Back to “Sunday” School
Dear Parishioners,
Over the past several months, we have been discerning how Mother Seton Parish can better serve the faith formation and evangelization needs of our parish community. Many of you participated in our parish survey on education and faith formation, sharing what you value about our parish and where you believe greater attention and support are needed. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to participate.
That listening has helped shape the next steps we are now taking together.
One of the great strengths of Mother Seton Parish has long been the generous service of catechists and volunteers who accompany our children and young people in faith. Our sacramental preparation programs, in particular, serve many children and families each year through the two-year preparation processes for First Penance and First Holy Communion and for Confirmation.
At the same time, we heard a desire for greater attention to formation beyond sacramental preparation: accompanying adults entering the Church through OCIA, helping parents raise their children in the faith, engaging youth and young adults, strengthening opportunities for adult formation, and supporting men and women seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ.
Following the resignation of our Director of Faith Formation earlier this summer, this feedback provided an opportunity to look carefully at the structure of our faith formation office and to consider how our staff and resources could better serve both of these needs.
Rather than simply filling an existing position, we restructured the office around two complementary areas of ministry: faith formation for children and sacramental preparation, and evangelization and lifelong formation.
I am now grateful to share with you the people who will help lead this work.
Susan Lea has transitioned into the role of Director of Children’s Faith Formation – Sacramental Preparation. Her experience and dedication will continue to guide our sacramental preparation programs while supporting the catechists and volunteers whose generous service makes this ministry possible.
As of Monday, I am also very pleased to welcome Faustina Wabwire as our new Director of Evangelization.
Faustina comes to Mother Seton Parish with a deep love for the Lord, His Church, and the work of evangelization. A parishioner of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., she has served as Chair of her Parish Pastoral Council, accompanied adults entering the Church through OCIA, led small Christian communities, supported youth and adult faith formation, and helped guide her parish through the Synod process. She has also served for many years as a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Professionally, Faustina has spent more than two decades in leadership focused on public policy, international development, and advocacy for the poor and vulnerable. Her work has included service with Bread for the World and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, testimony before Congress, and teaching at the university level. She brings considerable leadership experience together with a heart for parish ministry and a desire to help others encounter Christ and grow as His disciples.
Together, these changes represent something larger than a restructuring of positions. They are part of our continuing effort to listen carefully to the needs of our parish and respond faithfully to what we have heard.
Also, Mary Beth DeLuzio will return in a new role as Pastoral Associate. Mary Beth brings with her a deep knowledge of Mother Seton Parish, its people, and its ministries. Working from the Parish Office, she will assist with many of our pastoral ministries and continue to be a familiar and welcoming presence for our parishioners.
Some things will look new, and many things that have served our parish well will continue. Familiar faces will remain alongside new ones. Our catechists and volunteers will continue to be essential partners in this ministry. And children, parents, young people, adults entering the Church, and parishioners seeking to deepen their faith will have people specifically charged with accompanying and supporting them.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey, offered feedback, prayed for our parish, and continues to give so generously of your time and gifts. This has been a process of listening and discernment that we have undertaken together, and I am grateful for the ways the Lord continues to provide for Mother Seton Parish.
Please join me in praying for Sue, Mary Beth, and Faustina as they begin their new roles, and for all those who serve the work of faith formation and evangelization in our parish. May the Lord use each of their gifts—and each of ours—to help more people encounter Him, follow Him, and become His disciples.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Kevin Regan
** Please note that due to Africa Day this coming Sunday at the 12:30 pm Mass, our 5:00 pm Sunday Mass will be in Vietnamese.
Help Us Improve Parish Communications
Our bulletin publisher is transitioning to a new publishing platform because the software we have used for many years is no longer being supported. As we make this necessary change, we’d like to take the opportunity to hear from you. Your feedback will help us improve the parish bulletin, website, email communications (Flocknote), and social media so that we can better serve our parish family. The survey takes about 3–5 minutes to complete.
Everyone who completes the survey may enter a drawing for a $100 Wegmans Gift Card. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
This Sunday, you can pick up a copy of our special edition August Bulletin. This will cover us until September so that we can prepare for our move to a new template with a new publisher. Thanks for your understanding.
