Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrated a 75th anniversary Mass at St. Hugh of Grenoble Parish in Greenbelt, Maryland on June 19, 2022.
Father Walter Tappe, St. Hugh’s pastor, concelebrated the anniversary Mass that was attended by several hundred people, including members of the St. Francis of Assisi Deaf Catholic Church that worships at the Prince George’s County parish while its own chapel is being repaired after a damaging fire several months ago
Father Tappe, noting that the faithful were “proud and pleased” to welcome the cardinal, called the anniversary Mass a celebration of “75 years of God’s grace.”
Looking out over the congregation, Cardinal Gregory said, “you are 75 years old and you look marvelous!”
St. Hugh of Grenoble Parish was founded on June 13, 1947, not long after the establishment of the city of Greenbelt as part of the federal government’s New Deal program. Its first pastor was Father Victor Dowgiallo.
Noting that the parish was celebrating its 75th anniversary on the same Sunday that the Church was marking the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Cardinal Gregory said, “God’s people of St. Hugh’s Parish celebrate 75 years of dining on the Bread of Life and the wonderous service and devotion that your Eucharistic nourishment has accomplished with and through you and your predecessors in this community.”
Ground was broken for St. Hugh of Grenoble School in 1949, and the parish rectory was completed in 1959. Masses were held in the school auditorium until the 1964 completion of the present church building. In 2010, St. Hugh of Grenoble School merged with St. Joseph School in Beltsville to form St. Joseph’s Regional Catholic School, which is also sponsored by St. Nicholas Parish in Laurel.
Cardinal Gregory praised Father Tappe and all the priests who have served at St. Hugh over the years “for feeding this portion of the Lord’s flock in or Archdiocese… we give thanks for their dedication and zeal to the ministry of Christ.”
(Catholic Standard photos by Javier Diaz)
After the 75th anniversary Mass for St. Hugh of Grenoble Parish in Greenbelt on June 19, Cardinal Gregory greeted parishioners outside the church. The parish also hosted a potluck luncheon to highlight the diverse nationalities represented in the parish. Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan and several member of the city council attended the Mass and luncheon to honor the parish anniversary. (Catholic Standard photos/Javier Diaz)
