Father Daniel Leary, pastor of St. Andrew Apostle Church in Silver Spring, will celebrate two Masses on Saturday, May 18, for couples struggling to conceive and for miscarried babies and their families.

The Mass for couples struggling to conceive will be offered that day at 10 a.m., and the Mass for miscarried babies and their families will be offered that day at 2 p.m. 

Father Leary repeatedly found himself encountering married couples distressed by their inability to conceive or meeting with couples mourning their miscarried babies. 

He began to see one thing the couples shared in common: they seemed to suffer in secret. The Church, he thought, had to play a greater part in sharing their pain. 

"I don't know if we've been providing these couples with the necessary help in the midst of their disillusionment," he said. "Each of these couples should have people walk alongside them in helping them to heal and understand the graces found in this type of pain.”

He decided he needed to gather the groups together. Thereafter, he organized two videos featuring "real-life" sufferers from infertility and miscarriages. 

"The pain of infertility is a staggering - especially for couples like my wife and I who desired to have a large family," said Kevin Wells, featured with his wife, Krista, in a video. "The videos have gotten such an emotional reaction because I believe they touch the third-rail of great pains. But I think people also see in them that Christ often enters through the deepest wound. And I think that's what Fr. Dan is trying to get to the heart of with these videos and Masses.”

All are invited to attend two Masses on Saturday, May 18 at St. Andrew Apostle, Silver Spring. Rev. Leary will celebrate a Mass at 10 a.m. for those struggling to conceive and at 2 p.m. for miscarried babies and their families. 

Each Mass will be followed by a reception and talk in the rectory conference room. 

Please call 301-649-3700 if you plan to attend either of the Masses.