St. Mary's is a vibrant parish. Its 12 clergy members and approximately 15,000 parishioners work to make St. Mary's a place of spiritual renewal and a place of generosity. The parish elementary and high schools serve 1,520 students. Worship is at the heart of the parish as it celebrates 11 Masses each weekend and offers lay members a myriad of ministry opportunities. Many ministries serve St. Mary's youth and young adults, including vacation Bible school, weekly religious education for the little ones, and "Life Teen." Through special liturgies, music, and social groups, Life Teen engages the unique issues and culture that teens encounter. At Riordan's pub, "Theology on Tap" invites young adults in their twenties and thirties to discuss contemporary theological issues. "It really is the upper-room," says Fr. Denis J. Sweeney, C.Ss.R. about the second level pub. "Topics such as the recently published novel The Da Vinci Code draw up to 80 people for an hour and a half of relaxed faith-discussion and fellowship." Among its many spiritual ministries, the parish hosts a 24-hour perpetual adoration chapel frequented by worshippers from grade school moms to college students and retired seniors. St. Mary's also sponsors several regular novenas and "Elijah Cup," a vocations program. Faith-sharing groups have sprung up among parishioners who wish to consider a particular theme, such as the Gospels or Liguorian spirituality. They meet at the parish or in their homes over an extended period to consider these themes in-depth. Community outreach is also important at St. Mary's. The St. Vincent De Paul Program, funded and staffed completely by the parish, is the largest assistance program in the area for the economically disadvantaged. Every week, the program helps 70 to 100 needy people pay their gas, electricity, and food bills; it also provides clothes and overnight shelter. At Christmas, the program delivers 500 boxes of food and children's gifts. At St. Mary's, folks get to know their priests well. As pastor, Fr. Denis notes, "I want to keep our parish intimate and not allow people to feel lost, even though we are a big community. As the faith-community of St. Mary's, I want to make sure our people take ownership in the parish and to know they make a difference, and that the work they do is appreciated." Following in the footsteps of their founder, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Fr. Denis and the Redemptorists community believe that closeness with parishioners allows them to speak to their hearts, not in confusing terms, but in a preaching style that brings the gospel to life in their personal lives. Together, the parishioners and clergy have thought deeply about their spiritual, communal, and educational needs. As a result, they collaboratively designed more than 70 ministries to respond to those needs.