We are pleased that you have chosen Holy Redeemer as your place of worship.  We warmly invite you to become a member of our parish.

Through membership, you are joining a parish that welcomes all those who seek Christ, actively seek spiritual nourishment, joyfully celebrate as one community in the Body of Christ, and give service to one another and our community as we lead a Christ centered life.

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.  It is a program the American Bishops composed to help people learn about the teachings, spirituality, and culture of the Catholic faith with the idea of looking into possibly joining the Church, though at no time is pressure placed on anyone.This program is also a good way for adult Catholics who want to learn more about the Catholic Church to continue growing in the faith.  Classes meet Tuesday evenings from 7:30 pm -9:00 pm in the Church Community Room, from the third week of September until the Tuesday before Memorial Day.  The teachings of the Catholic Church will be unfolded in a sequential manner by a variety of presenters, with questions and discussion every week.  If one is interested in joining the Church there will be three "Gateways" of coming into the Catholic Church with full initiation taking place at the Easter Vigil Mass.  The full program and calendar will be explained the third Tuesday of September at the "Come and See" evening with the Pastor and the RCIA team.  If you are interested, please call the Rectory at 301-942-2333.

Holy Redeemer keeps abreast of official Church teaching, principally through the communications issued by our Cardinal, from Vatican news sources and the Catholic Catechsim.  We pay particular attention to those issues that are currently at the forefront and of concern to us as Catholics in the socio-economic and moral spheres. 

The Catholic Catechism instructs the faithful that good government has two duties, both of which must be carried out and neither of which can be ignored.

The first duty is to welcome the  foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person.  Persons have the right to immigrate and thus governments must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations. The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.  Public authorities should see that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

The second duty is to secure one's border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good.  Sovereign nations have the right to enforce their laws and all persons must respect the legitimate exercise of this right; Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption.  Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

Catholic Catechism 2241

For more information on the Church's position on Immigration and Movement of Peoples, Click Here