RIDERWOOD COMMUNITY

Riderwood Village Retirement Community and Arbor Ridge lies within the geographic boundaries of Resurrection Parish. Currently, 700 plus Catholics reside there making Catholicism the largest religious population of the total Riderwood community. Fr. John Barry serves as pastor of the dual churches and populations; a religious priest, Fr. Virginus Osuagwu serves as on-site priest for pastoral care. There is a spiritual care office at Riderwood. A large interfaith Chapel serves well for our two Sunday Masses, Wednesday afternoon Mass, and for other liturgies, such as funerals.  The Blessed Sacrament is reposed in a side chapel for 24/7 visits. We also have regular visits and a Wednesday Mass to the Arbor Ridge section (which is by the east gate).

Guests coming in the regular Gracefield Road west gate can ask the guard for parking directions for the chapel. The Chapel is easy to spot at that gate.  The roadway into Riderwood is the same one that the WOA hospital is on, that passes by the Target shopping, crosses Cherry Hill (at a light by the Sunoco) and heads down into the wooded road to the Riderwood Main Gate.

Resurrection parish ministers to the spiritual needs and wants of the Catholics residing in the independent living, assisted care, and skilled nursing settings at the Riderwood Village and Arbor Ridge. A full-time Priest, Fr. Virginus Osuagwu, works with the Riderwood community, as assigned by Resurrection. He has assistance from many volunteers who are residents.  Fr. Barry makes frequent visits, as do other clergy like Fr. Beal, Fr. DeSiano, CP and Deacon Beiberich for liturgies on the weekends.  There is also Confessions and an Adoration Hour monthly with Frs. Barry and Osuagwu and Deacon Beiberich.

Masses at the Chapel: to receive Holy Communion, we ask you to please come up to the front in two lines. Those who are limited in mobility should sit in the front or on the sides by the windows and the priest/EOM will bring Communion to you.

The Riderwood/Resurrection Catholic Community  is an integral part of Resurrection parish in nearby Burtonsville and is served by the priests of that parish. Fr. John Barry is our Pastor.
Fr. Virginus Osuagwu is serving the parish part-time and is the Pastoral Associate at Riderwood. The parish is also served by a permanent deacon, Chuck Bieberich.

We encourage Catholic residents to register and participate with the parish. One does not have to be registered to receive the benefits of ministry from the parish staff and its volunteers.

Eucharistic Liturgy (Mass)

• Sundays: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm in the Chapel
• Wednesdays: 10 am at Arbor Ridge and 3:00 pm in the Chapel
• Holy Days of Obligation & Seasonal Liturgies in the Chapel (check postings for times)

If you are unable to attend Mass in person,

Tune in to Channel 976 for a live broadcast of our masses as they are being celebrated in the chapel. The times will be on Sundays at 9:00 and 2:00 and Wednesdays at 3:00.  We usually make announcements during these masses that may be of interest to those who could not physically make it to the chapel.

Evening Prayer

Join your Catholic Community in praying the ancient prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours. This prayer is offered every Monday at 4:00 pm via Zoom. To join in the prayer, please contact Mary Clarke for instructions. If you are receiving emails through the Catholic Riderwood email group, you will automatically receive a Zoom invitation every Monday morning to join.

The Rosary

Wednesdays following the 3:00 pm Liturgy in the Chapel

Blessed Sacrament

A tabernacle housing the Eucharist is located in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (small room adjacent to the Chapel). The Main & Blessed Sacrament Chapels are open 24 hours a day. you are welcome to make a visit at any time.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered periodically through the year and will be advertised in the Riderwood section Parish Bulletin which can be picked up at any of the Masses.  It will also be announced at our masses.

Wednesday Wisdom is a weekly 2 sided newsletter/flier with a timely spiritual piece on one side and upcoming weekly Catholic news on the other.

There are many opportunities available to Catholic at Riderwood. Among the ministries that would welcome volunteers are:

• Ushers
• Eucharistic Ministers at Mass
• Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick
• Choir
• Lectors

• Audio-visual assistant
• Communion Service
• Altar Society (Sacristan)
• Bereavement Ministry (assist at funerals)

Fr. Virginus Osuagwu is the Riderwood/Resurrection Catholic Community’s Pastoral Associate.  He is an employee of Resurrection Parish with offices located in the pastoral ministries department at Riderwood. You are welcome to call to register, volunteer or make inquires.

Fr. Virginus Osuagwu

Riderwood Pastoral Associate
Email Me
301-572-8439