About Us
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Mission Statement
We at St. Elizabeth's have been called together by the Holy Spirit to become a community of God's people as we devote our time and share our talents and treasure to help one another as witnesses to the gospel. Our strength lies in our diversity and common purpose as we welcome all visitors and work together to carry out our mission of devotion to God and stewardship to others in the framework of a Catholic parish community.
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History of St. Elizabeth Church
St. Elizabeth is a Catholic church in Rockville MD. Since its foundation, the parish has served the people of Rockville by providing faithful liturgical services, an outstanding parish school, and a strong sense of social service and outreach. In addition, it has always sought to cooperate with the local area churches, synagogues, and charities. The St. Elizabeth that is our namesake is the mother of John the Baptist.
St. Elizabeth parish was founded in 1964, during the Second Vatican Council. The first Mass in the newly built church was celebrated on Sunday, November 6, 1966. In 1995, the current space was renovated to include more light and openness in the sanctuary, and the large gathering space (the Commons) at the entrance was added.
The founding pastor, Fr. Frederick Bloom, led the parish until early in 1992, when he retired and moved to Frederick. He died in September, 2000. The second pastor, Msgr. John Macfarlane, came to St. Elizabeth's in March 1992 and shepherded the parish through a period of renewal. During his tenure, the population of 810 families in 1992 grew to 1600 families, with many young families returning to the area and to the parish. Msgr. Macfarlane retired in July, 2016, and the third and current pastor, Msgr. J. Wilfrid Parent arrived on July 6, 2016.
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stained glass photo gallery
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