are held in tension-and healthy societies must seek to balance these tensions-with everything rooted in the dignity of the human person.
But what can you and I do? How are we called to live, in a moment in which we see these tensions on full display and seemingly out of balance? Christ’s Beatitudes give us the timeless answer that can both calm our nerves and move our hearts to be clear and convicted in what we know is right. The Beatitudes, ‘the blessings’ that He gives that are a self-portrait of Himself and the portrait of the Christian life. To claim to be a Christian is to strive to live the Beatitudes, the “identity card” of Christian life, as Pope Francis once described them (General Audience, 1/29/2020). And this Christian life is to live in the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom isn’t removed from this life; it’s not just the eternal life we pray awaits us all after our earthly lives have passed. But it is the grace-filled present we inhabit now. God is here, He is present, and this reality calls us to conform our lives to Christ and build His Kingdom on earth. There is no other way to be as a Christian.
We know these Beatitudes, right? Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are the merciful, the clean of heart. All of these, each connected with one another, are the path Christ set before His disciples-His words in beautiful continuity with the prophetic themes of humility and righteousness we heard in the prophet Zephaniah that framed Jewish life-and they are the path Christ sets before us today. Spend some time this week prayerfully reading and reflecting on the Beatitudes. How do you live them out? How do they challenge you?
I want to reflect briefly on the Beatitude that seems so resonant right now, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Peace, Shalom in Hebrew, never merely the absence of trouble and conflict, but it is everything that makes for man’s highest good. “Peace be with you” Jesus says throughout the Gospels, “peace be with you” we say through the Mass. This isn’t a platitude or nicety, but it is a genuine desire for the good of others-a profound gesture of unity, reconciliation, and communion. Peace be with you is to say, ‘I see you,’ ‘I am with you,’ ‘you are my brother, you are my sister.’
And notice the Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers;” it’s not ‘blessed are the peace-lovers,’ but the ‘peacemakers. The ‘peace lover’ is the one who may avoid taking action or addressing a wrong, perhaps out of a false deference to not wanting to rock the boat or put oneself in jeopardy. The ‘peace lover’ can turn a blind eye or simply move on from what is unjust out of expediency or a sense of passive resignation to avoid trouble or not stir the waters.
But the Beatitude is “Blessed are the peacemakers;” it demands facing things, righting wrongs, ‘making’ peace even when the way to peace is through struggle. Christ’s own life was one of a peacemaker: reaching out, lifting up, calling out and working for the unity, reconciliation, and communion of all the world, communion that came through the ultimate struggle of the Paschal Mystery-His Passion by which He gave up His life, driven by His intense love to redeem humanity and draw all the world back to God.
To be a peacemaker is to be like Christ. It is to reach out, lift up, and call out and work for the righting of wrongs and injustices, whether they be systemic assaults on dignity that fuel the protests we see in our nation, or the healing and mending of the relationships in our lives that may be strained, or even the inner battles of our conscience every day between good and evil that we face.
To be a peacemaker is the beautiful struggle of the Christian life for it challenges us to see things both as they are, but also with the grace-filled vision of how things can be-how they ought to be-if only we call ourselves to account and, with God’s grace, build His Kingdom.
On our own, this work is impossible. On our own, we become blind or numb to wrongs and injustices. On our own we become weary. But that’s where the second part of that Beatitude is so important “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” To be a child of God is to be recognized as sharing in His nature and acting as His own; a relationship with the divine that begins in Baptism as we are made His children as He promises to be with us, dwelling through His Spirit in our very souls.
And so, we face our brokenness and sinfulness, and we become before God, humbly asking for His grace to be healed, restored, and strengthened to go out and be His peacemakers, unafraid, for a hurting world. And in every way that our lives call us to be a peacemaker, we have the assurance that God is with us in the struggle-the righteous struggle-to work for the true Shalom that seeks the highest good of every person.
Father Andrew Wakefield
RCADW Sodality Union Moderator
Annual Calendar of Events
September Orientation
All Sodalists invited and encouraged to attend Orientation.
