St. Agnes Catholic Church

06/09/2026

This past Sunday, two of our parishioners, Teace and Veronica, traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Feast of Corpus Christi Procession for Immigrants. Walking from the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Columbia Heights to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle near Dupont Circle, they proudly represented St. Agnes in support of immigrants, refugees, and human dignity.

The two-hour journey through the city included stops for prayer and words of support. Reflecting on the hot summer day, Teace shared a powerful perspective:

"It was sweltering, but as I walked with mostly immigrants and refugees, I realized this was but a minor discomfort compared to the struggle and suffering they have been through and continue to endure today."

As an added bonus, they also had the opportunity to meet and speak with Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala—who we will be welcoming as our new Bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston soon. He was excited to see St. Agnes parishioners representing his new home diocese.

Thank you, Teace and Veronica for representing St. Agnes in the Procession for Immigrants.

05/28/2026

05/23/2026

"For I was a stranger and you welcomed me." — Matthew 25:35

This weekend, St. Agnes joins parishes across the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in honoring Welcome the Stranger Weekend. As Catholics, our faith calls us to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet—especially immigrants, refugees, and newcomers looking for a safe harbor and a better life.

Hospitality isn't just a polite greeting at the door; it's a Gospel mandate. How can you welcome someone new to our community this week? Let us open our doors and our hearts.

All are welcome to join us for Mass this weekend: Saturday: 5:30 PM or
Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 AM

05/23/2026

Looking to deepen your faith as we near the end of spring?

Join us for this upcoming Adult Faith Formation course, Introduction to Scripture, led by Dr. Rodica Stoicoiu! Whether you are an active catechist or simply an adult looking to grow in your understanding of the Bible and Church Tradition, this class is for you.

🗓️ Start Date: June 1
✨ Cost: FREE! (Tuition and books are generously underwritten by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Office of Evangelization & Catechesis).

Registration is required. Click the link below to learn more and find out how to register.
https://stagnesshepherdstown.org/upcoming-adult-faith-formation-courses/

05/04/2026

Congratulations to the children who made their First Eucharist yesterday.

It was a beautiful and cool Sunday morning as we rejoiced and welcomed Aalyah, Amelia, Catherine, Constantine, Finn, James, Juliet, Lily, Luca, Mateo, Monroe, Sam, and Sawyer to the Lord’s Table for the first time.

May they always know Jesus’ presence and our support.

05/01/2026

Wonderful news for our diocese! Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as the next Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, succeeding Bishop Mark Brennan.

Please join the St. Agnes family in praying for Bishop Brennan with gratitude for his service, and for Bishop-elect Menjivar-Ayala as he prepares to shepherd the Catholics of West Virginia.

04/28/2026

Knights of Columbus Essay Scholarships....

The St. Agnes Council of the Knights of Columbus is again offering four scholarships: two worth $500 for St. Agnes students attending a Catholic high school, and two worth $1,000 for St. Agnes students attending college.

To participate, eligible applicants will complete a brief form and will be provided with an essay subject. The deadline for submissions is May 27, 2026. Send an email to [email protected] to request your application form and essay question. Contributions from parishioners to the St. Agnes Council to help support the scholarship fund would be greatly appreciated.

04/13/2026

Our Holy Father is on the Move — and Our Prayers Are With Him

This morning, Pope Leo XIV departed Rome for an 11-day journey across Africa carrying a message of peace, reconciliation, and care for the poor to some of the fastest-growing Catholic communities in the world.

As many of you know, Fr. Arul has been lifting up prayers over recent weeks for all those suffering from the war in Iran and those who have been touched by conflict. Yesterday, Fr. Arul also brought Pope Leo's Africa journey into our prayers — and it couldn't feel more timely.

Pope Leo has been a bold and unwavering voice for peace. When asked about the Iran war, he has said that God cannot be used to justify war, and that the Kingdom of God knows "no sword, no drone, no vengeance — only dignity, understanding, and forgiveness." His Africa trip, beginning today, is a continuation of that same mission: building bridges across faiths, walking with the poor, and turning the Church's attention toward those the world too often overlooks.

We are proud to stand in solidarity with our Holy Father along with Fr. Arul's call to keep praying — for peace in Iran and war-torn countries, for the people of Africa, and for a world that chooses dialogue over conflict.

🙏 Please keep Pope Leo and all those affected by war in your prayers this week.

04/11/2026

Deepen your faith this spring and REGISTER NOW for this Diocesan sponsored Faith Formation and Catechetical Certification opportunity.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is offering the course Introduction to Prayer, with instructor Dr. Rodica Stoicoiu — and it's completely FREE!

🙏 Introduction to Prayer
A 5-week hybrid course — Wednesdays at 7 PM on Zoom
First meeting: Wednesday, April 15th

"Prayer is inseparable from living."

This beautiful course explores prayer as essential to our lives as Catholic Christians — covering personal and liturgical prayer, prayer as revealed in Sacred Scripture, and the deep connection between prayer and discipleship. It's part of the Level 1 Catechist Certification series through the University of Dayton's VLCFF program.

This course is perfect for:
✅ Volunteer catechists & Catholic school religion teachers
✅ OCIA team members
✅ Anyone wanting to grow deeper in their faith!

Registration is required — spots are limited, so don't wait!

📩 Contact Dr. Rodica Stoicoiu at [email protected] with your name, address, email, and phone number to register.

👉 Learn more: https://stagnesshepherdstown.org/upcoming-adult-faith-formation-courses/

"We are called throughout our lives to turn and return to God." 🕊️