The Parish Office will be closed at noon Holy Thursday, April 1, and reopen Easter Monday, April 5, at 9 a.m. As we follow the Covid protocols of the CDC and Montgomery County, all our Liturgies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, have reached attendance capacity. The Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Masses will be live streamed on our Facebook page at facebook.com/sjbcc, as well as Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 3 p.m.

Stations of the Cross will be live streamed Fridays of Lent at 3:00 p.m. on Facebook at facebook.com/sjbcc. Given the adverse circumstances in regard to the current global pandemic, the “The Way of the Cross” booklet publisher, Barton Cotton, is allowing St. John the Baptist Catholic Church to use the booklets for the duration of the Catholic church closings and the restrictions on group meetings. The booklets may be used for online Way of the Cross group meetings so that parishioners can follow along with the Stations.

As we embark on the Forty Days of Lent, we have another opportunity to renew commitment to God. Let us journey together in loving support for our Sister Parish, St. Pierre, in Baradères, Haiti, during this year’s Secondary School Fund Drive.

During our Lenten journey, we can make a difference by “sharing the cross of Christ" in a personal way. Find a sample of suggestions. Also join us each Friday during Lent for a Lenten Reflection Series Zoom presentation.

This year we will have signups for our Ash Wednesday Masses from Monday, February 1, at 12:00 Noon until Tuesday, February 16, at 12 Noon.

New Year’s Day Masses: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 12 Noon. Sign up is not required for these Masses.

Sign-up for our Christmas Masses from Monday, December 7, at 12 noon until Wednesday, December 23, at 5 p.m.

Rev. Msgr. Francis Kazista, Pastor Emeritus, died on November 2, 2020, All Souls Day. Monsignor served us well for 29 years from September 12, 1987 to July 5, 2011. His Funeral Mass was at St. John the Baptist on Wednesday, November 11, and he was interred at Gate of Heaven. "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in your peace. Amen."

Our numbers for the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Masses combined have consistently been less than 100. Therefore, beginning Saturday, October 3, we will have only one Saturday Evening Mass at 5 p.m. Please remember to sign up each member of your family separately.

A copy of the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year Financial Report was mailed to all active, registered parishioners on September 23, 2020. Please call the Parish Office to request one if you did not receive it. (301-622-1122).

The SJB Parish Food Drive drop off will be the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month near the Lyon Center from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Dry goods are preferred. Food donations will be distributed to the St. Camillus Food Bank. Thank you for your generosity.

Due to COVID-19, there are many precautions we must take for the health and safety of all as we once again begin public celebrations of the Mass. To insure proper social distancing between people we need to limit the number of seats available at each of the five Weekend Masses:

Please view this message from Archbishop Wilton Gregory regarding the opening of our public Masses in the Archdiocese of Washington.

Many different scam emails using various email addresses have been sent to SJB parishioners in Fr. David’s name asking for help or money. Please do not respond to these emails. Fr. David communicates with our parishioners through the bulletin or mailings and does not send emails to parishioners. If you receive an email from Fr. David requesting money or assistance, please do not respond and delete the email immediately. Please call the Parish Office, 301-622-1122, if you have any questions.

Due to COVID-19, there are many precautions we must take for the health and safety of all as we prepare to once again begin public celebrations of the Mass. To insure proper social distancing between people we will need to limit the number of seats available at each of the five Weekend Masses

If you cannot attend Mass, you can view the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass in the Church which is live streamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sjbcc. The 9:00 a.m. Weekday Mass will also be live streamed on Facebook.

Do you need help paying your gas and electric bill or to afford food right now?  You may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to purchase food for your household through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You may also be eligible to apply for utility bill assistance through the State Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP).

Faith Formation Classes (Sunday School classes) begin October 4.

I am writing to inform you that we are planning to begin offering public Masses here at Saint John the Baptist as soon as the Montgomery County restrictions are lifted. Our parish staff and volunteers have been working very hard to establish a plan that does everything we reasonably can to make this a safe reopening for those who are able to attend...