St. Athanasius

About St. Athanasius and St. Rose of Lima

The Community of St. Athanasius and St. Rose of Lima is a Catholic pastorate serving Curtis Bay and Brooklyn in the southern peninsula of Baltimore City near Anne Arundel County. The parish describes itself as a 'Catholic family rich in diversity but united in our beliefs,' striving through worship, education, outreach, advocacy and evangelization to 'see the face of Jesus Christ in all people.' Since 2010 the two parishes have shared clergy, staff, religious education, and a pastoral council, with daily Mass held at St. Athanasius Chapel and Holy Day Masses, Parish Missions, Holy Thursday and Good Friday Liturgies, and Advent/Lent Reconciliation Services shared between the two.

History of St. Athanasius

St. Athanasius was founded in 1890 at the direction of Cardinal Gibbons to serve the Catholics of the factory town of Curtis Bay, then still part of Anne Arundel County. Its first pastor, Rev. James R. Matthews, organized the mission by year's end; the first baptism was Christmas Day 1890, the first marriage February 4, 1891. As English-speaking families moved away and Polish, Lithuanian, Bohemian, Slovak, Slovenian and Ukrainian immigrants poured in, the parish developed a polyglot character. Rev. Paul J. Sandalgi, appointed 1909 and said to have known 13 languages, founded a Polish school in 1910 and, in 1914, the mission that became St. Rose of Lima. Father Chester J. Czyz (1955–1965) built the present Main Church, hall, and an enlarged rectory. Father Brendan Carr (1983) was the first non-Polish pastor in 88 years.

• 1890 – Parish founded by Cardinal Gibbons
• 1910 – Polish school established by Father Sandalgi
• 1914 – Mission at Brooklyn founded (later St. Rose of Lima)
• 1955–1965 – Father Czyz builds the present Main Church, hall and rectory
• 1983 – Father Brendan Carr, first non-Polish pastor in 88 years
• July 1994 – Father Timothy B. Klunk assigned as Pastor
• 2002 – Father Klunk-designed Main Church windows dedicated by Bishop Gordon Bennett
• 2005–2006 – Old Church Chapel restored and rededicated by Bishop Denis J. Madden
• 2008 – Baltimore Heritage Historical Preservation Award for the Old Church Chapel
• April 2016 – Opening Liturgy of the parish's 125th Anniversary Year
• July 2023 – Rev. John Jicha appointed pastor of the joint pastorate

Worship and Liturgical Ministries

Liturgy is at the heart of parish life, and there are dozens of ways to take part. The Adult Choir leads music at the 10:30-style Sunday liturgy (rehearsals Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm; suspended in summer); the St. Rose Singers lead music at the 9:15 am liturgy with Tuesday-evening rehearsals. Lay men and women serve as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Cantors, Altar Servers, Cross Bearers, Greeters, and Ushers. The Art and Environment ministry prepares flowers and seasonal decorations for both the Main Church and Old Church Chapel, while the Sanctuary Society cares for sacred linens, vessels and the worship space. The rule of thumb: a liturgical minister performs only one function at any given Mass.

• Adult Choir (Wed 7:00 pm rehearsal)
• St. Rose Singers (Tue rehearsal)
• Cantors, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers
• Altar Servers, Cross Bearers
• Greeters, Ushers
• Art and Environment
• Sanctuary Society

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Religious Education for First Grade through Eighth Grade meets on Thursday evenings from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm, October through April. The program supports parents as primary educators and follows the four pillars from the National Catechetical Directory — message, community, worship and service — drawing in parents, students, catechists and staff as a true parish community. Family Ministry offers monthly catechetical, social and spiritual activities for families with children ages 4 through grade 5; it joined with St. Rose of Lima in September 2010.

