SODALISTS' FAREWELL PRAYERS
Our beloved former President Graciela Stevens (1996-1998) was called home February 21, 2022.
We are deeply saddened by the loss, yet thankful for Graciela's example and her loving devotion to Our Blessed Mother,
"That by the grace of the divine goodness and the assistance of Mary our Mother, Sodalists may deserve to obtain eternal happiness."
Sodality Union Events
Sodality Union Manual with Bylaws Is forthcoming!
Message from Bylaws Committee on behalf of Margaret Johnson
Dear 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. I think you will find the layout of the Manual more logical.
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 I think you will find useful in planning activities and for your personal use.
We are sending the Manual to you for review and comment. We are further requesting your comments/suggestions, if any, by September 8, 2021, Mary's birthday. Please send your comments to the Sodality Union's email address (ExecCouncil@SodalityUnionADW.org) or bring them to Orientation on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Continued blessings from Jesus through Mary,
Margaret Johnson, Advisory Committee
May we Prepare for the Lenten Season with the Heart of Mary
See Around the Archdiocese page for additional events.
Upcoming Meetings
LENTEN RETREAT: March 11-12, 2022
Friday
7 pm Zoom Rosary
7:30-8:15 pm Zoom Stations of the ross
8:15-9:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament/Adoration
Saturday
10:00-11:00 am Mass at Nativity Parish, Washington, DC
11:00-11:45 am Praise and Worship, Music, Scripture Reading and Talk
12:00-12:30 pm Rosary
1:00-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00-3:00 pm Spiritual Talk
Sunday
Mass at your Sodality parishes
Executive Council Meetings held via Zoom.
General Meetings to be held via Zoom until further notice.
Pray the rosary
Sodality Union Events
President's Message
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2022 General Meetings to be held via Zoom
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March 2022
Dear Prefects and Moderators,
Fasting…Abstinence…Discipline… These are the words that come to mind when many of us think of Ash Wednesday. As in the first reading from the book of Joel 2 this Ash Wednesday, “proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people” …We go to Mass to receive our ashes, to show all that we are one proclaiming a fast. Yet, in the Gospel of Matthew 6, Jesus reminds his disciples to “Take care not to perform righteous deed in order that people may see them otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” This may seem like a confusing way to live for 40 days. One reflection question…What did the reception of ashes mean to you? As you abstain from “things”, do you deny yourself something that is easily attainable or a challenge? Would this reflection or denial lead you towards a deeper personal discipline that only our heavenly Father will know?
As we continue our Spiritual Journey, our Spiritual Life Chair, Ms. Helen Awatefe has requested Fr. Benjamin Perry to talk with us today about "Growing in Faith, Hope, and Charity during Lent". Fr. Ben grew up in an Air Force family in many different parts of the U.S.A. but considers the DC area his home. He studied philosophy and theater in college, and got his Master’s degree from the John Paul II Institute in Washington, DC. He entered seminary in 2013 and was ordained in 2019. St. Mary's Landover Hills is his first parish assignment.
Please continue to pray for those we have recently lost and the continued healing of those who are sick.
May our Blessed Mother guide us as we journey through our personal disciplines during this Lenten season.
Lisa Williams, President
Sodality Union of ADW
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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.
Apostolic Life committee
Report for February, 2022
Purpose: The blueprint for Apostolic Life activities is the Corporal Works of Mercy, viz., Feed the Hungry, Give, Drink to the Thirsty, Shelter the Homeless, Visit the Sick and the Prisoners, Bury the Dead, and give Alms to the Poor. Scripture gives us specific instructions as to how we can implement the Corporal Works of Mercy in our lives.
- We pray that parish sodalities will continue with their parish-based apostolic life activities.
- Margaret Johnson, past SU President has shared a print copy of her informative description of the Apostolic Life Committees from our October 2021 Orientation.
- A special encouragement to parish sodalities to make Dresses/Britches For Africa. Margaret has shared the pattern for the Little Dresses, but you are free to make a dress of your choice or obtain new dresses and also Little Boy Britches for which there is also a pattern.
It would be great if each year, the Apostolic Life Committee set a goal of l00 dresses or a combination of dresses and britches for each June.
The address for the Little Dresses for Africa (clothing item are also sent to Haiti and Appalachia) is Little Dresses for Africa, 21805 Woodruff Road, Rockwood, MI 48173. The patterns are on the website – www.littledressesforafrica.org.
Submitted by Sharon O’Brien, Apostolic Life Committee Chair
2021 Sodality Commitment mass
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 also to our event's keynote speaker Patricia McGuire,
President of Trinity University, DC.
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.