Faithful Citizenship

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are near the end of the novena (nine days of prayer) for Faithful Citizenship. You can find this novena at https://www.usccb.org/prayers/novena-faithful-citizenship. May these prayers ground us in Christ as we prayerfully prepare for the polls. If you have not already, we are encouraged in these days to have recourse to the document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship https://www.usccb.org/sjp/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship.

It is my prayer in these days that the Holy Spirit gives us a special anointing as faithful citizens. May the places where we vote, the lines we stand in, the votes we cast all become places and instances where the Spirit of the Lord can reign as we seek to witness to the Gospel and the Kingdom in this land that we love. “The Lord of hosts is with us” (Ps 46).

Please pray for our high school youth ministry on their retreat this coming weekend. A heartfelt thanks to Mr. Tim, Mrs. Carrie, their team, as well as our teens – for your generosity with the Lord, with one another, and with our pastorate.

Please pray for me and Fr. Steve and the priests of the Archdiocese who are blessed to be able to gather this week for our annual priest convocation. It will be a time of prayer, fellowship, and continued education that we might more and more be priests for you after Christ’s own Sacred Heart.

Let us remain “rooted and grounded in love” this week (Ephesians 3.17).

Father John

The following is the daily concluding prayer of the above-mentioned novena. It is a prayer composed by Pope Saint John Paul II, imploring the intercession and help of Mary for difficult times:

Immaculate Heart of Mary, help us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today, and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down upon our modern world and seem to block the paths toward the future. From famine and war, deliver us. From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, deliver us. From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us. From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the children of God, deliver us. From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us. From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us. From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us. Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies. Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit [to] conquer all sin: individual sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all its manifestations. Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the infinite saving power of the Redemption: the power of merciful love. May it put a stop to evil. May it transform consciences. May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope. Amen.

Are You Blind?

Brothers and Sisters,

The gospel reading this week (Mk 10:46-52) describes the healing by Jesus of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. So, what does the story of blind Bartimaeus teach us? While we aren’t told the reasons for Bartimaeus’s blindness, how long he endured in this condition, or even where he is from, there is an important lesson his story can teach us.

His story is made up of just a few short verses, but it contains a very powerful message. The message of the story of blind Bartimaeus is about how desperately we need Jesus. And how we shouldn’t let anything hold us back from getting to Him. Not the opinions or voices of others. Nor our reputations or our limitations. Not even our doubts and fears or our pain and suffering. Nothing should get in our way. We should do whatever we can to get to Jesus. Because it is only in His arms that we can find true and everlasting healing.

When Bartimaeus is called by Jesus, it’s interesting how he responds. He throws off his cloak. That cloak represents all of his security and protection against rain, cold, or whatever. It’s pretty much everything he has. He abandons himself totally to Jesus in order to run to him. That is what faith is: abandonment to God. Faith is leaving behind all the things that we want to keep ourselves self-sufficient, leaving behind all the things we want to control but can’t.

So, as we come near to the Lord today, we recognize that we are beggars totally dependent on the mercy of God to make us whole. May we rise then, leaving our powerlessness behind, and run to Him. Giving ourselves totally to His loving care.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Forward In Faith

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel this weekend is the account of James and John, two of Jesus’ Apostles, asking the Lord for special places of honor once the Lord is enthroned in glory. Jesus asked them if they really understand what they are asking, to which they say ‘Yes.’ But they really don’t know, for those places of honor are meant for everyone who is willing to follow Christ to the cross, for the Lord has come to serve and to be served AND to be willing to surrender our earthly lives in order to do so.

All of us are asked by the Lord to follow him in this way—to be ready and able to serve others instead of sitting back and asking others to serve us. At our pastorate parishes, we always have open invitations and opportunities for every one of us to put this model of discipleship into practice—to serve others by being of service to our parishes. Both parishes could benefit from people helping to serve at our Sunday Masses as greeters, ushers, lectors, extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers. Our ranks have thinned out over the years, so we ask you to consider ways the Holy Spirit is prompting you and your family to serve others by serving at Mass.

