IN PRAISE OF SAINT BENEDICT'S
From a former parishioner, written on an internet "blog", July 10, 2003:
"St.
Benedict's is my former parish. It is a WONDERful parish and I still enjoy
visiting it when back in Baltimore. Still haven't found a parish in the DC
area that is as homey as St. Benedict's.
The liturgies strike a
wonderful balance between beauty, reverence, and homeyness. Worship leads
to true community in Christ. People know each other and its not from
interrupting the mass with superficial greetings or other elements
designed to simulate community that should come form being united to
Christ and spending time with people in the Parish outside of mass. The
Church is in the middle of a very poor neighborhood and is a key source of
aide for people in the neighborhood - food pantry, summer camp, holiday
food baskets, poor box.
Everything (good works, liturgy, art, bookstore, you name it) in the parish focuses on Christ, everything preaches Christ. You'll find morning and evening prayer, evening masses during advent and lent, Wednesday adoration with evening mass. Lots of opportunity to worship God, lots of opportunities for fellowship, lots of opportunities to help people, lots of opportunities to have fun. Everyone feels welcomed. Every few months there is a parish dinner/festival. All around a great parish! Fr. Paschal Morlino, OSB is a superb preacher often in demand for parish missions across the country.
Did I say I love that parish?"
One More....
A reponse to letter above:
"Having visited I can heartily concur!
My "feel" after observation of a Sunday Mass was that you have a holy, warm, spiritual, humble pastor (Fr. Paschal Morlino, OSB) who seems to emanate a "joy" for his job, his priesthood, his flock and his buildings. It IS contagious! Were that this was evident in more parishes! He LOVES what he does and the people he meets. You can FEEL it and see it in the responses of his parishioners."
P.S. I posted these without letting Fr Paschal know; I fear he would never suggest they be posted! - webservant Gerard Serafin
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