To Jesus Through Mary
Mission Statement
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
Sodality Union Events
President's Letter
October 2022
Dear Moderators and Prefects,
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth. Our Creator made our glorious Earth, turning our surroundings into a rich pallet of color and providing us with everything we could ever need.
New Executive Council Members: We have been blessed with a Corresponding Secretary, Carol Floyd, and a Membership Chairperson, Barbara Curtis. Both have served on the Executive Council in former SU Administrations.
Pray and consider one of the following chair positions: Public Relations, Hospitality, Ways & Means and Special Services. The Executive Council is a team of experienced and prayerful Sodalists. Join and grow personally within our EC setting!
Books of Bereavement: Blessings to each of you. Send the Apostolic Life Committee the names of your fellow deceased parish Sodalist that we plan to remember at a ceremony during our November General Meeting. Please send the names by Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 12 noon. Please note, if no one has passed, it would be helpful to let the Apostolic Life Committee know via email.
Dues & Donations: Our Treasurer, Lourdes Barrett, will be available at the November 5th General Business Meeting to collect annual dues and donations.
Book of the Living: The SU Book of Living Sodalists will be presented at the December 3, 2022 SU Mass. Please send your 2021 to 2022 Membership Roster for the SU Book of the Living to be completed by November 4, 2022 and send to the attention of Yvette Greene.
Raffle Tickets+100: Please order your Sodality’s tickets for the James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Raffle to the attention of Cindy Perry by November 15th. Our goal is to distribute tickets to each Sodality at the December meeting. Prayerfully, we ask you to consider subscribing to sell 100 more tickets than last year.
Christmas Spiritual Bouquets for the Holy Father & Fr. Wakefield: Please see the attached form for the dedication of prayers as a gift to Pope Francis and to our Moderator, Rev. Fr. Wakefield. All Sodalities are invited to send a tally of your prayer dedications to the attention of Yvette Greene.
Travelling Madonna: Our beautiful statue of our Lady of Fatima will be available at the November 5th General Business Meeting. If you wish to host the Statue of Our Lady at your parish, send your request to the attention of Yvette Greene.
Canned Goods: The Apostolic Life Committee is asking that you bring canned goods to the DECEMBER meeting. These will be contributed to the Food Pantry at St. Francis de Sales in Washington, DC, NE. Check all expiration dates on the products you are donating. More information will be given at the November meeting.
Parish Holiday Box: The Apostolic Life Committee suggests that our parish Sodalities each prepare and donate to a parish family a Holiday Box which would include three meals for three days.
Rosary for Peace: In response to recent mass shootings and violence, the Council of Catholic Women is hosting a perpetual Rosary for peace. It will start October 31 and end on All Souls Day. Please click on the link--Rosary for Peace in Our Communities to sign up to pray one or many Rosaries. Thank you!
NOVEMBER MEETING will be held at Nativity Catholic Church, 6000 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20011. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 8:30 A.M. and Mass will begin at 9:00 A.M., with Reverend Father Andrew Wakefield, presiding. In addition to our regular business meeting, presented will be an in-depth view of our website to enhance our understanding of what is posted where, and how it serves as a catalyst for a Prefect wishing to post/spotlight all our wonderful Sodality events.
With best wishes for peace and blessings,
Marti Galvin, President
Sodality Union, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC
[See email sent to your parish Sodality Prefect for the President’s full letter, with attachments.]
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Past Moderator's Marian Reflection
October Lady: The Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
My dear Sodalists, I had the grace to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil in the context of World Youth Day 2013 in Rio. The tradition says that in October 1717, the three fishermen went to fish in order to give feast to their guest who was count and governor of São Paulo. But they could not catch anything; being frustrated they prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and then again casted the nets in the river and surprisingly, found the headless statue of the Virgin Mary and then later they netted the head itself. Then, they miraculously caught lots of fish! The fishermen named the statue Nossa Senhora da Aparecida Conceição (Our Lady of the Appeared Conception).
We know that Mary appeared in every generation, in almost all the cultures and countries, in every form and appearance. But she does not appear for the sake of glorifying herself! She always appeared with the message of God, for the good of the humanity and with the message of Hope. By appearing as Immaculate Conception, Mary, Our Mother reminds the whole modern world, not to forget the primacy of divine grace of God is stronger than our weaknesses, sufferings, trials, frustrations, sin and death. All seasons in the creation remind us of how to live our lives in accordance with God’s plan. Since we are approaching the Season of Fall, it seems like everything is falling including our lives. We may not understand the mystery of life and suffering, and finally our death! But God calls us to live beyond everything and to trust in him. Mary comes among us to encourage us not to lose confidence before the difficulties and inevitable problems of every day. I wish you my dear sisters that Mary may become for you all: fruit and sign of the love God, of his tenderness and mercy. Together with all the faithful of all times and places, we turn to her in our needs and hopes, in the joyful and sorrowful events of life!
The month of October is very special to all of us, considered “month of the Holy Rosary”, in fact we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Rosary on October 7. The reciting of the Rosary is the best and simple prayers yet very profound source of prayers! I would not repeat the history of the Holy Rosary, as Sodalists you know I presume! The feast was introduced by Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572) in the year 1571 to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Christian forces in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope Pius XII beautifully summarized that “the Rosary is the compendium of entire Gospel” where it draws mysteries from the New Testament and is centered on the great events of the Incarnation and Redemption. Let us pray the Rosary, in time of need and in time of joy and in time of adversities where the crown of mysteries of our salvation accompanies us; we pray for special intention of others and for us. The month of October is always special for me, please pray for me too a sinner that I may be grateful and do the will of God!
May the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death! Amen!
God bless you all!
Fr. Brian Coelho
Past Moderator, Sodality Union
Sodality Union Events
Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws!
PRIOR Message to Prefects,
As you know, a Manual Review Committee, chaired by Sodalist Doris Patterson, has been in operation for the past year making necessary revisions to bring the Manual to conformity with Archdiocesan requirements and to more clearly describe current procedures.
An Addendum was added to provide responses to frequently asked questions and suggestions from Sodalists. Copy ready forms are also included. A synopsis of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and the Examen for Sodalists are also included. Short histories of the Rosary and the Miraculous Medal are included in addition to prayers and hymns that we pray you will find helpful in planning activities and for your personal prayer life.
Continued blessings from Jesus through Mary,
Margaret Johnson, Advisory Committee
2022 -2024 Term!
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EVENTS AND Meetings
Saturday October 1, 2022 – COMMITMENT DAY
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
God bless all who participated in this year's annual Commitment Day of prayers!
Saturday November 5, 2022 – Rosary begins at 8:30 AM, followed by Mass with the Book of Bereavement with our Moderator Father Wakefield presiding. Additionally, come learn how to navigate through the Sodality Union website. Nativity Catholic Church, 6000 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20011.
Saturday December 3, 2022 – Mass with the Book of the Living
Lenten Season 2023 - Sodality Union Lenten Retreat at the Washington Retreat House, Washington, DC
Any notice about General Meetings via Zoom will be provided.
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
october 6, 2018
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
october 6, 2018
october 6, 2018
100th Anniversary of Sodality Union Archdiocese of Washington!
St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, DC
october 6, 2018
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)
Children's rosary prayer group display (2016-2018)
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)
Children's rosary prayer group display (2016-2018)
Children's rosary prayer group 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.