Cardinal Wilton Gregory prays as he blesses the Adoration Chapel on the lower level at St. John the Evangelist Church in Silver Spring. At left is Father Joseph Calis, pastor of the parish. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
Cardinal Wilton Gregory visited St. John the Evangelist Parish in Silver Spring June 20 to bless the Adoration Chapel on the church’s lower level and to celebrate Mass in the newly renovated upper church level.
Above and below, Cardinal Wilton Gregory prays as he blesses the Adoration Chapel on the lower level at St. John the Evangelist Church in Silver Spring. To the left of the cardinal is Father Joseph Calis, pastor of the parish. The Adoration Chapel includes stained glass windows and a new altar and lectern. (CS photos/Mihoko Owada)
The Adoration Chapel on the lower level has at one time or another served as a storage room, a science lab for school students, a small “Our Lady’s Chapel” worship space for daily Mass, and finally the Adoration Chapel. It was destroyed by flooding during a storm.
The refurbished Adoration Chapel includes three newly installed stained glass windows depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. John the Evangelist.
The altar and the lectern and the background for the adoration chapel wall were constructed by two parishioners, Phil Hannan and Michael Graham. Numerous others helped with the design of the chapel.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrates a June 20 Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church in Silver Spring. At left is Father Joseph Calis, pastor of the parish. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)People bow their heads in prayer during a June 20 Mass celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at St. John the Evangelist Church in Silver Spring. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
The upper level of the church was renovated in 2019-2020 but could not be blessed until now because of the coronavirus.
Above Cardinal Wilton Gregory blesses the faithful at the end of a June 20 Mass he celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church in Silver Spring. At right is Father Joseph Calis, pastor of the parish. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
