About Holy Cross · Garrett Park, Maryland
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Garrett Park, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Washington, canonically established in 1960 and fostered by a small group of families who first gathered in their homes on Euclid Drive to pray and support one another. The parish is served by Father Stephen P. Wyble as pastor, together with three permanent deacons and two retired/auxiliary priests, and sits alongside Holy Cross School, a co-educational Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through Grade 8. Worship is offered in English several times a week, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday, three Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, weekly Eucharistic adoration and a regular rotation of novenas and the rosary. The parish and school together form a tight-knit community rooted in faith, scholarship, and service, with active outreach through its Social Concerns Committee and a strong mothers' group and hospitality ministry.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Father Stephen P. Wyble
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in a small, personal community: daily Mass, a vigil and three Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, two days of Eucharistic adoration (Wednesday in the Main Church and Thursday in the Quinn Hall Chapel), and devotions such as the daily rosary and the First Friday Sacred Heart novena. Families find a ready-made network through the Mothers Group, the Hospitality Committee's coffee-and-doughnuts fellowship after the 9:30 Sunday Mass, the Social Concerns Committee's food and clothing drives and shelter-meal programs, and Holy Cross School, a Pre-K through Grade 8 Catholic elementary where students serve as altar servers, lectors and readers and pack a thousand meals a year for Cup O' Joe. It's a parish where newcomers are quickly known by name and where the parish school shares the same campus and leadership.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Main Church)
- Thursday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Quinn Hall Chapel)
History of Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross Parish traces its beginnings to the early 1960s, when a small group of families in Garrett Park Estates began gathering in homes on Euclid Drive to pray and support one another in raising their children. That prayer cell developed a vision for a full Catholic community in Garrett Park, and the families petitioned the bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington to establish a new parish. A generous donation of land from the Sisters of the Holy Cross made the vision possible, and the parish became a reality in 1961 (canonically established in 1960). Today it continues to serve Garrett Park and the surrounding Montgomery County communities with daily Mass, a parish school and an active social-outreach program.
- Early 1960s: families gather on Euclid Drive in Garrett Park Estates to pray together
- Land donated by the Sisters of the Holy Cross
- Canonically established 1960; parish realized 1961
- Member of the Archdiocese of Washington
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Stephen P. Wyble as pastor and is served by three permanent deacons, two retired/auxiliary priests, and a dedicated lay staff. The Archdiocese of Washington lists Father Joseph F. Perkins (retired) and Father Adam Y. Park (Chaplain at Suburban Hospital) as priests in residence; Deacons Robert E. Hubbard (retired), Matthew Konieczny, and Ron Hansen assist with parish life.
- Father Stephen P. Wyble — Pastor
- Father Joseph F. Perkins — Priest in Residence (Retired)
- Father Adam Y. Park — Priest in Residence; Chaplain, Suburban Hospital
- Deacon Robert E. Hubbard — Permanent Deacon (Retired)
- Deacon Matthew Konieczny — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Ron Hansen — Permanent Deacon
- Michelle Ilagan — Parish Secretary and Parish Life Coordinator (ext. 140)
- Angela Draley — Administrative Assistant
- Kathryn Harrington — Coordinator of the School of Religion
- Don Neri — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Dr. Mariana Mihai-Zoeter — Director of Music
- Danilo Linos — Facilities
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council assists the pastor in fostering pastoral activities so that the parish can achieve its supreme purpose: the salvation of souls. Council members serve in appointed positions alongside the parish's permanent deacons.
- Mr. Patrick Connors
- Mrs. Cindy Kratz
- Mr. George Martin
- Mrs. Jean Horan
- Mrs. Megan Dennis
- Ms. Sue Numrich
- RADM Joyce Johnson
- Mr. Pedro Bueno
- Ms. Erin Walsh — Secretary
- Deacon Robert E. Hubbard
- Deacon Ron Hansen
- Deacon Matthew Konieczny
Eucharist and OCIA (RCIA)
Quoting the Catechism (1324–1327), the parish teaches that the Eucharist is the 'source and summit of the Christian life.' Children typically prepare for First Communion during their 1st- and 2nd-grade religion classes, either in Catholic schools or through the parish Religious Education Program; this two-year formation involves both classroom preparation and parental support in strengthening faith. Adults and high-school teens prepare for the sacraments of initiation through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA), which meets on Wednesdays (and on selected Saturdays or Sundays) each year, beginning in October.
