Dorothy Decker’s life revolved around the Shrine of the Little Flower when she was growing up in East Baltimore in the 1950s.
As a student, Decker walked to its parish school from home, attending classes led by the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia. She sang in the girls’ choir and attended Masses crowded with people. She also remembers spectacular parish drum corps performances, CYO events and a seemingly endless platoon of altar servers.
“There was always something going on,” Decker marveled. “Everything happened at the parish.”
Much has changed in the last few decades. With demographic shifts that have drawn many Catholics away from the neighborhood, the number of parishioners has dropped significantly – now down to 500 registered families. The school closed in 2005.
Despite the transformation, a strong sense of community has thrived. In fact, Father Michael Orchik, pastor, believes the smaller size of the parish has fostered an even tighter bond among Little Flower parishioners.
“There’s always been a closeness here,” said Father Orchik, who has led the parish for nearly two decades, “but that’s even more so today. Though it has grown smaller, it has become even more closely united.”
Part of the secret of that unity may lie in devotion to St. Thérèse de Lisieux, the parish’s patron saint. Parishioners have long studied the teachings of the French saint, a 19th-century Carmelite nun popularly known as the “Little Flower.” Parishioners observed St. Thérèse’s Oct. 1 feast day with a special Oct. 2 Mass that had been preceded by a nine-day novena. A sanctuary shrine to the saint was surrounded with flickering votive candles and flowers.
“Her emphasis of doing the so-called ordinary things of life with extraordinary love and devotion really appeals to these people,” Father Orchik said. “Most of them are people who do things that the world considers ordinary. They are very good people and very faithful to the church.”
The pastor said he was impressed by an active alumni association that sponsors events such as a popular bull roast. Many members were on hand for the feast-day celebration.
“It’s been very encouraging to have the alumni come back and join us,” he said. “They are very fond of their experience here. They love to talk about it and renew acquaintances.” Little Flower has a reputation for excellent music ministry and pro-life outreach. There is an active branch of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the parish also sponsors an extensive outreach to the poor. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides support for food, rent, utilities, transportation and medical expenses. Little Flower parishioners have volunteered monthly at Our Daily Bread ever since the soup kitchen opened in 1981.
The parish is stepping up its evangelization. The Legion of Mary organizes a door-to-door campaign, distributing pictures of Christ with the parish’s Mass schedule. Evangelization cards are located at the church exits.
“We are trying to get them to consider inviting people back to church,” Father Orchik said.
Decker, whose three children also attended the parish school, said Little Flower has a special spirit that makes it “one big family.”
“It’s a very tight-knit community,” she said. “I feel like I’m home when I’m there.”
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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