The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced today the creation of a new parish in Anne Arundel County, as the status of Holy Apostles in Gambrills was elevated after five years as an independent mission.
More than 375 families belong to Holy Apostles and nearly 500 students are enrolled in the inter-parish school, which draws children from Odenton, Gambrills, Crofton, Millersville, Edgewater and Davidsonville.
The change in status means Holy Apostles is recognized canonically as a separate parish community, entitling it to its own pastor.
“This is a wonderful, dynamic community – youthful, vigorous and committed to serving others. We hope to continue building up the Body of Christ and serving the Lord with joy in the years to come,” said Fr. Michael Callaghan, pastor of Holy Apostles.
In West Baltimore, the Tri-Parish Catholic Community of St. Jerome, St. Martin, and St. Peter the Apostle have agreed to come together to form one parish, the Church of the Transfiguration. With more than 900 families comprising the new parish, all three churches will continue to be used to celebrate Mass. The change means that the parish will operate as one canonical and corporate entity, streamlining both management and the pastoral development of the parish’s care programs.
“The pastoral and lay leaders, as well as the parishioners of the three parishes were able to surrender proprietary notions of church and faith to arrive together at a newer, more effective way of living out their baptismal call. I am very proud of their work and see it as a model of collaboration for other communities,” Bishop Gordon D. Bennett, S.J. said.
The Church of the Transfiguration will be formally renamed at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal William H. Keeler on August 29 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Martin’s.
For more information on Holy Apostles, visit www.holyapostlesmd.org, or call 410-519-2291.