At the corner of Old Columbia Pike and Greencastle Road in Burtonsville, Maryland, the Church of the Resurrection rises on a low rise of land that was once wooded countryside along an old route from Washington to Baltimore. Its tall masonry bell tower, crowned with a stainless-steel cross, announces the parish's name and its patronal feast. The parish began as a mission in November 1980 and was named Church of the Resurrection by Archbishop James Cardinal Hickey on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1981. It is the only parish of that name in the Archdiocese of Washington, and Easter remains its annual celebration of identity. From that small start - 113 people at the first Mass in November 1980, and a collection of $312 - the parish has grown into a sizable Roman Catholic community on the eastern edge of Montgomery County, with weekend Masses in English, a French Choir, a Cameroonian Catholic community, a long-running Haiti Project, and pastoral care for the seniors of nearby Riderwood Village.
A Parish Named for Easter
The Resurrection's first pastor, Rev. Jack Macfarlane, suggested the name to Cardinal Hickey in the spring of 1981. Macfarlane had been assigned to St. John the Baptist parish in Silver Spring in the summer of 1980 to study the needs of Catholics in the greater Burtonsville area, and he recommended that a new parish be established on Archdiocesan property at Greencastle Road. The Catholic Archdiocese had obtained the roughly 23-acre parcel in 1950 and leased it to a local farmer until the parish was founded. The mission began in November 1980 as the Burtonsville Catholic Community, with Saturday Mass at Liberty Grove Methodist Church and Sunday Mass at Paint Branch High School. Six months later, on Easter 1981, the Archbishop accepted Macfarlane's suggestion of the name Resurrection, the only parish so named in the Washington Archdiocese. Other parishes in the region carry the other Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary: Ascension in Bowie, Holy Spirit in Forestville for Pentecost, the Assumption parishes in the District and Upper Marlboro, and Queenship of Mary in Rockville. Because two other Resurrection parishes exist in the Baltimore Archdiocese (Ellicott City and Laurel), the Burtonsville parish often refers to itself as Resurrection Catholic Burtonsville.
Art images of the Risen Lord greet visitors inside the church entrance, including a peacock, an ancient Christian symbol of resurrection. Above the central aisle, a narrow continuous skylight runs in the form of a cross, pouring daylight down onto the circular altar platform and accenting the tabernacle chapel beyond a curved veil of stained glass.
Six Pastors, One Mission
The parish has been served by six pastors in its four decades. Its mission statement, framed in the parish's own words, expresses what each has shared: "We, the parishioners of the Church of the Resurrection, strive to be a welcoming Christian Community as we come together to share in the Eucharist. Strengthened by our bond to Christ and one another, we accept the challenge to bring about the unity to which we are called by reaching out to others and offering them an experience of Faith, Hope, and Love."
Fr. Jack Macfarlane shepherded the parish from its founding in 1981 until 1992. He oversaw the construction of the all-purpose lower-level building at the corner of Greencastle Road and Old Columbia Pike, completed in 1986 and designed by Michael LeMay of LeMay Associates, which gave the parish its first permanent home. After that, the upper church was built on top of the same structure. Cardinal Hickey dedicated the completed Sanctuary on November 12, 1989, a date the parish still marks as its anniversary.
Rev. John Pennington, appointed in March 1992 by Cardinal Hickey, was the second pastor. He established the parish preschool in October 1992, moved the parish offices to the lower level of the church in December 1994, and during his tenure the religious education program grew to serve close to 700 children. He was later elevated to Monsignor and assigned to St. John the Evangelist in Silver Spring, where he retired and, in 2014, died after a battle with cancer. The parish's Knights of Columbus Council is now named in his honor: the Msgr. John R. Pennington Council #9808.
Rev. Robert F. Keffer became the third pastor in August 1999, having served as associate pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart and in campus ministry at the University of Maryland and George Washington University. Soon after his arrival he began the Riderwood Catholic Community, extending the parish's pastoral reach into the large Erickson retirement village on Gracefield Road in Calverton. He also began the parish's outreach to Haiti and welcomed the start of the Cameroonian Catholic Community. In August 2006 Cardinal Hickey and his successors dedicated the adjoining Parish Life Center, a building with meeting rooms, classrooms, an office wing, a youth center, and a courtyard. In June 2014 it was named the Rev. Robert F. Keffer Parish Life Center in recognition of his efforts; the building was paid off in 2020.
Rev. Scott Hahn served as the fourth pastor from July 2012, having previously been pastor of St. Philip the Apostle in Camp Springs and a parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. His prior career as a Washington-area elementary school teacher shaped his organizational style at Resurrection. He was succeeded in July 2015 by Rev. Jeffrey Defayette, the fifth pastor, who had been pastor of St. Matthias the Apostle in Lanham. Defayette served until June 2017. He was known for his liturgical decorating, his gardening of the grounds, and his habit of baking cakes as a friendly outreach.