2024-2026 Officers welcome all Sodalists!
October Commitment mass
Mass location determined annually.
February Genera meeting
[Details TBA]
February General Meeting
Junior Sodality and Children of the Archdiocese spiritual event.
March General Meeting
Annual Lenten Retreat traditionally held at the Washington Retreat House over the Retreat House's history.
April-May General Meetings
Annual Cardinal Hickey Scholarship event held in May.
June General Meeting
Bi-annual Luncheon held to induct officers for incoming term.
December General meEting and Mass
In thanksgivings for all current Sodalists of the Archdiocese.
TV Masses for the Homebound
Sodality Union contributes toward and attends the monthly filming of Masses for the homebound.
Other Sodality Union Events
Annual Marian Consecration and local area Marian pilgrimages.
2022 COMMITMENT DAY, NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Pictured from left to right: Lourdes (Lou) Barrett, Treasurer, Margaret Butler, Secretary, Marti Galvin, President, Fr. Andrew Wakefield, Moderator, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop, RCADW, Danita Coleman, Apostolic Life Committee Chair, Helen Awatefe, Vice President, Yvette Greene, Spiritual Life Committee Chair, Janet Johnson, Apostolic Life Committee, Vice Chair, Lisa Williams, Program Coordinator, Venita Hawkins, Parliamentarian
2021 Sodality Commitment mass
Pope Pius XII beautifully summarized that “the Rosary is the compendium of the entire Gospel” where it draws mysteries from the New Testament and is centered on the great events of the Incarnation and Redemption.
Past Terms in Review
october 6, 2018
Thank you to all Sodalists and guests who celebrated with us the memorable 100th Anniversary of Sodality Union Archdiocese of Washington!
St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, DC
100th Anniversary of Sodality Union Archdiocese of Washington!
St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, DC
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
100th Anniversary of Sodality Union Archdiocese of Washington!
St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, DC
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
Thank you to all who joined Father and the pilgrims who lovingly shared their photographs and blessings and experienced the July 2018 PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND AND EASTERN EUROPE!
Pilgrimage - July 2018
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
Pilgrimage - July 2018
Warsaw * Krakow * Budapest *
Vienna * Prague*
Mass Was Celebrated Daily
WITH SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR REVERAND PAWEL SASS
Prayer intentions were also sent Fr. Sass . Sodalists prayer intentions traveled with the pilgrims to the many altars in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna and Prague.
The pilgrims who journeyed together were blessed in countless ways and shared their special adventures at a gathering welcoming all Sodalists.
2016-2018 TERM IN REVIEW!
Pilgrimage - July 2018
Sodality Union's TRAVELING MADONNA
May our Blessed Mother keep us in her most pure heart, and accompany in a special way the parish Sodality that invites her to their home each month. (Thank you and God bless Doris Patterson and John Nicklow for their generous gifts.)
The Most Reverend Bishop Campbell was presented with parish Sodalities' book of good works in celebration of "families" on October 6, 2018 By Fr. Sass, Margaret Johnson (President) and Shelia Parker (Immediate Past President).
Walking Tour of the Museum of the Bible The Bible - A Family Pilgrimage was a special time of Spiritual Learning for all who joined us on Saturday, December 16, 2017.
100th Anniversary
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Our Moderator, Rev. Pawel Sass and President Margaret Johnson thank the Most Reverend Bishop Roy E. Campbell, Jr., principal celebrant and homilist, for his gracious words recognizing Sodality Union's 100 years of faith and service, saying that "through humility and faith" Sodalists have served the Archdiocese's parishes with prayers, go
Our Moderator, Rev. Pawel Sass and President Margaret Johnson thank the Most Reverend Bishop Roy E. Campbell, Jr., principal celebrant and homilist, for his gracious words recognizing Sodality Union's 100 years of faith and service, saying that "through humility and faith" Sodalists have served the Archdiocese's parishes with prayers, good deeds and faith." "Your faith has brought you to where you are," following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Thank you to our Past Presidents, to our event's keynote speaker Patricia McGuire,
President of Trinity University, DC, and parish Sodality Moderators in attendance.