- Children's preparation: 1st and 2nd grade religion classes (Catholic school or parish Religious Ed)
- Two-year formation for First Communion
- OCIA/RCIA for adults and high-school teens, Wednesdays starting each October
Religious Education and Sacrament Preparation
The parish's Religious Education program supports children attending diocesan or private Catholic schools and those enrolled directly in parish classes. Coordinator Kathryn Harrington oversees the School of Religion, while Don Neri serves as Coordinator of Religious Education. Families can register for the current formation year through the parish website.
- Coordinator of the School of Religion: Kathryn Harrington
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Don Neri
- Two-year First Communion formation in 1st and 2nd grades
Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School is a co-educational Catholic school serving children in Pre-K through Grade 8, sharing the parish campus on Strathmore Avenue. Students and faculty begin and end each day with prayer, pray before and after lunch, and regularly attend Mass, confession and adoration, taking leadership roles as altar servers, lectors and readers. Lisa Maio Kane, M.Ed., serves as principal; Teresa Overly is Assistant Principal and Pre-Kindergarten 4 Lead Teacher, and Christine Zalewski directs Development and Admissions. The school motto is 'Faith. Scholarship. Service.'
- Pre-K through Grade 8, co-educational Catholic school
- Principal: Lisa Maio Kane, M.Ed.
- Assistant Principal: Teresa Overly
- Director of Development & Admissions: Christine Zalewski
- Daily prayer, regular Mass, confession and adoration for students
- Service: food/clothing drives, Giving Tree at Christmas, ~1,000 meals/year for Cup O' Joe (DC)
Faith Life at Holy Cross School
Gospel values and Catholic identity are modeled and woven into each school day. Faith development is rooted in Christian principles and Catholic tradition, and service flows from the call to 'love one another.' Each year, students fill Thanksgiving baskets for local families, partner with the parish Social Concerns Committee on monthly food and clothing drives, support the parish Giving Tree at Christmas, and assemble about 1,000 meals for Cup O' Joe, an organization that serves the homeless in Washington, D.C.
- Morning and closing prayer each school day
- Students serve as altar servers, lectors and readers
- Thanksgiving baskets for local families in need
- Monthly food and clothing drives with parish Social Concerns Committee
Social Concerns Committee
The Social Concerns Committee coordinates the parish's outreach to those in need, offering assistance to parish families and neighbors, charitable giving, justice and advocacy, and support for local and national causes. Activities include monthly preparation of meals for an area shelter, an annual Christian Unity Sunday observance, an annual Rebuilding Together project, the Giving Tree at Christmas, visits to the sick and infirm at least twice a year (or as needed), seasonal food and clothing drives, and education and action on Care for Creation / Environmental Stewardship. New members willing to work with others in service are welcome; contact Colleen Scanlon through the parish office.
- Monthly meals for an area shelter
- Annual Christian Unity Sunday
- Annual Rebuilding Together Project
- Giving Tree at Christmastime
- Visits to the sick and infirm
- Seasonal food and clothing drives
- Care for Creation / Environmental Stewardship
Mothers Group
Open to nursing moms through empty nesters, the Mothers Group is a community of women who share the common desire to raise their children in the virtues of the Catholic faith. The group meets once a month in Quinn Hall from 9:30 to 11:00 AM to share ideas on different themes involving family life while supporting one another as a community of faith. Children are welcome, and additional core members are needed to help with planning. Inquiries can be sent to Michelle Ilagan at [email protected].
- Monthly meetings in Quinn Hall, 9:30–11:00 AM
- For nursing moms through empty nesters
- Children welcome
- Contact: Michelle Ilagan, [email protected]
Hospitality Committee
The Hospitality Committee helps build community among parishioners through two streams of service. Sunday-Mass hospitality provides coffee and doughnuts in Lewis Hall after the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass. Special-event hospitality makes events such as the Easter Vigil reception, the parish picnic and other celebrations possible. To volunteer, contact the parish at 301-942-1020 or [email protected].
- Coffee and doughnuts after 9:30 Sunday Mass in Lewis Hall
- Easter Vigil reception, parish picnic and other special events
- Contact: 301-942-1020 or [email protected]
Contact, Location and Accessibility
Holy Cross Parish and School share a campus at 4900 Strathmore Avenue, Garrett Park, MD 20896-0249. The parish office can be reached at 301-942-1020 (fax 301-949-3543) or [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Washington directory notes the parish is wheelchair accessible. From the Washington area, the campus is reached via the Beltway (I-495) and Connecticut Avenue; Garrett Park's MARC commuter rail station is within walking distance for riders from Rockville and points east.
- Address: 4900 Strathmore Avenue, Garrett Park, MD 20896-0249
- Phone: 301-942-1020
- Fax: 301-949-3543
- Email: [email protected]
- Wheelchair accessible per the Archdiocese of Washington directory