BAYNESVILLE – The word that keeps coming to the forefront to describe Immaculate Heart of Mary parish is “vibrant.”
If a parish could truly say it has “something to offer for everyone,” it is Immaculate Heart of Mary. Located in a unique spot as the first Roman Catholic church outside the city in the busy Loch Raven Boulevard corridor, it’s also a stone’s throw away from Cromwell Valley Park and the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed.
If its location didn’t make it stand out enough, the diversity of its ministries does. IHM offers everything from a bustling school to a top-flight music program to active adult and youth sports activities. The parish has more than 1,200 registered families and its school has an enrollment of nearly 350 students.
“We have a lot of things going on,” said Thomas J. Bozek, the parish music and liturgy director who is heading the 75th anniversary committee. “It’s such a vibrant place.”
Bozek said recently added adoration and penance services, led by Pastor Father Jeffrey Dauses, have been drawing back Catholics who hadn’t participated in the sacrament of reconciliation for more than 30 years.
He credits the dynamic approaches of Father Dauses and school Principal Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales Susan Louise for the vibrancy of the parish. “Father Dauses is definitely a people’s priest, and Sister Susan has done remarkable things with the school,” Bozek said.
IHM office administrator Donna Bradley, a parishioner for 38 years, also noted the “vibrancy” of the parish and said that Father Dauses’ energy in directing the pastorate that includes St. Thomas More in Northeast Baltimore.
“We are blessed to have Father Jeff’s enthusiasm,” Bradley said. “He’s very dynamic and energetic. We also have a very vibrant school with tremendous leadership, which is an absolute blessing.
“This is truly home for people,” she said. “It’s generational, it’s faith-filled. Having been here so long, you can really see how much our parishioners give to one another. They are a real community and people of faith.”
Father Dauses, who started his fourth year in Baynesville this June, noted the parish’s diversity in playing a role in its vibrancy.
“We have a diversity in ministries and a diversity in population,” he said. “The demographics have changed from when this was one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese. As we reach a significant historic milestone, it’s natural to look back. This parish played a vital role for tens of thousands of worshipers. Just the sheer volume was amazing.
“Things have certainly changed. But we have a very vibrant tenor here, and we’re looking ahead to a very bright and vibrant future. It’s amazing how committed the parishioners are to this parish.”
Immaculate Heart of Mary’s approach that stresses quality over quantity has been a big factor in the stability of the parish that was once one of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s largest congregations in the 1950s and 1960s (in 1961 the average weekend Mass attendance was 7,000), according to Bozek.
“We try to have something for everyone,” Bozek said, “and concentrate on evangelizing one at a time, meeting people where they are. Like so many other places, the demographics have changed, but we’re holding our own thanks in no small part to vibrant liturgies and good preaching. We try to offer a variety in our outreach. Whether it is concerts or athletics, those are the kinds of things that attract people. ”
Immaculate Heart of Mary was established in 1948 on 6.7 acres donated by the Guidera family. Archbishop Francis P. Keough celebrated the first Mass in a 40-foot-by-20-foot grand hall that became IHM’s chapel.
The original chapel seated 60 and was intended to serve 200 people but within a year, IHM had 1,500 parishioners.
The parish opened its 75th anniversary celebration the weekend of Dec. 3-4, 2022, unveiling an anniversary prayer and kicking off a monthly anniversary Mass and monthly activities (https://www.ihmchurchmd.org/about-4). IHM hosted ornament making in December, a breakfast in January, a display of historical memorabilia in February as well as tours of the church, campus buildings and school. The tours included a description of the stained glass windows, pipe organ and other behind-the-scenes places. It also hosted a bus trip to Sight and Sound Theater and has another trip scheduled in November to see the Christmas Show. Plans are also in the works for a pilgrimage and tour of the Cathedral, and other commemorative events, social and religious.
IHM has a “Swag” Committee that is selling various IHM 75th Anniversary garments, and other items, such as a commemorative bottle of wine. A parish picnic was held June 10 and the parish hosted a special concert series that included Irish Tenor Emmet Cahill, a jazz band, the Soldiers Chorus and U.S Army Field Band.
An online presentation of the parish history by long-time parishioners, past religious, a history booklet and more also are planned.
The final event will be a special Mass on Dec. 3, 2023 at noon with Archbishop William E. Lori as celebrant, followed by a gala at Columbus Gardens.
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org
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