Registration for the 2026 – 27 Mother Seton Parish Youth Choir has begun! All boys and girls in grades 3 through 12 are invited to join this fantastic group of young singers. The choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings from September through May. All new and current members should complete the digital enrollment form no later than August 25th.
Questions? Contact our Director of Music, Amy Massey, by email at music@mothersetonparish.org or by phone at 301-924-3838 ext. 215
Después de nuestra reciente encuesta parroquial sobre educación y formación en la fe, hemos estado discerniendo cómo fortalecer nuestros ministerios y responder mejor a las necesidades de nuestra comunidad parroquial. Agradezco a todos los que participaron y compartieron sus opiniones.
Como parte de este proceso, hemos reestructurado nuestra oficina de formación en la fe para prestar mayor atención tanto a la preparación sacramental como a la evangelización y la formación permanente.
Susan servirá como Directora de Formación en la Fe para Niños – Preparación Sacramental, continuando su dedicada labor con nuestros niños y familias y apoyando a nuestros catequistas y voluntarios.
También nos complace dar la bienvenida a Faustina Wabwire como Directora de Evangelización. Faustina aporta una amplia experiencia de liderazgo y ministerio parroquial, incluyendo OCIA, formación de jóvenes y adultos, y pequeñas comunidades cristianas.
Estos cambios son fruto de un proceso compartido de escucha y discernimiento. Acompáñenme en dar la bienvenida a Sue y Faustina y en orar por esta importante labor.
À la suite de notre récent sondage paroissial sur l’éducation et la formation dans la foi, nous avons discerné ensemble la meilleure façon de renforcer nos ministères et de répondre aux besoins de notre communauté paroissiale. Je remercie sincèrement tous ceux qui ont participé et partagé leurs réflexions.
Dans le cadre de cette démarche, nous avons restructuré notre bureau de formation dans la foi afin d’accorder une plus grande attention à la préparation sacramentelle ainsi qu’à l’évangélisation et à la formation permanente.
Susan sera Directrice de la Formation dans la Foi des Enfants – Préparation Sacramentelle, poursuivant son service auprès des enfants et des familles tout en soutenant nos catéchistes et bénévoles.
Nous sommes également heureux d’accueillir Faustina Wabwire comme Directrice de l’Évangélisation. Faustina possède une vaste expérience de leadership et de ministère paroissial, notamment dans l’OCIA, la formation des jeunes et des adultes et les petites communautés chrétiennes.
Ces changements sont le fruit d’une démarche commune d’écoute et de discernement. Accueillons Sue et Faustina dans leurs nouvelles fonctions et prions pour cette importante œuvre.
Sau cuộc khảo sát gần đây của giáo xứ về giáo dục và đào tạo đức tin, chúng ta đã cùng nhau phân định cách thức tốt nhất để củng cố các mục vụ và đáp ứng nhu cầu của cộng đoàn giáo xứ. Tôi chân thành cảm ơn tất cả những ai đã tham gia và chia sẻ ý kiến.
Trong tiến trình này, chúng tôi đã tái cơ cấu Văn phòng Đào tạo Đức tin để chú trọng hơn đến việc chuẩn bị lãnh nhận các Bí tích, cũng như công cuộc loan báo Tin Mừng và đào tạo đức tin suốt đời.
Sue sẽ đảm nhận vai trò Giám đốc Đào tạo Đức tin cho Trẻ em – Chuẩn bị Bí tích, tiếp tục tận tâm phục vụ các em và gia đình, đồng thời hỗ trợ các giáo lý viên và tình nguyện viên.
Chúng ta cũng vui mừng chào đón Faustina Wabwire, Giám đốc Loan báo Tin Mừng. Faustina có nhiều kinh nghiệm lãnh đạo và phục vụ giáo xứ, bao gồm OCIA, đào tạo đức tin cho giới trẻ và người lớn, và các cộng đoàn Kitô hữu nhỏ.
Những thay đổi này là kết quả của việc cùng nhau lắng nghe và phân định. Xin cùng tôi chào đón Sue và Faustina và cầu nguyện cho công việc quan trọng này.