Father Ismael (Mel) N. Ayala, pastor of St. Andrew Apostle Church in Silver Spring, has been named the new director of liturgy for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, archbishop of Washington and chairman of the National Shrine’s Board of Trustees, announced the appointment July 23.
Father Ayala will begin his tenure at the National Shrine on Sept. 20, replacing Father Michael D. Weston in that post.
“I’m very excited to follow in the footsteps of Father Michael Weston, who has been a good friend,” Father Ayala told the Catholic Standard. “I am looking forward to working with the staff of the basilica and to hopefully meet all the pilgrims to who will come to Mary’s House.”
A native of Maryland who grew up in St. Paul Parish, Damascus, Father Ayala was a pastoral musician for close to 20 years before entering the seminary. He studied philosophy and theology at Theological College, the national seminary of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. In addition to his theological studies, Father also earned a M.A. in thanatology, the study of death and dying.
He was ordained in 2010 by then-Archbishop Donald Wuerl, and was assigned to serve as parochial vicar at Saint Peter Parish in Olney, Maryland.
From 2013 to 2017, he served as the director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship, serving as master of ceremonies for the Archdiocese of Washington. He was responsible for several liturgies including the 75th anniversary liturgies of the archdiocese, confirmations, ordinations, the annual Red Mass, the annual Mass for Life at the Verizon Center (now Capital One Arena), and the Christmas and Holy Week liturgies at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington.
He also assisted in the planning of the Canonization Mass of St. Junípero Serra that was celebrated in 2015 by Pope Francis on the East Portico of the National Shrine. In recognition of his dedication and service for the planning of the liturgy, Pope Francis awarded Father Ayala the Benemerenti Medal.
In 2017, Father Ayala was named pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Laurel, Maryland. He was named pastor of St. Andrew Apostle Church in July 2020. He is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, serves on the Priest Council for the Archbishop of Washington, and is chaplain for the U.S. Secret Service.
“Honestly, I was stunned to learn the news, yet, I am honored and excited for the opportunity to serve as priest at America’s Catholic Church, the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America and a basilica that is among the largest churches in the world,” Father Ayala said in a letter he sent July 23 to St. Andrew Apostle parishioners.
Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the National Shrine, expressed his gratitude to Cardinal Gregory for assigning Father Ayala to the position and his appreciation to Father Ayala for his willingness to serve at the National Shrine.
“Father Mel has been a great friend of Mary’s Shrine for many years and we look forward to having him enhance our staff with his priestly ministry, gracious personality and liturgical skills,” Msgr. Rossi said.