Rev. John M. Barry, the parish's sixth and current pastor, was appointed administrator by Cardinal Donald Wuerl in July 2017 and named pastor in October 2018. A 1988 ordinand of the Archdiocese, he had previously served as pastor of St. Edward the Confessor in Bowie for ten years and earlier at parishes in Avenue, Medley's Neck, and Laurel. He has focused on young families, the Knights of Columbus, financial stability, adult education and Bible study, the sacred liturgy, the Eucharist and Confession, and parish maintenance. Under his leadership, the parish has hosted a Winter Shelter outreach in partnership with its ongoing Food Pantry, begun a new support effort for Howard University's campus ministry, and continued three-hour Friday afternoon and evening Eucharistic Adoration and Confession that began during the pandemic.
Mass and Reconciliation Schedule
Resurrection follows the standard Catholic schedule of Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, Saturday Vigil, and several opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
On the weekend, the Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:00 pm. Sunday Masses are at 7:30 am, 9:00 am (the Family Mass in the Amadeo Room, geared toward families with guitar music and Children's Liturgy of the Word for Pre-K through 2nd grade), 10:30 am, and 12:30 pm. Weekday Mass is at 9:00 am Monday through Friday. The parish also celebrates a monthly Cameroonian Catholic Community Mass on a Sunday afternoon.
Confessions are heard every Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 pm in the small Vianney drive-up house in the parking lot, and from 6:30 to 7:30 pm inside the church. On the first Saturday of each month, confessions are heard from 7:30 to 8:30 am in the St. Nicholas Family Room during Adoration. Confessions at the Riderwood Chapel are celebrated in the side chapel on the first Wednesday at 2:00 pm, prior to the 3:00 pm Mass. Confessions are also available by appointment.
The Sanctuary on Greencastle Road
The 13,000-square-foot Sanctuary added in 1989 was the realization of an eight-year dream. Its design by LeMay Associates begins outside with a tall masonry bell tower rising out of a low planter at the entry plaza. The tower shelters a dedication stone, three bells, and a stainless-steel cross representing the Resurrection. Curved walls and rounded corners give the building a sculptural character, while fluted block and deep recesses cast strong shadows in the changing light.
Inside, the Commons serves as a large gathering space with shimmering reflections from a holy water font. Wood and glass French doors lead into the Sanctuary, where pews sweep in radiating rows around a raised circular altar platform. A narrow continuous skylight in the form of a cross pierces the roof to accentuate the central aisle and bathe the altar in light. Through a curved veil of stained glass in a wood frame, the tabernacle is visible in the Chapel beyond. In an alcove to the north, the baptistery sits in front of a large window between two carving block walls; holy water wells up into a basin on a pedestal and flows down into a pool at its base. A family room at the end of the Commons accommodates families with toddlers and babies.
The church is wheelchair-friendly, with a ramp at the entry plaza. Parking is plentiful on the parish grounds. The front doors open at 7:00 am on Sundays, at 3:15 pm on Saturday vigils, and at 8:00 am on weekdays.
The Liturgical Life
Following the documents of the Second Vatican Council, Resurrection aims for full, active, and conscious participation in parish liturgy and worship. The Liturgy Committee meets monthly to plan worship over the long range and to assist in decorating the church for major seasons; meetings are open to all parishioners.
Members of the parish serve as Sacristans, washing and preparing sacred linens on Fridays after the 9:00 am Mass, with Lourdes Quintanilla serving as weekend Sacristan. Lectors - adults and high school students - proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Eucharistic Ministers assist in distributing Holy Communion and bringing Communion to the sick and homebound. Ushers and Greeters welcome all who come, distribute worship aids, take up the collection, and assist with seating. The Environment and Art group creates and maintains wall hangings that mark the liturgical seasons.
A 24/7 window for Adoration of the Tabernacle has been set up in the upper parking lot for prayer at any time of day or night. Friday afternoons and evenings bring a fuller period of Exposition: from 4:30 to 6:30 pm in the parking lot (with confessions available), and from 6:30 to 7:30 pm inside the church. On the first Saturday of each month, Silent Adoration with confessions runs from 7:30 to 8:30 am in the St. Nicholas Family Room, followed by a simple Benediction and the First Saturday Mass at 8:30 am.
Music at Resurrection
The music chosen at Resurrection represents a variety of styles, cultures, and historical periods. The parish always welcomes new choir members, cantors, and instrumentalists.