Another way we can serve our parishes is through the sharing of our gifts through our fall stewardship program called “Forward in Faith.” In the bulletin this weekend, you will find information about how you can serve your parish by helping us maintain our facilities, expand our programs, and support our staff. Unlike the parish of the 1950s, Fr. John and I are not able to minister to two large and active parishes without the assistance of dedicated pastoral and administrative staff. (Actually we have an opening for a part time Administrative Assistant position at OLC.) Your ongoing financial support helps us to maintain our services to our pastorate community, so I ask you to deepen your stewardship by making a commitment to your level of giving over the next year. Thank you!

If you have not used online giving in the past, please consider doing so in the coming year. Both parishes have programs that can facilitate your giving and help keep your commitment consistent, even when you are away for a weekend. Information on how to set up online giving (or update your current level of giving) can be found on the “Forward in Faith” flyer in this weekend’s bulletin.

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

Have We Forgotten Love?

Dear Friends, Peace in Christ!

The Pastorate of the Visitation celebrates one of our saint-siblings this week! On Wednesday, October 16, we remember St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). Margaret Mary was a French religious sister of the Visitation Order, making her a saint-sibling of our Pastorate, the name of which honors both the mystery of the Visitation (Lk 1.39-45) as well as the Visitation sisters who for many years generously served the Catholic Church in Pasadena.

There are many treasures we have inherited from St. Margaret Mary such as (rekindled) devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as the extraordinary revelations she received from the Lord Jesus. This devotion and these revelations came in God’s perfect timing. How so? In Margaret Mary’s historic moment, a spiritual sickness spread broadly which essentially rejected God’s universal love for all humanity. Many people despaired of God’s love for them. The truth of the message of the Sacred Heart – God’s steadfast, merciful love for all; so abundantly clear in Salvation History – proved to be a healing balm for generations to come.

I think we face a similar spiritual struggle today. Can we say with St. John, “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him,” (1 Jn 4:16)? Do we seek to know Him – Love? Have we forgotten Love? Have we given Love a chance? When we look around us, where or in whom do we see what Mother Teresa described: “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat”?

In one revelation, St. Margaret Mary saw the heart of Jesus, pierced and aflame, and heard Jesus say: “Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love.” We need only look to the Holy Eucharist where Love has chosen to be present for you and me, day in and day out, begging us to give Him our hearts that He might give us His in exchange. From our communion with Christ, we are strengthened and enlightened to persevere in showing others they are wanted, loved, cared for, known. Jesus, make our hearts like yours; help us love like you.

Please remember me in your prayers as I make a retreat this week. I hope to see you at Trunk or Treat on Saturday evening, 10/19. Don’t forget to sign up! Also, be sure to mark 10/24 for Brian Boru to do the cooking for you – benefits go towards Winter Relief. More details in the bulletin. God bless you!

In Christ,
Fr. John

Respect Life Month

Dear Friends, Peace in Christ!

“The husband and wife should be similar to the hand and the eye. When the hand hurts, the eyes should be crying. And when the eyes cry, the hand should wipe away the tears.” This image given to us by St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) is poignant in light of this Sunday’s readings which place before us the mystery of marriage and family. May our married couples and their families (as well as those dating and engaged!) continue to grow in love that is selfless, faithful, and merciful.

Every October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. We reflect on the gift of every human life and how to build a culture that defends life from conception to natural death. On a very related note, please be mindful of the guidance given by Archbishop Lori as well as the Maryland Catholic Conference (mdcatholic.org) encouraging Catholics to oppose Question 1 which will appear on our ballots this November. For more information about Respect Life Month, see respectlife.org/celebrate.

October is also devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary. The Rosary is a timeless, simple prayer which helps us meditate on the mysteries of the life of Jesus through the eyes and heart of Mary. The Rosary can be said individually, with family or with friends—whether at the beginning or end of the day, during a car-ride, on a walk; whether it’s a decade or a whole rosary. On the drive from OLC and St. Jane, I can pray one rosary (two if it is between the hours of 4–6pm.) There are many Rosary podcasts available that help me with this beautiful devotion.

For all current and interested altar servers, Saturday October 12 is our Pastorate-wide altar server retreat at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. See the announcement in the bulletin for more information. Please join us!

