Mission Statement
We, the Church of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, in the Rosedale neighborhood of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, are messengers of the Word of God. Through our celebration of the Eucharist and public prayer, we live out the faith that has been entrusted to us. That faith calls us to build up the Body of Christ present in our neighborhood.
History
In the late 1900s it was estimated that about 400 Catholics lived in the area known as Rosedale, mostly of German and Bohemian descent. Two options for Mass existed for these farming families: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Highlandtown, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Gardenville. By the 1920s the growing Catholic population desired their own parish, and in 1923 a large fund-raising effort began to build a church. In 1924 three acres of land were acquired between Old Philadelphia Road and Pulaski Highway, and by November of that year a foundation was laid for a church building. The church was completed at a cost of $26,000, and dedicated in 1925. It was designated as a mission of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, and given the title of the Redemptorist saint, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer. Fr. Philip Holtman, C.Ss.R. served the mission as its priest.
In 1932 the School opened, staffed by 4 Sisters of St. Francis from Glen Riddle, PA, and a convent was built. All this led to a parish debt and when the first resident pastor, Fr. Joseph Curran, arrived in 1933 there was interest due that very day. Fr. Curran occupied a bedroom in the church attic, and an office in the basement, until the rectory was built in 1939. In the years that followed the parish continued to grow with the Rosedale neighborhood. New parish organizations were established, and each of the buildings was extended. These decades also saw a number of religious and priestly vocations from the parish.
Upon the sudden death of Fr. Raymond Zorbach in 1994, the parish was placed under the administration of the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the St. Anthony of Padua Province.
Today, St. Clement Parish serves a diversified faith community of some 1,300 families, with descendants of the first parish families, and families new to Rosedale from elsewhere in the United States and around the world. Fostering a family spirit, the parish continues a tradition of generosity that reaches out through ministries like the Good Samaritans and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The church narthex, added in 2008, provides additional gathering space and a new handicap lift.
In 2009, honoring the 100th anniversary of the canonization of their patron, a young baker who became a priest, St. Clement Parish has taken as a theme for its life and ministry “Be Bread for the World.”
Our Patron
St. Clement Hofbauer was born in 1751 in Moravia, in Central Europe (today part of the Czech Republic), the ninth of 12 children of a poor family. While he dreamed of becoming a priest from an early age, he was apprenticed to a baker. Later, working as a baker in a monastery he was able to begin his schooling. However, the monastery was closed by the emperor, Joseph II, and Clement had to seek work elsewhere. A chance meeting with two wealthy ladies outside St. Stephen Cathedral in Vienna led to their sponsoring him in the seminary. Traveling to Rome with a friend, Thaddeus, both men were drawn to the Redemptorists, the community they entered. They were ordained together in 1785.
Following ordination the two young Redemptorists were sent back to Vienna, but religious difficulties there led them to Poland. There they ministered to German-speaking Catholics, as well as to the native Poles. Clement and Thaddeus also worked among the poor, founding an orphanage and a school for boys.
Attracting vocations, the Redemptorist community grew in Poland, and eventually sent men to Germany and Switzerland. However, political and religious tensions led to their expulsion, and after two imprisonments Clement made his way back to Austria, becoming “the apostle of Vienna.” In Vienna he spent the last 12 years of his life, hearing confessions, visiting the sick, and eventually establishing a Catholic college. When he died in 1820 the Redemptorists were firmly established north of the Alps, a reason why Clement is sometimes called the “second founder” of his congregation.
Despite many adversities St. Clement persevered in proclaiming the Gospel to all who would listen, while ministering to all who had special needs. Each time he was forced to begin anew, fresh possibilities seemed to open for him. St. Clement was canonized by Pope St. Pius X in 1909.
Stewardship
Parishioners are asked to support the Parish through their sharing of time, talent and treasure. It is in this way that we form a true community, and meet the needs and obligations of our Parish.
Time: Time is the first gift we offer when we come together, in worship, in outreach, and in socializing.
Talent: Each of us has talents, and together so much is accomplished through their use. From musicians to the Maintenance Committee, from teaching in the Religious Education program to arranging community-building events, we help our parish serve all who come to it.
Treasure: A gift of treasure to St. Clement Church supports the operating budget of our own faith community. The parish offertory is a first gift or tithe which goes to pay the day-to-day operating expenses of the parish. An offering is taken during each of the weekend Masses. If you would like Offertory envelopes and are not currently receiving them, please contact the Parish Office (410-686-6188).
The Archbishop's Annual Appeal, on the other hand, is a once-a-year opportunity for Catholics in all parishes to join together in support of the many ministries and programs of the archdiocese.
Special collections throughout the course of the year afford us the opportunity to assist special programs and needs as our interest and resources permit.
May God bless you in your generous support.
Our Staff
Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv., Pastor
frdonald@stclementmh.org
410-686-6188
Fr. Tom Walsh, OFM Conv., In Residence
frtom@stclementmh.org
410-686-6188
Fr. Berard Dudek, OFM Conv., In Residence
frberard@stclementmh.org
410-686-6188
Deacon Nicholas Feurer, Pastoral Associate
NEF22836@comcast.net
410-686-6188
Deacon Frank Zeiler
fzeiler@archbalt.org
410-686-6188
Mrs. Patricia Wagner, Director of Religious Education
pwagner@archbalt.org
410-391-5028
Mrs. Janet Laumann, Parish Secretary
parishoffice@stclementmh.org
410-686-6188
Mrs. Janet Gross, Parish/School Bookkeeper
janet_stclementmh@yahoo.com
410-686-6188
Mr. Christopher Henry, Director of Music Ministry
ckhenry1@verizon.net
410-686-6188
Ms. Pamela Walters, School Principal
principalrand@stclemmh.org
410-686-3316
Mrs. Kathy Oliver, Youth Minister
mrskathyoliver@gmail.com
716-440-5620