About Holy Redeemer · Kensington, Maryland
Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic parish located at 9705 Summit Avenue in Kensington, Maryland, just off the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Montgomery County. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Washington and is home to a parish school, a CCD religious education program, an active Respect Life committee, and numerous service and community ministries. Holy Redeemer was established in 1911 as a mission chapel of St. John the Evangelist in Forest Glen, was canonically established as its own parish on June 12, 1948, and today worships in a church dedicated by Archbishop O'Boyle on April 6, 1963.
- Established
- 1911 (mission chapel); 1948 (canonically established as a parish)
- Patron
- Holy Redeemer (the Most Holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas LaHood
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer is a flourishing parish with a growing parish school and CCD program, an active Adoration Chapel with extended evening hours, and an unusually wide range of parish ministries — from the Knights of Columbus, Respect Life committee and Gabriel Project to a long-running partnership with So Others Might Eat (SOME), the St. Camillus Food Pantry, and Meals on Wheels. Parishioners of all ages can find a place to serve: altar serving begins in sixth grade, Children's Liturgy of the Word meets during the 9:30 Mass, and adults can join OCIA (RCIA) on Wednesday evenings or one of several fellowship and support groups.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
- By appointment (call the rectory at 301-942-2333)
Adoration times
- As of Spring 2021 — Adoration Hours: 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM (contact Barbara Smothers at 301-897-8066 to sign up for a regular hour)
Parish History
Holy Redeemer traces its origins to a 1911 mission chapel built on the corner of Prospect Street and Connecticut Avenue in Kensington, served from St. John the Evangelist in Forest Glen — a parish that descends from the 1774 Carroll Chapel of Bishop John Carroll. Canonically established as its own parish on June 12, 1948 with Fr. Stephen J. Hogan as first pastor, Holy Redeemer grew rapidly through the 1950s and 60s. In 1950 B.F. Saul donated almost seven acres of land, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati came to staff the new school (dedicated September 30, 1951), and Archbishop O'Boyle dedicated the present church building on April 6, 1963.
- 1911 — Mission chapel of St. John the Evangelist built in Kensington
- 1948 — Canonically established as a parish; Fr. Stephen J. Hogan first pastor
- 1950 — B.F. Saul donates ~7 acres
- 1951 — Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati staff new school (dedicated Sept 30, 1951)
- 1956 — St. Jude parish created from part of Holy Redeemer
- 1960 — Holy Cross parish created from Garrett Park portion
- 1963 — Archbishop O'Boyle dedicates the current church building (April 6, 1963)
Parish Staff and Clergy
Holy Redeemer is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, a priest in residence and a retired deacon, supported by lay staff including a business manager, an office manager and a coordinator of religious education.
- Rev. Thomas LaHood — Pastor
- Rev. John C. Winslow — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Kevin Fields — In Residence
- Deacon Harry J. Davis — Retired
- Blanca Douki — Business Manager
- Jennifer Kestel — Office Manager
- Marylou McDonald — Coordinator of Religious Education
Faith Formation for Children
Children's faith formation at Holy Redeemer is offered through the parish school and the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, which serves children in Kindergarten through 8th grade who do not attend a Catholic school. First Penance is celebrated in 2nd grade (typically March), First Holy Communion in 2nd grade on the first Saturday in May after a daylong retreat, and Confirmation in 8th grade (typically in May, with each student researching a saint and completing community-service hours). Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 9:30 Sunday Mass, and altar serving is open to students beginning in 6th grade, with annual training usually in March. Children with special needs are welcomed into the altar-server ministry.
- CCD Program for K–8 (Director: Marylou McDonald, [email protected], 301-946-9484)
- First Penance — 2nd grade (March)
- First Holy Communion — 2nd grade, first Saturday in May
- Confirmation — 8th grade, with saint research paper and service hours
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — during 9:30 Mass
- Altar Servers — open from 6th grade; training once a year (usually March)
Adult Faith Formation — OCIA / RCIA
Holy Redeemer offers the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for anyone — Catholic or not — who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith. Classes meet Wednesday evenings from 7:30–9:00 PM in the Church Community Room, from the third week of September until the Tuesday before Memorial Day. The program opens with a 'Come and See' evening with the pastor and OCIA team on the third Tuesday of September; full initiation is received at the Easter Vigil. Adults seeking Confirmation who were baptized Catholic but never confirmed should contact the rectory.
- OCIA classes: Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM, Church Community Room
- Season: third week of September through the Tuesday before Memorial Day
- Full initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass
- Contact: Rectory 301-942-2333
Holy Redeemer Catholic School
Holy Redeemer Catholic School serves students in grades K–8 as part of the parish's educational mission. The school has long been central to parish life — its students join parish children in sacramental preparation for First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade), and students assist at weekend Masses, Holy Day Masses and school Masses on First Fridays. The school is supported by an active athletics association that uses the parish's recently refurbished playing field.
- Grades K–8
- Sacramental preparation: First Communion (2nd grade), Confirmation (8th grade)
- Students assist at Masses including First Friday school Masses and Holy Days
- Holy Redeemer Athletics Association oversees field sports
Outreach and Social Ministry
Outreach is a major dimension of parish life at Holy Redeemer. On the first Sunday of each month parishioners bring food for the St. Camillus Food Pantry in Takoma Park; on the second Thursday of each month they prepare fresh fruit and casseroles for delivery to So Others Might Eat (SOME) in Washington, D.C. The parish also supports Meals on Wheels (Wheaton), and parishioners volunteer as drivers to deliver both meals and pantry supplies.
- St. Camillus Food Pantry — food collected first Sunday of each month
- SOME (So Others Might Eat) — fruit and casseroles delivered second Thursday of each month
- Meals on Wheels (Wheaton) — volunteer drivers always needed
- Christmas Giving Tree
- Knights of Columbus
- Faith and Light Community
- Post Cana
- Bereavement Support
- Golden Girls
Respect Life and Gabriel Project
The Holy Redeemer Respect Life Committee fosters awareness of the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, promoting Catholic teaching on abortion, assisted suicide, stem-cell research and related issues. Activities include the Annual DC March for Life, a Mother's Day Carnation fundraiser, 40 Days for Life prayer vigils, rosaries and speakers. The committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, September–May, at 7:30 PM in the lower level of the church. The Gabriel Project cluster of Montgomery County, MD is an all-volunteer ministry supporting women in crisis pregnancies with material, spiritual and friendship help, including a bilingual 'angel friend' program.
- Respect Life Committee — meets 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 PM, lower level of church
- Annual DC March for Life
- Mother's Day Carnation fundraiser
- 40 Days for Life prayer vigils
- Gabriel Project — material, spiritual and friendship support for women in crisis pregnancies; bilingual volunteers especially needed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Stephen J. Hogan1948–1958
First pastor; oversaw construction of school and auditorium and rapid post-war growth.
- Monsignor E. Robert Arthur1958–1966
Succeeded Fr. Hogan.
- Monsignor Leo J. Coady1966–1989
- Monsignor Ernest T. Gatta1989–1993
- Fr. Walter Lawrence1993–c.2000
- Fr. Michael Salahuntil 2008
- Fr. Mark Hughes2008–
Major refurbishing of church, Holy Family Chapel, Adoration Chapel and parish playing field under his pastorate.
- Rev. Thomas LaHood
Current pastor (succeeds Fr. Hughes).