Please mark October 19 on your calendars for our Pastorate Trunk or Treat event! This is a great event to invite a friend or family to attend, a friend/family who perhaps do not yet have a parish to call home. Ask the Holy Spirit to put that family or friend on your heart whom you can invite. And remember, you’re not inviting them to the dentist, but to fellowship and to joy (fellowship and joy in Jesus and the Church!)

In Christ,
Father John

Are You A Prophet?

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Six Sunday in Ordinary Time. Have you ever considered yourself to be a prophet? I don’t know if that is a word many of us would use to describe ourselves, but we hear it mentioned in our first reading from the Book of Numbers. In response to some people “complaining” to Moses about Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp… doing something they have never done before… and maybe challenging others with their words. Moses responds by saying if only “all the people of the Lord were prophets. Would that the Lord might bestow his Spirit on them all.”

Well guess what? The Lord has bestowed his Spirit upon all of us! We have all received the Spirit of the Lord beginning with our baptisms, when we were anointed prophets. Therefore we have been entrusted with a participation in the prophetic mission of Christ AND His Church. As Jesus says in the Gospel today, all of us who call ourselves Christians are given the grace to perform mighty deeds in the name of Jesus—to speak his prophetic words and perform his mighty deeds.

The Maryland Catholic Conference has published information concerning Question 1—“The Right to Reproductive Freedom” constitutional amendment that will appear on the November ballot. Catholics are encouraged to vote “No” to this amendment. Information published by the Maryland Catholic Conference which explains the reasons for this decision can be found in this weekend’s bulletin, or by going to www.mdcatholic.org.

As the November election approaches, please take time to review the U.S. Bishops’ teaching document called: “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” The purpose of this document is to help all of us understand the Church’s positions on key moral issues. The Church does not endorse one candidate over another, and no candidate embraces 100% of the Church’s teachings; therefore, we are asked to understand what the Church teaches so that we can make informed decisions on election day. A link to the document can be found at www.archbalt.org/faithful-citizenship.

In the coming weeks, our Pastorate will be launching our Fall stewardship program called “Forward in Faith.” Your contributions to our parishes are essential in order for us to maintain our worship, our programs, and our outreach ministries. Thank you in advance for your weekly financial support!

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

Passions

Dear Friends of Pastorate of the Visitation,

“Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?” This question, raised by St. James in our second reading this Sunday (James 3:16–4:3), strikes a sorrowful chord in our hearts. In our own ways, we are all troubled by fears or doubts or anger related to the world around us; and closer to home, our hearts that suffer from conflict and other difficulties with family, friends, and so on. Where is all this coming from?

St. James counsels that all this comes down to our “passions,” that is, to our fallen humanity that “makes war within [our] members.” It is that simple. But, the call of every disciple is that it no longer be our passions that rule us but the Passion of Jesus. Not just His suffering and death but the entirety of his beautiful, wonderful, truly passionate life! It is the passionate love of Jesus that raises up what is fallen, that makes all things new; that gives hope, light, and wisdom for resolving the “wars,” “conflicts,” “jealousy,” “selfish ambition,” and so on.

Christ’s passionate love proves to us the power of the words “I forgive you,” spoken readily and sincerely. His passionate love impels us to say “I’m sorry” often. His passion teaches us to extend an open hand to help or console rather than a fist; to pray rather than to curse; to become “last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

And so we pray: Jesus, thank You for all the ways you teach me and strengthen me with Your passionate love through Your words, example, and Your very Body and Blood. Help me to be a vessel and instrument of Your passionate love in my thoughts, words, and actions this week.

The pastorate’s Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program begins this week! Please pray for those taking part as well as the pastorate’s OCIA team. We are delighted to have a good number of people signed up, thanks be to God, but it is not too late if you or someone you know might be interested. Please invite them to reach out to me (john.bilenki@archbalt.org).

Our first meeting this week will give our “inquirers” and our team the chance to get acquainted. As the year goes on, we will advertise some of the sessions that can be more broadly attended by parishioners, so stay tuned for that!

Let us remain united in prayer and in the Eucharist.

Fr. John