Feast Of The Ascension

Brothers and Sisters,

We celebrate this Sunday the feast of the Ascension, when we recall how after Our Lord had appeared to His disciples for 40 days after His Resurrection, He ascended into heaven. The reason today’s feast is so important is that we are recalling that all of the recent events in Jesus’ life have not only happened but that they were shown to us, shown to us that we might know about it, believe it, and place our hope in it. Jesus endured these events so that we would walk in His footsteps. By walking in His footsteps, we take up and continue His mission in the world. And Jesus is indeed with us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark (Mk 16:15-20), we learn that our union with Jesus is expressed in practical ways: driving out demons, communicating in new languages, protection from harm (both external and internal), and healing of the sick, by laying on of hands. These things will happen not because of our ingenuity or strength, but because of Jesus’ presence and power. The real point of listing out these practical ways or signs is to communicate to us that with faith in Christ, we can do what is impossible for a person without faith. We who believe deeply now become Jesus’ mouth for preaching, His hands for healing, His eyes for seeing, and His feet for walking. We have been given a mission. We must evangelize with our words and with our deeds, through our sufferings and our complete offering of service to others just as Jesus did. May we always be open to the Lord working in our life and live as though we are on a mission.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Happy Mother’s Day!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and maternal figures in our lives. You are a blessing to all of us!

I wanted to let everyone know that Melissa Boyle has accepted a new position as a Theology teacher at Archbishop Spalding High School for this upcoming academic year. Melissa’s last day with us at St Jane Frances will be July 31st. I am very grateful for Melissa’s dedication and service to our parish and pastorate over the past five years. She will be missed.

Our pastorate is planning to fill Melissa’s position with a part-time Coordinator of Children’s Faith Formation to oversee our programs for children ages Pre K–5th Grade and a full time Youth Minister to work with our Pastorate’s Middle School, High School, and Young Adults faith formation programs in close collaboration with Tim Janiszewski from OLC. Diana Healy will be making some adjustments to her time commitments due to more constraints with family circumstances, and plans to continue offering her support to our middle school activities as her time allows.

These positions have been posted on the Archdiocesan website. We are hoping to complete the hiring process by the end of June. In the meantime, please keep our parishes and pastorate in your prayers—that the Lord will bless us with lay ministers who can continue to help us serve and evangelize our pastorate community.

God Bless,
Father Steve

Did Jesus Ordain The Apostles As Priests?

“Where in the Bible does Jesus ordain the Apostles as priests?” our non-Catholic Christian friends may ask. In addition to Jesus’ command to the apostles at the Last Supper in Matthew, Mark, and Luke to “Do this in remembrance of me,” John records Jesus ordaining the apostles for priestly service in today’s gospel (Jn 17:11b-19… the gospel optionally transferred from the 7th Sunday of Easter—Ascension). Many biblical scholars submit that, consistent with John’s deep theological insight, John’s recording of Jesus at the Last Supper in the 17th chapter of his gospel mirrors the three-part structure of the institution of the Day of Atonement ritual in Leviticus chapter 16:

1. the glorification of God in John 17:1-5, which corresponds to Yahweh’s glorification on the mercy seat in Lev 16:2;
2. the consecration of the apostles in 17:11-19 (today’s gospel), which corresponds to the whole burnt offering for Aaron the high priest and his priest-sons in Lev 16:3-14; and
3. Jesus’ prayer for all who believe in him 17:20-26, which corresponds to the sin offering for all the people in Lev 16:15-16.

The flow and structure of John 17:11–19 culminates in Jesus imploring the Father to sanctify (v.17) and consecrate (v.19) the apostles in truth so as to share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ (see Hebrews chapters 4–9)—both words coming from the Greek hagiazo (holy: divine setting apart by God for sacred use) where (in the Septuagint Greek Old Testament) Yahweh instructs Moses to consecrate (ordain) Aaron as a priest for sacrifice and worship, and to wear a gold signet inscribed with “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36; see also 28:41).

John places the priestly ordination of the apostles as the climax of the Last Supper, the Farewell Discourse, and the High Priestly Prayer (John chapters 14–17), simultaneously fulfilling three high Jewish liturgies: Passover, the Day of Atonement, and the priestly ordination of Aaron and his sons.

