June 5, 2022 - "Happy 50th Anniversary Saint Francis of Assisi"

On May 25, 1972, Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle, then Archbishop of Washington, decreed the building of a new Parish: St. Francis of Assisi in Derwood, MD. The church was then officially born on June 1, 1972, its boundaries drawing parishioners from St. Peter’s in Olney, St. Martin’s in Gaithersburg, and St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s in Rockville. The first mass was celebrated on June 4, 1972 with Father John Stack presiding in the Redland Middle School gym.
 
Three years later the present church building was dedicated by His Eminence William Cardinal Baum, Archbishop of Washington. Here is a copy of the letter, dated October 4, 1975, which Archbishop William Baum sent to the Reverend John P. Stack on that occasion.
 
Dear Father Stack:
Please accept my sincere congratulations as you and your parish Family dedicate your new parish Church.  It is a truly beautiful sign of God’s greater gift to us, which is our Faith.  I join with you in thanking God for his great goodness in causing Faith to live in our hearts, and for granting us the blessing of this new Church building.
 
It is a source of great joy to be able to join with you and the people of the parish in dedicating our new Church on the very Feast of Saint Francis.  Today we keep the memory of one who devoted himself entirely to love for God who has first loved us.  Through the intercession of Saint Francis, who is still with us in the communion of saints, may we grow in our ability to love God as He has first loved us.  Through Saint Francis’ intercession may we learn to love our fellow men as Christ would have us do.
 
May the virtues of generous love and service exemplified by Saint Francis be manifested in our lives.  May your love be as visible to the many people among you whom you live as is our new Church.  Through you, may God draw many more to Faith, Hope, and Charity.
 
Asking a remembrance in your prayers, and with a promise of daily prayer for all of Saint Francis’ Parish, I am
 
Devotedly in our Lord,
+William W. Baum
Archbishop of Washington

Under the guidance of Fathers Stack, André Bouchard, Donald P. Worch, Lee Fangmeyer, David W. Beaubien and presently John J. Dillon, St. Francis of Assisi has thrived and grown to a membership of over 1,400 families, all sharing the basic mission of sharing Christ’s love, living the Word of God and creating a living and vibrant community in Christ.
 
We thank the Lord that we have reached this milestone.  May the Lord grant us many more years as a parish family!
 
Happy Anniversary!
 
Until next week.
Fr. John Dillon