Scroll down to learn more about volunteering in liturgical ministries or parish programs. To learn about St. Mary's efforts to serve those in need, please see our bulletin. We also have ongoing and long-standing projects. Examples include:

Gabriel Project Donations and Volunteering
Bring baby supplies to the crib inside the main church. This runs all year long! Other Gabriel Project opportunities include mentoring parents, organizing events, and prayer. Please see the bulletin or the Montgomery County Gabriel Project website for details.

Cooking Dinner for New Leaf Shelter
St. Mary’s sponsors one dinner meal a month to the New Leaf Shelter (formerly named the Dorothy Day Shelter) on the first Monday of each month. Several volunteers are needed to provide the main protein (chicken/ beef/vegetarian), rice and/or potatoes, salad and a dessert. Some volunteers are needed to deliver the meals by 5pm on Mondays.

 New Leaf is a low-barrier, 30 bed emergency shelter serving homeless adults in the Rockville area. Please contact Mary McCormick through the rectory if you are interested in helping to serve this ministry.

Make a meal for the Stepping Stones Family Shelter in Rockville, MD.

Donating Eye Gently Used Glasses and Hearing Aids
St. Mary’s Church is a drop off point of the Lions Club for gently used eyeglasses and hearing aids. You’ll find the collection boxes near two exits of the church. The donations received assist individuals in need both locally and internationally.

Catholic Charities
Many of our parishioners volunteer for projects across the DC area with Catholic Charities. Learn more about volunteer opportunities HERE.

Thanksgiving Day Baskets
We have a yearly collection of food and monetary donations to go to the City of Rockville programs. Collection boxes will be in church several weeks before Thanksgiving.

Annual Greg Gannon Food Drive
We collected roughly 10,000 canned items for each of the last 3 years going to local food organizations: Manna, Rockville Help/FISH, Germantown Help, Interfaith Works, Nourish Now, National Center for Children and Families, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Shepard’s Table, New Leaf Shelter, Rainbow Place and St. Martin’s Pantry.

St. Mary’s Scouts
St Mary's Boy and Girl Scouts coordinate food pickups Rockville FISH, clothing drives, and other service activities.

Advent Giving Tree
Each year, we coordinate parishioners' contributions and help several organizations provide Christmas gifts for those in need.

Past Projects
If you are looking for more opportunities, consider some of our past projects that you could help start again. We have had parishioners collect food for Bethesda Nourish Now, cook and deliver meals to shelters, and provide blood pressure screenings for parishioners after Sunday Masses as part of a coordinated health ministry.

Help in a liturgical ministry as a lector, choir member, usher, altar server, extraodinary minister of the Eucharist, and more

Help our faith formation programs for children, teens, and families

Help others expore the Faith and become Catholic

Hospitality help. Call the rectory to sign up to help with parish events

Become a short-term volunteer. You will receive an email when the parish needs one-time help, often with mailings and event set up, and you can sign up as you are able.

If you would like to begin and lead a service initiative, please contact our Social Concerns representative, Mary McCormick, [email protected]. Thank you!