My July 1 transfer. For my last Associate Pastor bulletin letter that will appear in June, I will reflect with fond thanksgiving on the two years I’ve served as your associate pastor. For now, let me just say that I have been greatly blessed and honored to be with the many wonderful people and staff of St. Jane’s and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. You welcomed me with open arms and have been patient and loving and supportive toward me. They say that a priest’s heart stays with the people of his first priestly assignment, and that will certainly be true for me. For those who have asked or are wondering: No, I did not request to be transferred—I would have been happy serving here until I retire, as I’ve told Fr. Steve and other priests! It’s common in our archdiocese for associate pastors to be transferred after 2 or 3 years. I said yes when Archbishop Lori called me and asked me to serve the archdiocese and assist him in a unique way, and I am honored and greatly humbled to be given this opportunity. But I will miss you greatly! Please pray for me as I will continue keeping you in my prayers.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim (Bors)

May: The Month Of Mary

Dear Friends of Pastorate of the Visitation,

If you were not here last weekend, then you may have missed the BIG news. Fr. Jim has been asked by Archbishop Lori to become the Archbishop’s Priest-Secretary. This position is like the personal assistant to the Archbishop and is quite an honor. Fr. Jim has already begun his transition by meeting with the Archbishop’s current Priest-Secretary: Fr. Tyler Kline. His new position takes effect on July 1, 2024. I am very grateful for Fr. Jim’s dedication and service to our Pastorate over the past two years and wish him well at his new assignment. Please keep him in your prayers… he will certainly appreciate them. 

Fr. John Bilenki

Archbishop Lori also announced that Fr. John Bilenki will be coming to our Pastorate as our new Associate Pastor. Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood in 2023 and has been in Rome completing his theological studies. According to an article published in the Catholic Review last year, he is the youngest of four sons of Anthony and Mary Ellen Bilenki. He attended Mount St. Joseph High School and Mount St. Mary’s University. He will be returning to the Archdiocese in late June, so he will be starting with us sometime in early July, after he has time to get settled. Please keep him in your prayers as well, as he completes his studies and begins his priestly ministry with us.

This weekend, we are kicking off our Pastorate’s First Communion celebrations. This Sunday, April 28th, we will be celebrating 12 First Communions at St. Jane Frances at the 11:30am Mass. Next weekend, May 4–5, we will be celebrating 25 First Communions at OLC during the 4:00pm Mass on Saturday, and at the 10:45am (and a special 1:00pm) Masses on Sunday. Please keep our First Communicants in your prayers.

As we all know, May is the month of Mary. Both of our parishes celebrate and honor our Blessed Mother with May Crowning ceremonies. The crowning of the Mary statue in the grotto at St. Jane Frances will take place on Sunday, May 5th, immediately following the 10:00am Mass. The crowning of the Mary statue that will be set up in the vestibule of OLC will take place on Sunday, Mary 12th (Mother’s Day) immediately following the 10:45am Mass. Please plan to join us as we honor our Blessed Mother.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

The Voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd

Dear Parishioners,

Many of the 187 Scripture verses on shepherds or shepherding refer to God as the shepherd of His people, but He also called shepherds and shepherdesses to lead and influence His people, including Abraham, Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Jacob’s sons, Zipporah, Moses, and David.

Guarding the Sheep. At the end of the day, shepherds lead their flocks from pastures through a gate into a stone-fenced area (sheepfold) for protection from wolves. In the morning, the shepherds lead their respective flocks out by calling them through the gate to go back out into the pastures. The sheep of a flock follow the voice of their shepherd they know, but do not follow the voice of strangers.

Voices of Strangers. Many Catholics—and much of society—have left the sheepfold and gone astray by listening to the empty modern voices of relativism, scientism, rationalism, consumerism, individualism, skepticism, narcissism, genderideologyism, etc. I’m astounded at how rapidly our culture is deteriorating and fractioning, because so many people are following these voices which are alien to true human goodness and dignity, to their (and our) ruin.

The Voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd. In today’s gospel (John 10:11-18), Jesus uses the image of the “Good Shepherd” to make an important point to us today. Since there are strange and even dangerous voices in the air, we need to recognize His voice (John 10:16). Fortunately, the voice of the Good Shepherd continues to speak to His sheep through the magisterium of the Church He founded.

