A 'people's church,' Resurrection of Our Lord celebrates 50 years

A church that grew up with Maryland City will celebrate its golden anniversary in a big way on Sept. 20. Parishioners and clergy at Resurrection of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church have planned an afternoon Mass followed by a semiformal gala at Laurel Park that evening.

In his first visit to the parish since being appointed archbishop, the Most Reverend William E. Lori, of Baltimore, will be the main celebrant at the Mass. The Rev. Mark Bialek, senior pastor at Resurrection, said he and other priests who have or currently serve the parish will assist.

"I think the anniversary celebration is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of the parish as well as a springboard to a very bright future proclaiming the joy of the Gospel," Bialek said.

Michael Robertazzi, one of the church's longest-standing members and a National Security Agency retiree, said that Resurrection has been a "people's church" since its unique beginning.

In the early 1960s, the parish existed only in the hearts and minds of a small group of determined Catholics living in what the Maryland City Corp. had begun developing as "Meade City."

"Most of the people moving to Maryland City worked at NSA and that's why they settled there," said Corrine Mohnasky, a 35-year church veteran and chairwoman of the Anniversary Planning Committee.

At that time, the closest Roman Catholic churches were St. Mary of the Mills in Old Town and St. Nicholas on Contee Road, under the Archdiocese of Washington; and St. Lawrence Martyr in Jessup, under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Lacking a home parish, they organized as the Catholic Community of Maryland City and began meeting at the Laurel Shopping Center's movie theater and worshipping in private homes.

Ray Syzperski another founding member who, like Robertazzi, retired from NSA said that Walt Smallets served as chairman of the original Finance Committee and led the early fundraising.

"The reason we picked him was because he was chief of finance at NSA," said Syzperski.

In 1963, the Rev. E. Gerard Huesman, pastor of St. Lawrence Martyr, agreed to serve as the Catholic Community's spiritual adviser and began celebrating Sunday Mass at the Daily Double Bingo Hall on Route 198, fondly known as "St. Bingo's" or, spelled in reverse, "St. Ognib's."

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A 'people's church,' Resurrection of Our Lord celebrates 50 years