"It proves that our church is a universal church," the Seat Pleasant resident said. "Catholic means universal. It proves that wherever you go to a Catholic church it's the same."
The latest change coincides with the celebration of 100 years serving the Seat Pleasant and Capitol Heights communities this year.
Betty Brooks and Janice Stewart, both of Bowie and formerly of Seat Pleasant, are on the church centennial committee responsible for planning events all year.
Brooks, 66, said the church has already held events such as a gospel praise and worship service and joint picnic with Church of the Incarnation, based out of Washington, D.C.
On Saturday, the church held a Jazz Tea for senior members to enjoy live jazz music and socialize. The next planned event is a multicultural celebration Sept. 13 through Sept. 15. The final centennial event will be a gala and auction held at Greenbelt's Martin's Crosswinds Nov. 15.
The church has stood just above the intersection of Addison Road and Central Avenue for 53 years, but its roots are planted further down Addison Road in the city of Seat Pleasant.
The original church opened Jan. 19, 1908, at 6020 Addison Road as a response to a growing need for Catholic services in the Capitol Heights and Seat Pleasant area. Until the church was erected, residents used street cars to travel to Washington, D.C., parishes on Sunday mornings.
Father Charles M. Bart of St. Teresa's Catholic Church in D.C. came up with the idea for a new church in 1907 and sought the help of contractor and Seat Pleasant resident Francis Carmody —which Carmody Hills is named for—to help build it. The name, St. Margaret's, was in honor of Carmody's mother, Margaret.
A second church, St. Matthias, was built in 1910 on Nova Avenue in Capitol Heights to deal with the overflow from St. Margaret's as the church grew until the current church and former school at 410 Addison Road S. was built in 1955. When St. Margaret's expanded again, additional services moved to St. Matthias in 1963 until St. Matthias finally closed its doors in 2003. The old church at 6020 Addison Road is now Mount Victory Baptist Church.
Brooks said as the community has changed, so have church demographics. Hawkins said not nearly as many Catholics live in Seat Pleasant as they did when she first began attending in the 1960s. Members come as far away as Clinton, Upper Marlboro and St. Mary's or Charles counties to attend services. Brooks said changes were evident in the church school student body since many were non-Catholic children.
Brooks chaired the Lazarus Committee, a bereavement group, and was active in the Home and Schools Association. All three of her children and her three grandchildren attended the school in the 1970s and the 1990s. The Archdiocese of Washington closed the school in June 2007 because of a financial deficit and low enrollment. The church day care, which has existed for more than 40 years, remained.
"In the older days you had nuns and the expense wasn't as much, but when you have lay people working here, you have salaries," Brooks said.
Hawkins was a teacher's assistant at the church school from 1997 through 1999, helping with an advanced reading group of third- and fourth-graders following a stint of 31 years in the county's public schools. Hawkins said her biggest joy was helping give toys and food to the community for a drive held around Christmas time.
Hawkins is one of the church's original Marriage Prep Growth counselors, along with her husband, James Hawkins, who taught young couples "how to share, how to give love and to respect each other" before taking the next big step. The program began in 1984 and continues today.
"I've done it all except for singing," Anne Hawkins said. "That was not my bag. And they did not ask me."
However, Stewart, 68, could add singing to her repertoire of church activities. A 43-year member, she joined Lady Sodality, the church women's group, the Lazarus Committee and was part of the group which started the church's first newsletter, "News and Views," in 1996. She also helped direct annual fashion shows and three plays.
"I grew up in the church helping when I was 5 years old," Stewart said. "I just never stopped from that time on."
E-mail Natalie McGill at nmcgill@gazette.net.
