Saint Raphael

St. Raphael's is supporting the Fall Bethesda 40 Days for Life campaign https://www.40daysforlife.com/bethesda by praying a rosary on the public sidewalk in front of the late-term abortion facility in Wildwood Medical Center in Bethesda each Saturday after the 9 am Mass. This will run for 6 weeks beginning Saturday, September 26. Please meet in vestibule if you can join us and witness to life.

Beginning Saturday, October 3, we will have Adoration and a rosary for life in the Church right after the 9 am Mass to commemorate Respect for Life Month.

So next week, you can go to Bethesda to pray on the sidewalk or stay right here in Church.

Listen or watch the 11:30AM Sunday Mass on campus and receive Communion outside.  

During the 11:30AM Sunday livestreamed Mass, you may remain in your car in the parking lot and watch the 11:30 livestream on your phone; and at Communion the Eucharistic Ministers will distribute Holy Eucharist outside the front center doors of the church.

There are a number of Masses open in the 2020 Mass intention calendar.  If you would like to request a Mass, first available or specific 2020 date, please call Eileen Kutchak at 240-864-2510 and leave a message or e-mail ekutchak@straphaels.org. Send the stipend to Eileen's attention, in the mail, collection basket, or through the mail slot of the parish office.

In accordance with Archbishop Wilton Gregory's decision (read the whole letter), on June 9 the church building of St. Raphael reopened and the parish resumed much of its normal schedule. 

The Archdiocese has recently issued an update regarding the second phase of reopening. Phase 2 has begun on June 19,2020 and Montgomery County parishes may resume public Mass at 25-30% capacity.  For St. Raphael this means that a maximum of 240 persons may be present at each Mass.

Sunday and weekday Masses are now celebrated publicly but are also live-streamed daily if you are not yet comfortable attending in person. 

To protect everyone's health during the reopening, in accordance with Archdiocesan guidelines, certain steps will still be necessary, including:

• Everyone is to check their temperature before going to Mass.
• Everyone is to wear a face mask while in the church.
• Everyone is to maintain social distancing (6 feet from anyone not in your household), including not sitting in pews that are so marked.
• Gatherings before or after events are not permitted.
• Respect the maximum of 240 persons per Mass.
• Follow the special procedures for Holy Communion.  
• Please bring your own copy of the Missalette.  You can download it here (or click on the menu under News & Events)

The church building is also open for private prayer (enter through the side door by the St. Joseph statue).  (Other buildings remain closed.)

• Confessions on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons (indoors)
• Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday evenings and Thursdays (see Parish calendar to reserve a time via Signup Genius)

Please read Fr. Mike's "Welcome Back" letter for all details.

As you might know, for months parishioners and staff members have been contacted by con artists masquerading as Fr. Salah. The scam that was originally limited to emails has now spread to text messages. Please be aware that this is a fraud. These emails and text messages are NOT coming from Fr. Mike.  Do not reply to these solicitations to avoid falling victim to these scammers.