The Adult Choir sings at the 10:30 am Sunday Liturgy and rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. No prior musical training is required; instruction is offered during rehearsals. The Adult Handbell Choir rehearses every Wednesday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and plays approximately once a month at the 5:00 pm or 12:15 pm Mass; members should be able to read music. Cantors and Psalmists lead congregational song and proclaim the Psalm.
The French Choir is open to all parishioners interested in singing French liturgical music. The group rehearses in French each Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm, with a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person, and sings every other Sunday at the 12:30 pm Mass. Annick Kanter-St. Hubert, the Music Director, oversees the program. Resurrection Choirs have released four CDs over the years. Two early recordings, "Noels Autour du Monde" and "Oh! That I Had a Thousand Voices," are available for $8.00 each by contacting the Music Director. "Faith, Hope and Love" and "Cantiques de Noel" are available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Amazon.
The Family Mass in the Amadeo Room
Every Sunday at 9:00 am, the parish gathers for a Family Mass in the Amadeo Room, the parish hall below the church. Guitar music accompanies the liturgy, and Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered for children in Pre-K through 2nd grade using the Children's Lectionary; the children return to the assembly at the Offertory. Two classes are available, K through 2nd grade and 3rd through 5th grade. Children must be brought to the classroom before the readings begin, and children under kindergarten age are not admitted to the classrooms. After Mass, the parish shares fellowship, coffee, juice, and doughnuts. The Amadeo Room's entrance is on the lower south front side of the building.
Faith Formation: Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Helene Stever serves as the Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry, overseeing both programs. Religious Education (CCD) is offered in two tracks each year. On Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, classes meet weekly from late September through May for children in kindergarten through 8th grade. On Sundays, Sacramental classes meet for children in grades 3 through 5 from 10:15 to 11:30 am and for grades 6 through 8 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, beginning in October and running through mid-March. Children preparing for Baptism and First Eucharist use the Sunday track; teens in high school who need sacraments are invited to contact the Director for an alternate schedule.
The parish welcomes teens in grades 6 through 12 - whether they attend public, Catholic, private, or home school - to participate in the Youth Ministry, which meets in the Youth Center of the Parish Life Center. Activities draw on faith formation gatherings, spiritual activities, service projects, athletics, and social events. Adult volunteers and chaperones complete the requirements of Archdiocesan Policy 2010. Youth have traveled to the Steubenville summer conferences, and they earn Montgomery County Student Service Learning hours through service projects.
The Resurrection Women's Ministry
The Resurrection Women's Ministry aims to connect the women of the parish in spiritual growth and loving support through spiritual, social, and service activities. All women are welcome. The Women's Ministry Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm in the St. Helen Youth Center, and the group has hosted virtual book discussions on works such as Jacques Philippe's "Searching for and Maintaining Peace." The ministry's mission is informed by the witness of Edith Stein, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, whose writing the parish has shared: "Each woman who lives in the light of eternity can fulfill her vocation, no matter if it is in marriage, in a religious order, or in a worldly profession."
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
The Burtonsville MOPS group meets at Resurrection on two Wednesday mornings a month from 9:30 to 11:30 am, welcoming mothers who are pregnant or have a child from birth through kindergarten. The program offers speakers, discussion, crafts, service events, playdates, and Moms' Night Out. While mothers meet, children are cared for in a preschool-like setting called MOPS Kids. Annual registration is $31.95 through MOPS International, which includes a bi-monthly magazine, online masterclasses, member discounts, and access to a community of more than 100,000 moms worldwide. Chapter dues are collected separately to cover materials and childcare; scholarships are available.
The Riderwood Community
Since the early years of Fr. Keffer's pastorate, Resurrection has ministered to the Catholics residing in the independent living, assisted care, and skilled nursing settings at Riderwood Village and Arbor Ridge in Silver Spring. Two Sunday Masses are celebrated at the Riderwood Chapel - at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm - and are broadcast on channel 976 to residents who cannot attend in person. Weekday Masses are offered on Wednesdays at 10:00 am in Arbor Ridge and at 3:00 pm in the Riderwood Chapel. Confessions are heard on the first Wednesday at 2:00 pm in the side chapel. A Bible Study and Catholic gathering is held in the chapel on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 10:00 am, with summer sessions built around Bishop Robert Barron's "Catholicism" video series. Rev. Virginus Osuagwu, SDS, serves as the Riderwood Pastoral Associate.
Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Haiti
The parish's social justice efforts reach beyond Burtonsville into the wider region. The Food Pantry distributes non-perishable food and grocery store gift cards, opening on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Donations of breakfast items (instant oatmeal, cereal), lunch supplies (soup, peanut butter, jelly), and dinner staples (pasta, sauce, canned tuna and chicken, canned vegetables, dessert mixes) are accepted Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Through C-4, the Colesville Council of Community Congregations, an interfaith group that maintains a clothes closet and baby closet at the old Colesville Elementary School on New Hampshire Avenue, Resurrection recruits volunteers during November and April. The parish welcomes donations of clean seasonal clothing, baby and children's clothing, linens, and cribs and car seats that meet safety standards, and is in special need of Spanish-speaking volunteers.
Each year in March, the parish hosts up to 30 homeless men and women for a week as part of the Laurel Winter Shelter Program, providing a hot dinner, bagged lunch, and breakfast along with sleeping arrangements from 6:30 pm to 7:00 am. The Needlework Ministry, the Circle of St. Clare, gathers on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm to knit and crochet hats, scarves, and baby blankets for the Winter Shelter, Thanksgiving and Christmas food totes, and the Columbia Pregnancy Center.
The parish has maintained a relationship with a parish and religious order in Gros Morne, Haiti, for nearly twenty years, building churches and schools, establishing potable water systems, supporting an egg production facility called Poulaye, and assisting with animal husbandry and medical missions. Today, parishioner Christie Newman's nonprofit Hens for Haiti (H4H) trains local Haitians in running sustainable egg production businesses, while parishioner Larry Newman's Haiti Water travels to support reliable potable water supplies for small communities. The parish funds these efforts through an annual collection.
Resurrection supports Shepherd's Table, a non-profit in downtown Silver Spring that serves a hot, nutritious meal every night of the year, by sending volunteer teams from the parish. The parish is also one of sixteen congregations and organizations that financially support the Eastern Montgomery Emergency Assistance Network (EMEAN), which provides eviction prevention, utility cut-off prevention, and limited prescription assistance to residents in crisis in nearby zip codes.
Prayer Ministries
The Daily Rosary is prayed each weekday morning at 8:30 am, just before the 9:00 am Daily Mass. A Bible Study with the pastor meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:30 pm in the church. A Pastor's Blog and weekly homilies, along with archived homily videos, keep parishioners connected to the rhythm of the liturgical year.
The Cameroonian Catholic Community
The Cameroonian Catholic Community gathers at Resurrection for a monthly Mass on Sunday afternoons, one of the lasting fruits of the parish's openness under Fr. Keffer. The community also meets for social activities in the Amadeo Room and remains an active part of parish life.
Living Arts Concert Series
From October through June, Resurrection hosts the Living Arts Concert Series in the church and the Amadeo Room. The series presents culturally and spiritually uplifting concerts, supported by donors and door donations, and is directed by Music Director Annick Kanter-St. Hubert. Notices appear in the parish bulletin and on posters in the church commons.
The Sacraments at Resurrection
Resurrection celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptism is offered for infants and young children up to age five, with a preparation class for parents; Deacon Chuck Bieberich coordinates the work. First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education program; Confirmation is celebrated by the Most Reverend Gary Studniewski for the Archdiocese. Marriage preparation is done in cooperation with the pastor or one of the deacons. The Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the pastor; in emergencies after office hours, the parish office number (301-236-5200) connects callers to priestly assistance. Sacramental records are maintained by Helene Stever.
Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in becoming Catholic participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), offered at Resurrection by appointment. Children beyond the typical age for sacraments are welcomed through the religious education program, with sacramental preparation arranged through the Director of Religious Education.
Communications and Giving
The parish communicates with parishioners through Flocknote, an email-based system that carries announcements about scheduled funerals, schedule changes, and other timely matters. The weekly bulletin is available online and is distributed in printed form at the end of each Mass. Sunday Masses are livestreamed through the parish's Boxcast channel and YouTube channel, with recordings archived for later viewing. Automatic electronic giving and one-time online donations are available through the parish's secure giving pages.
A Parish on Greencastle Road
The Church of the Resurrection began with the small enthusiasm of a handful of Catholic families gathered around borrowed altars at Paint Branch High School and Liberty Grove Methodist Church in 1980. From that start grew a parish that built its own lower hall in 1986, raised its upper Sanctuary on top of it in 1989, and added the Keffer Parish Life Center in 2006. Today the parish remains rooted at the corner of Old Columbia Pike and Greencastle Road, listening for the bells in its tower, gathering around the altar beneath its cross-shaped skylight, and continuing to welcome Catholics of many languages and backgrounds - including a French Choir, a Cameroonian Catholic community, longtime volunteers in Silver Spring and Haiti, and the seniors of Riderwood Village - to share in the Eucharist and to carry the parish's Easter name into the wider world.