Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. only Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25 There will be no Adoration in the Chapel, Thursday, April 24

Fr. Glen Willis, SDS, was called home to the Lord Saturday, March 8th. As many of our parishioners know, Fr. Willis faithfully served at St. John the Baptist for many years as a weekend associate, blessing our parish community with his warmth, kindness, and music. A priest of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians), Fr. Glen also served for many years at Camp St. Charles in southern Maryland. Please keep Fr. Willis's family and loved ones in you prayers, as well as members of the Salvatorian community, during this difficult time.

Friday, March 7, begins our Lenten Friday Stations of the Cross liturgies at 6:30 p.m., followed by our Fish Frys offered by the Knights of Columbus. All are welcome to join us for these Friday evenings of prayer as we walk the way of the Cross with our Church’s new Stations of the Cross.

Masses will be offered at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (with our school), 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday) are obligatory days of fasting for all adults ages 18-59 (one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal, are permitted), and these days and as well as every Friday of Lent, those age 14 and above are asked to abstain from eating meat.

St John the Baptist is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations. The Luminis Health Blood mobile will be in the SJB Lyon Center parking lot Sunday, March 23. from 8:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. Please join in this life saving event. The Lions Club mobile will be providing FREE vision, glaucoma and hearing screenings to ADULTS (18 +).

Our Parish is pleased to participate once again in the Annual Archdiocesan Lenten Food Drive to benefit the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation and the 9 Parish Food Pantries they support in Washington’s poorest neighborhoods. Donation bags to collect needed items will be available at Masses March 8/9. Please bring your donation of non-perishable food to Mass with you on the weekend of April 5-6

As has been shared in recent days, we learned the sad news that Fr. David Brault died Saturday, December 21st after his courageous battle with cancer. All are welcome to join us for Fr. David's visitation and funeral liturgies Friday and Saturday, January 3rd and 4th, at St. John's. On Friday, January 3rd, Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00pm with a Vigil Mass at 7:00pm. On Saturday, January 4th, Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am (reception to follow in the gym), with interment at Gate of Heaven at 2:30pm. A faithful priest of Christ, we pray that Fr. David may now rest peacefully in eternal embrace of our Heavenly Father, and we pray for the consolation of his family and loved ones.

On Friday, November 1, we celebrate All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation. Masses will be offered at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (with our school), and 7:00 p.m. All students in 7th and 8th grades and High School are invited to our Youth Group All Saints Day Dinner at 5:30 p.m. before Mass.

On Saturday, November 2, we celebrate All Souls Day, and all parishioners are invited to join us for our 9:00 a.m. Mass in which we will remember those who have died and whose funerals were celebrated at St. John’s in the past year. A reception will follow, sponsored by our Bereavement Ministry.

This year at our SJB Community Picnic, Sunday, September 8, we will have a fingerprinting station beginning at 1:00 p.m. for all those wanting to volunteer at St. John's. Adults in the archdiocese must have child-protection (Virtus) certification to volunteer with children, and fingerprinting is needed to become Virtus Certified. American Identity Solutions will have a fingerprinting station at the picnic in the Kazista Center Large Conference Room. If you are already Virtus Certified, you do not need to complete these steps again.

Father Nathanael Anderson’s three-year assignment with St. John the Baptist will conclude the first week in July. After the 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Masses on Sunday, June 23, Fr. Nathanael will be available in the Gym to receive your expressions of thanks and well wishes. We will have a cake following the 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. Masses. We will certainly miss Fr. Nathanael and wish him well in his new assignment.

All families with young children are invited to the SJB Family Wellness Retreat on Saturday, April 20, 9:00-11:30 a.m., in the Lyon Center sponsored by St. John’s and the Archdiocese of Washington. There will be a Mass, breakfast, talks and more. Don’t miss this great opportunity to connect with other families too. Daycare to be provided by school staff. Please RSVP to Eddie Argauer at: [email protected].

Please note that the St. John the Baptist Parish Food Drive will be the 1st & 3rd Saturday mornings each month 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Drop off will be at the Lyon Center parking lot behind the church where you may safely drop bags or boxes (canned or boxed dry foods only, please.) Donations will be transported to the St. Camillus Food Bank. Cash or check donations (payable to SJB Church with “Food Drive” in the memo) are also welcome!