The 100th Anniversary Committee thanked all for the best wishes to Sodality Union beautifully presented in the 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book, which attendees at Anniversary luncheon received.
Mass was celebrated at Saint John Paul II National Shrine
The 100th Anniversary Committee also thanked all who supported Sodality Union with the Prayer Book Tote Bag event.
And the very special Sodality pin that Past Presidents were honored to receive at the Anniversary luncheon were made available starting at the November general meeting.
2015-2020
Children's rosary prayer group display (2016-2018)
The Apostolic Committee invites Sodalists to become a Rosary Group Leader for the Children's Rosary Prayer Group in your parish. Who will teach children about Our Lady and her requests to pray the Rosary? Our Lady of Fatima appeared to children
ages 6, 7 and 9! Sodality facilitator's will receive teaching materials that include Children's Rosary: Mysteries of the Rosary CD, Rosary of Children booklet, and other helpful materials. Ask us how you can become a Rosary Group Leader.
God Bless the many Sodalists who have already committed to bringing this very
special devotion to the future of our Church!
Cardinal's Scholarship Display (2016-2018)
Thank you to all who participate in Sodality Union's Annual Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Event!
Background:
The annual James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Fund Raffle is a major Sodality Union event. The proceeds from this event provide funding for scholarships administered by the Archdiocese of Washington through the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) Tuition Assistance Fund.
The CEF Tuition Assistance Fund was established in 2009 to help give as many children as possible a quality Catholic School education.
The Tuition Assistance Fund helps make up the difference between the cost of tuition and what an individual family can afford to pay. With increased tuition assistance, more families will be able to stay in our Catholic schools and more families will consider Catholic Schools for their children. In 2011, 3,828 children benefitted from the Tuition Assistance Fund (Tuition Assistance Fund Brochure) and in the 2015-16 school year, the Archdiocese of Washington awarded general amount in tuition assistance.
Annual Spiritual Bouquet
December event
Each parish Sodality is invited each year to offer prayers for the Holy Father. A Spiritual Bouquet is consequently sent to the Holy Father from the Sodality Union of the Archdiocese of Washington.
FEBRUARY 11, 2016 - - THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US ON OUR MARIAN TOUR at the FRANCISCAN MONASTERY. We encourage parish Sodalities to plan a Marian tour with your parish!
Catholic Beginnings
EWTN visited Holy Angels parish in Avenue, Maryland and filmed a 8-part documentary with Rev. Charles P. Connor entitled CATHOLIC BEGINNINGS: MARYLAND. Historic St. Clement's Island and our Mother of Light Shrine in Colton's Point, MD and other historical sites were filmed! The documentary aired July 2016 and DVD is available! Ask at any General Meeting about the DVD gifted to Sodality Union by Sodalists from this historic area.
EWTN featured a biography this year about Mother Mary Lange called Providence Will Provide. The biography of Mother Mary Lange (ca. 1794-1882), who founded the Oblate Sisters of the Providence, a religious community of black women (the first order of Black Catholic nuns in the world), in Baltimore in 1829, portrays her faith and perseverance. (Past Sodality Union pilgrimage)
Year of Mercy
Year of Mercy
Year of Mercy
Year of Mercy
Year of Mercy
Remembering the
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016
Archdiocese of Washington prayer
for the Year of Mercy
Almighty God and Father, You have created all things and know the desire of every heart. In this Year of Mercy, we reflect on your great love for us, and acknowledge our sinfulness and need for your h
Remembering the
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016
Archdiocese of Washington prayer
for the Year of Mercy
Almighty God and Father, You have created all things and know the desire of every heart. In this Year of Mercy, we reflect on your great love for us, and acknowledge our sinfulness and need for your healing mercy. Trusting that you never tire of forgiving us, we open our hearts to receive your forgiveness and love. Having encountered you, Mercy itself, and guided by the Holy Spirit, may we witness to the love we have received by sharing it with those most in need: the hungry, the homeless, the afflicted, and the oppressed. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.