“The Church is, accordingly, a sheepfold, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ [John 10:9]. It is also the flock of which God himself foretold that he would be the shepherd, and whose sheep, even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #754

Lost and Found. It’s sad that so many have left the sheepfold of the Catholic Church (some due to no deliberate effort on their part) guarded by Jesus the Good Shepherd. Fortunately, our Pastorate has an Easter Season forum that makes it easy to invite people back (remember “3-in-1”): SEEKERS is for people who feel spiritually disconnected with the Catholic Church who have questions and seek answers in the hope of becoming reconnected with His flock. It’s also for people who are just inquiring about God and/or the Church. At our first of three SEEKERS sessions on April 8, seekers who had been invited by parishioners asked good questions and were given answers that settled their misconceptions about certain Church teachings. I invite you to come and bring other seekers with you to our next two sessions: 

1. April 22 at OLC in the Maryland Suite, and 
2. May 13 at St. Jane’s in the school, Room 111. 

I hope to see many there!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Christ Is Risen!

Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel reading this week describes the disciples’ fearful and anxious situation after the resurrection (Lk 24:35-48). They want to believe but lack confidence and understanding. They experience the sincere joy of seeing Christ resurrected but have not completely overcome their cautious disbelief. The two disciples from Emmaus recount their encounter with the others gathered in the upper room. Then Christ himself appears to them. Yet even when He is right there in front of them in their midst, they are slow to believe. Our Lord’s patient, accepting attitude is encouraging. He speaks His peace into their doubt and uncertainty. He even takes and eats a piece of fish to help them believe. We all have our moments of doubt and unbelief, and our moments of hesitation and inner resistance. We want to believe, but because it implies letting go of false securities, we are slow to fully trust. We need detachment and forgiveness. Christ aids our weakness by his closeness and his presence in our own circumstances. Jesus comes to us in our times of trouble and confusion. As Jesus points out, the scriptures all reveal God’s plan of salvation that was fulfilled through His life, death, and resurrection.

Christ is not a ghost. He is not a figment of their imagination, nor the result of their wishful thinking––something that was too good to be true. Christ is more real than our fears. His grace is stronger than any of our weakness. His mercy is more powerful than our sin, and His love for us conquers even death itself. As the disciples have mixed reactions to his presence, He invites them to trust their senses and reflect in faith. Reflection and contemplation of the scriptures in faith always leads to the truth of Christ. Leading to his peace and love reigning in our life. Because of this, we are His witnesses. Is Christ’s presence and peace alive in your life?

He is risen!!

Hope you have a blessed Easter season.
Deacon Howard

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

We conclude our Octave of Easter this weekend with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. The solemnity of Easter is so important that the Church gives it an eight (octave) day celebration. I would like to thank everyone who worked so tirelessly to make our Holy Week and Easter liturgies so beautiful and powerful, especially our Pastorate’s music ministries who collaborated on several of them, and all who helped with preparing and decorating our churches. I am also grateful to all who participated in the Sacred Triduum this year as we came together as one community of faith. Special thanks also go out to Melissa Boyle and all who assisted with our Pastorate’s RCIA program this past year. And congratulations to all who were baptized, confirmed and received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. May we all continue our Easter proclamation: Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!

Divine Mercy Sunday is a feast day established by Pope St. John Paul II based on the private revelations received by St. Faustina from our Lord, who asked her to spread throughout the world a devotion to His divine mercy. This day reminds us that God’s love and mercy eternally endures and can overcome any sin that separates us from God. We will be hosting Eucharistic Adoration this Sunday between the Masses at both St. Jane Frances (between 8am and 10am) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will also be prayed at this time.

SEEKERS is a program being offered by our Pastorate for people who feel spiritually disconnected with the Catholic Church. Do you or someone you know have questions and are seeking for answers in the hope of becoming reconnected? SEEKERS is also for people who are just inquiring about God and/or the Church. There are three sessions all beginning at 7:00pm: April 8th at St. Jane School, April 22nd at OLC’s Maryland Suite, and May 13th at St. Jane School. For more information, contact Fr. Jim.

Both parishes are in the midst of roof replacement projects and are in the process of raising funds for them. St. Jane Frances is working on Phase 1 to replace the roof over the Parish Hall for about $305,000 and OLC is preparing to begin work on replacing the Church roof and extensive work on the clerestory windows and siding for about $265,000. Donations to both projects are being accepted and are “tax free” from Archdiocesan taxes. Thanks for your support!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers! I certainly remember all of you in my daily prayers as well!

God Bless,
Father Steve