• Religious Education (Grades 1–8, Thursday evenings 6:15–7:15 pm)
• Family Ministry (ages 4–grade 5)
• Sacramental Preparation
• RCIA
• Tuition: $45 one child / $55 two / $60 three or more

Youth, Young Adult and Adult Ministries

Beyond faith formation, the parish offers age-specific ways to stay engaged. Youth Ministry, under the direction of the Youth Minister, organizes social and parish activities throughout the year. Young Adult Ministry (led by Alex and Ana Lombardi) builds community for the next generation of parish leaders. Evangelization (Miranda Navarro Herget) and Pastoral Visitors (Deacon Michael Dodge) extend the parish's reach beyond its walls, bringing the Eucharist to those who are homebound, in hospitals, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities.

• Youth Ministry (contact: Leo Quinn)
• Young Adult Ministry (Alex and Ana Lombardi)
• Evangelization (Miranda Navarro Herget)
• Pastoral Visitors (Deacon Michael Dodge)

Outreach and Social Concerns

Rooted in the parish's baptismal call to seek 'the wholeness of our human family,' St. Athanasius reaches beyond its neighborhood through parish-wide social concerns. The Beans and Bread program and the St. Francis Committee are concrete expressions of this outreach, alongside the Men's Club, Women's Club, and Parish Council. The pastorate explicitly affirms 'commitment to minister to the needs of our parish, our neighborhood, and those beyond our boundaries.'

• St. Francis Committee (Social Concerns)
• Beans and Bread
• Men's Club
• Women's Club
• Parish Council / Corporators

The Old Church Chapel

Built in 1891 and shuttered since the 1980s, the original little wooden church with belfry was restored between 2005 and 2006 under Father Robert DiMattei at a final cost of $458,000 (escalated by asbestos abatement, a new boiler and rising construction costs). Bishop Denis J. Madden, then Urban Vicar, blessed and dedicated the chapel in December 2006. The renovation was completed in seven months and recognized in 2008 with a Historical Preservation Award from Baltimore Heritage. Funds from the 2014 'Embracing Our Mission, Shaping Our Future' Archdiocesan capital campaign were designated to an endowment for the chapel's upkeep.

Pastoral Team and Staff

The pastorate is led by pastor Rev. John Jicha III, supported by Deacon German Flores and a lay staff that includes Coordinator of Religious Education Vivian Perez, Music Director Gregory Satorie, Office Manager Diane Edmiston, Evangelization coordinator Miranda Navarro Herget, IT Manager Dan Herget, Young Adult Ministry leaders Alex and Ana Lombardi, and Administrative Assistant Maggie Morris. Mary Beth Barnes serves as Pastoral Associate / Director of Religious Education. The leadership team works across both St. Athanasius and St. Rose of Lima.

• Pastor: Rev. John Jicha III ([email protected])
• Deacon: German Flores
• Coordinator of Rel. Education: Vivian Perez
• Music Director: Gregory Satorie
• Office Manager: Diane Edmiston
• IT Manager: Dan Herget
• Evangelization: Miranda Navarro Herget
• Young Adult Ministry: Alex and Ana Lombardi
• Administrative Assistant: Maggie Morris

Getting Involved

Parishioners are encouraged to register as parishioners, serve in a liturgical ministry, teach Religious Education, or join one of the parish committees or clubs. The parish offers ministries for nearly every age and stage of life, from Family Ministry for children age 4 through grade 5 to Young Adult Ministry and Pastoral Visitors. Hospitality and Greeter ministries welcome visitors each weekend, while the IT and Evangelization ministries keep the pastorate connected and outward-looking.

• Parish Registration
• Liturgical and Music Ministries
• Religious Education (catechists)
• Social Concerns / Beans and Bread
• Young Adult Ministry
• Pastoral Visitors

Contact and Visiting

The parish office and mailing address is 4708 Prudence Street, Baltimore, MD 21226. Phone (410) 355-5740; Fax (410) 355-8122; Email [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–4:00 pm, and Friday 9:30 am–12:30 pm for Spanish-speaking parishioners. New parishioners are warmly welcomed to register, and a 'Resources' page on the website links to Featured News, Helpful Links, the parish Calendar, Parish Giving, and directions.