And so, the seed was planted. The idea of celebrating the Divine Liturgy on a fairly regular basis for these families, with the hope that others of the Byzantine Rite would also avail themselves of this opportunity, began to take root. The news went out that at the invitation of the Passionist Fathers of St. Joseph’s Monastery in Catonsville, a "Byzantine Mass" would be celebrated on Sunday, October 2, 1966. On that first Sunday in October, six families came to sing the praises of God. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of these people nor the dream of the priest that in the state and city dedicated to Mary, there should be a church of the Slav-Byzantine Rite dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.

The "founders" spread the word and it was announced through the news media that plans would be made to celebrate the Divine Liturgy every Sunday if enough interest were shown. On December 25, 1966, the first Christmas Liturgy was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Monastery, our first "home." On that day it was also announced that Bishop Stephen J. Kochisko had given his blessing to this "mission project" and furthermore, beginning with the first Sunday in January, 1967, there would be a Divine Liturgy celebrated each Sunday and Holy Day for the fledgling community.

Due to retreat activities at the Monastery and difficulty in scheduling the liturgical services, it was decided to look for another ‘home." The Polish Sisters of St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, Tugwell Lane, Catonsville, graciously offered their chapel. On June 9,1968, another "first" took place with Liturgy being celebrated there.

As the parish continued to grow, it soon became apparent that the Nursing Home Chapel was too small for the growing community, and at the invitation of Father Scally of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, their old church in Woodlawn became our "third home" on June 1, 1969.

The pastor and congregation had been petitioning His Excellency, Bishop Dudick, to accede to our request that the mission church be given a formal name. Since we were located in the state of "Mary’s land" and since our very first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on October 2, 1966, the name Protection or Patronage was suggested. On February 22, 1969, Bishop Dudick officially placed the community under the title, Patronage of the Mother of God. With the naming of the church, a special grace seemed to descend upon the faithful.

Providentially, on Tuesday of Holy Week, 1972, news was received that Nativity Lutheran Church in Arbutus was considering the sale of their church. On April 17, 1972, a standard contract of sale was signed for the purchase of Holy Nativity. At the invitation of the pastor of Nativity, the Byzantines and Lutherans began sharing the church. This unique situation of the two communities sharing the same building was a source of amazement and admiration. On January 30, 1973, the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, settlement was made in the presence of the councils and committees of both churches, but, due to delays in the .construction of the new Nativity, the Byzantines were not able to "take over" the church until the first Sunday of March, 1973. The church was formally dedicated on October 7, 1973.

Prime concern was to make the interior of the church as liturgically suitable and artistically beautiful as possible. With the installation of the icon screen, altars and baldachino, the sanctuary was transformed to a setting of dignified elegance so very indicative of the Byzantine spirit.

The seed planted in early 1966 is now a young tree. The foundation is firmly rooted. The proof of its worth will be how Patronage Parish continues to reach up to the Sun and continue to spread the fresh green spirit of its influential foliage to all.

From its small beginning of six families, the Parish has grown with Missions at Riverside (1984; relocated to Abingdon) and Hagerstown, Maryland. The word of our Byzantine tradition continues to spread. A sense of community and liturgical life have been key factors in our growth.