Where were you, when you learned that the Church was on fire? If you were a parishioner of St. Peter’s in Libertytown on Thursday, June 3, 2004, you can probably reply without hesitation. It was lunchtime. The roofers were eating their lunch in the cemetery adjoining the Church. They had been putting the finishing touches on the metal roof before the scaffolding would be removed. A passerby saw the flames, fanned by a gentle breeze, and stopped at the Parish office to alert them that their church was on fire. When units from the Libertytown Fire Company arrived, they immediately saw heavy fire conditions in the Church, which drew 26 fire companies and more than 100 firefighters from 3 counties (and Fort Dietrick) to this 5-alarm fire. Fr. John Dietzenbach, soon to be transferred to a new parish, was in the rectory. Thursday was his day off – to relax! Receiving a call from Priscilla Spielman in the Parish office, Fr. rushed to the sacristy. He was able to recover the Eucharist,

Just over a century ago, without benefit of Google or digital scanners, St. Peter’s pastor Fr. Samuel Kavanagh was having trouble piecing together a key moment in St. Peter’s history. As the parish was nearing the centennial of its founding, Fr. Kavanagh was looking for information about the beginnings of the second church, the cornerstone of which was laid on May 23, 1869. Alas, “there [was] no history or account of the church here” according to one of his letters in 1921. He had written to the Jesuits who ministered to our parish in its early years, but came up dry. While looking for something else, he accidentally stumbled upon Archbishop Marechal’s diary recounting the dedication of our first church in 1823. But the history of a half-century later, when the second church was built just a few years after Libertytown’s streets had been filled with Civil War soldiers passing though, was elusive. Fr. Kavanagh noted that after “much trouble” he identified that the building of our s

Receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time has always been a milestone in the faith journey of a Catholic, whether - adult or child. Nearly 200 years ago, just months after the consecration of our first church, Fr. McElroy held a three day “preparatory retreat” for thirty future first communicants. Two days later on March 25, 1824, seventeen first communicants, five of whom were converts, celebrated their First Holy Communion. [1]     Almost 100 years later, on Christmas Day in 1915, Fr. Kavanagh gave young girls and boys – and at least one adult – 24-year-old William Bunke, their First Holy Communion. The Frederick papers reported that Mary Angela Sappington dedicated “… a few lines to the little girls and boys who were instructed by Rev. Fr. S. J. Kavana[u]gh for their First Holy Communion at the mid-night mass…” Today, First Holy Communions are generally held in the Spring - in April or May, and celebrating First Holy Communion at Saint Peter’s has continued

Father Stephen J. Chylinski was born on October 29, 1897, in Baltimore, Maryland. Graduating from Loyola High School and Loyola College, he began his studies for the priesthood at Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He thereafter transferred to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained on June 14, 1928, by Archbishop Michael J. Curley. His first assignment was to Holy Rosary Church in Baltimore. Father Stephen J. Chylinski was transferred from All Saints Church, Baltimore, to St. Peter’s Church in Libertytown as pastor, to be effective July 12, 1946. Shortly after his arrival at St. Peter’s, he was present at the picnic and tournament held at Pine Mountain Park on Wednesday, August 7, which was the largest in several years, and included the first jousting tournament held in several years. This event also celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the parish in 1821. Hundreds of people lined up for the lunch and dinner meals. Fr. Michae

St. Peter's Church is celebrating its 200th anniversary but the current Flower Ministry of St. Peter's is only 15 years young! As far as can be determined, beautifying the church altar and sanctuary in years past was mainly voluntary and occurred mostly on special holy days, such as Easter and Christmas. Minutes from the Ladies Club dating back to 1977 reflect that that various members from the Club would take responsibility for ‘beautifying’ the altar from time to time. During Fr. Gene Nichols’ pastorate (1984-1992), the late Rita Scaglioni volunteered to make floral arrangements for the altar on a more regular weekly basis. Parishioner Diane Rolfs related a story about Rita approaching Fr. Gene with a request for $10 a week to help with the cost of the flowers. Not surprisingly, Fr. Gene agreed to a much larger amount! Before that time, Sebastian Grabenstein who joined the parish in 1948,  and who just passed away a month ago at the age of 106 ,   took a great interest