The Dec. 5 vigil Mass for the second Sunday of Advent at St. Martin of Tours Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland offered a dual celebration, for the parish’s 100th anniversary and to welcome new Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory for his first parish Mass after the Nov. 28 Consistory where he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in Rome.
In his opening remarks, Cardinal Gregory said, “One week ago I was with the pope, and today I’m with you. That’s a celebration of the universality of the Church.”
Offering a greeting to the cardinal as the Mass began, Father David Wells, St. Martin’s pastor, noted that in 1920, the parish began serving a small rural community, and in the past 100 years, it has grown to become the second-largest parish in the archdiocese, with parishioners who have roots in many different countries.
One hundred years ago, St. Martin’s chapel was established in Gaithersburg out of an army mess hall. For the 100th anniversary Mass in the church, people wore face masks and sat in alternate pews with social distancing in accord with coronavirus safety precautions. Parishioners had entered a lottery to receive seats for the anniversary Mass in in either the church, church hall or school gymnasium.
In his homily which he gave in English and Spanish, Cardinal Gregory noted how the Gospel account of St. John the Baptist urging people to repent from their sins to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, is as relevant today as it was when he preached along the banks of the Jordan River.
St. John, he said, “belongs to the season of Advent in ways no other person does,” and continues to speak to the hearts of people, leading them change their lives for the coming of Jesus.
“People want to hear the truth, even when the truth offers us challenges,” the cardinal said.
Reflecting on the parish’s centennial, Cardinal Gregory said, “This afternoon, God’s family of St. Martin’s parish is filled with delight at the 100th anniversary of the establishment of this community.” The cardinal said he watched videos showing the dedication of the pioneer families who started the parish, noting that some of their descendants might be in attendance at the Mass or watching it from home via livestream.
Praising the parish’s heritage of faith, he said, “I applaud all of you for the devotion of this community that has endured for 100 years.”
Cardinal Gregory then said, “The challenge that lies ahead is to rouse this community to live out its mission of tenderness, kindness, mercy and faith for the next 100 years.”
A family attends the 100th anniversary Mass for St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg on Dec. 5, 2020. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)
Closing his homily, Washington’s archbishop tied together the Advent season with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “May we soon be inoculating our folks with the vaccines that offer us such promise and such hope for bringing this dread pandemic under control. The virus has so altered our world and this community, with God’s providence, may it soon be conquered.”
Then he added, “But until that day dawns, may our hearts be softened and made ever more compassionate and loving, so that they will be ready to receive the Christ who is surely coming.”
After the homily, the prayers offered included one asking God to help St. Martin’s Parish in its centennial year continue to shine Christ’s light through its worship, education and service.
Father David Wells, the pastor of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg, holds a plaque listing the parish's pastors over the past 100 years that Cardinal Gregory blessed. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)
Before the Mass ended, Cardinal Gregory blessed a new plaque listing all the pastors who have served at the parish over the past 100 years, and Father Wells encouraged people to give a special gift to the new cardinal by making a donation of food to St. Martin’s pantry, which like other parish food pantries has been serving many more people in the wake of the COVID-19 economic downturn.
The parish’s longstanding commitment to bringing help and hope to those in need could be seen in a statue of St. Martin of Tours placed at the side of the steps leading to the church’s altar that showed their patron saint lifting off his cloak to give it to a poor man, who according to legend was actually Jesus in disguise.
(Mark Zimmermann contributed to this article.)
