Our 75th Anniversary celebration was celebrated while Father Mike was in residence. In 75 years our church had gone from Glenarden to zip codes of Landover and now Largo. During this time the parish continued to expand and new ministries were formed like the Bereavement Ministry and the Good Samaritans Ministry.
For the first time a teen was elected to the Parish Council. Another first was the appointment of a part time youth minister, Arthur Wynn, to coordinate the activities of our teens. About once a month Father Mike began a listening session for those youth who had been confirmed with a Sunday evening Mass followed by discussion with volunteers Pat Arzuaga, William (Bill) Hopkins and Althea Holland.
More and more members joined ministries already started like the Knights, the Ladies Auxiliary of St. John No. 14, Sodality, and the Children’s Liturgy of the Word. A children’s choir was formed with the assistance of Mrs. Vernellle Fletcher and pianist Arthur Wynn. St. Joseph was growing with more and more people joining the church.
In 2001 we said goodbye to Father Michael King who was transferred to St. Columba in Oxon Hill. We will always remember what he did for St. Joseph Church. Thank you, Father Mike.