Ascension catholic church bowie md8/26/2023 ![]() In 1939, Ascension Parish in Bowie, MD took over the administration. The population of the mission had grown so much that Holy Family was given resident parish status in 1938. ![]() This area included the Holy Family Mission. Reggie Butler so as to assure that they received Catholic instruction.”Īrchbishop Curley of Baltimore and Washington apportioned about 50 square miles to the east of the Nation’s Capital to the care of the Josephites. The children were transported by a bus driven by Mr. Earl Proctor made routine visits to Washington, DC to pick up the brothers from the seminary and the nuns from the convent to help teach Sunday school. The work was done by carpenter named Clark and my two cousins James and Snowden (parishioners who lived near the church). John built the old hall (torn down and now replaced) and the rectory. We have this testimony from the Veronica Fletcher: “The priests lived in the attic of the church because there was no rectory. Matthew is today a Masonic lodge on Church Road. Matthew in Collington and Our Lady of Angels. In later years, two small mission chapels were established by Father Albert for those who lived some distance away: St. The church was heated by coal with “potbelly” stoves. During these horse-and-buggy days, many parishioners walked long distances in extreme weather and along rough roads for services. Given that most of the parishioners were poor farmers living in a rural area, transportation to and from church was always an issue. Many of the families who still attend Holy Family today were these helpers of old. Parishioners operated regular fundraisers to maintain the church and farmers donated chickens and vegetables for picnic dinners. The parish had little in monetary resources, but it had generous parishioners who shared what they had. ![]() The priest would sometimes stay overnight in the small attic over the church sacristy. The Jesuits (as circuit riders) tended to the weekly spiritual needs of local black tenant farmers in Mitchellville, MD. The members of the Mitchell family were buried in the cemetery there. The Mitchells were the primary members or our first family. Holy Family began as a mission church in 1890 with the mother church being White Marsh (Sacred Heart) in Collington (now Bowie, MD). The donors had their names placed on the windows. Once constructed the more affluent parishes nearby donated pews, a bell, and windows. cornerstone was laid which began the construction of the Holy Family Mission. The land for the church was given by Isaac and Willie Ann Wood to Archbishop James Gibbons of Baltimore on June 8, 1889. Lacking the big machinery of today, their primary tools for building were hammer, saw, pick and shovel. Isaac had his own farm and hired help to assist him in digging the foundation for the church. During the late 1800’s, Isaac Mitchell began the building of the foundation of what would become Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchellville, MD. She was the granddaughter of Isaac and Henrietta Mitchell. She was also active member of our Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. While she was a long-time parishioner of Holy Family Parish, the large number of mourners necessitated having the funeral at nearby St. Veronica Aristine Fletcher passed away on Januat her home.
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