The Narrow Gate

Happy Sunday, dear Friends!

We are given yet another challenging Gospel passage today. Gospels like last weekend and this weekend are good reminders that it is not easy or comfortable to be a Christian! But God has our happiness in mind. “I have come that you may have joy and your joy may be full!” (John 15:11).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough,” our Lord answers. A challenging aspect of our life of faith is evident here: we are powerless to pass through the narrow gate without God’s lavish mercies. No worldly wisdom, material successes, or novelties can give us the strength we need to pass through. Daily friendship with God and having the heart and mind of Jesus is what makes us strong and able to pass through the narrow gate.

God is drawn to the weak to help them. This is a profound paradox that saints like Paul and Therese of Lisieux understood well. “In my weakness, I am strong,” St. Paul says. St. Therese once wrote to her sister, “What pleases (God) is that He sees me loving my littleness and my poverty, the blind hope that I have in His mercy… This is my only treasure… Oh dear Sister, I beg you, understand your little girl, understand that to love Jesus, to be His victim of love, the weaker one is… the more suited one is for the workings of this consuming and transforming love.”

Let yourself be loved, forgiven, healed, and lifted up by God. He is drawn to the powerless and the needy. He is delighted to walk with us hand in hand, even to carry us, through the narrow gate of His Pierced Heart.

Alas, it is back to school time. The end of summer blues is understandable! May the Lord bless all of our teachers, students and parents in the new school year. May friendships, planning and studies, and sacrifices be blessed. As schedules get busy, may we keep Christ at the center through Sunday Mass and daily prayer.

If you find yourself with a few extra minutes in the car or on the bus with the onset of morning (and afternoon) traffic, this bonus time can be a nice opportunity to invite God into the day ahead, to pray the Rosary, or to listen to a podcast like The Bible in a Year by Ascension Presents.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic faith, please email me about registering for our Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program! Participants in OCIA must be 18 or older. Other arrangements can be made for any inquirers under 18.

God bless you abundantly and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!!

Father John

Defending The Truth

Brothers and Sisters,

We should understand and embrace the fact that as you grow in your faith, it isn’t necessarily going to be accepted or comfortable to everyone. This is a big theme in this week’s readings. In the Gospel, Jesus says that he didn’t come to bring peace, but division. When we grow in our love of our faith, we also grow in our love of what God has revealed to us both in His Word and what is written on our hearts and in our very nature as human beings. The more we love God, the more we love the truth. The more we love the truth, the more we realize the importance of defending it. When we defend the truth revealed by God, a truth that can be inconvenient at times, and goes against what our culture believes at times, people aren’t going to like what you have to say or how you live. They are going to feel uncomfortable and opposed to our beliefs. It happened to Jeremiah, as he was thrown into a mud pit. It happened to the Apostles as they were martyred. It also happened to Jesus himself! We’re starting to hear more and more these days about people who sincerely desire to live their faith and defend the truth being called intolerant or hateful, simply because they don’t agree with the popular stances on the issues of our society. We need to stand on the truth, and embrace it as an opportunity to grow closer to Christ. Christ has come to set our hearts on fire. Let Him fan the flames of faith alive in our own hearts, so that we might have a light to guide ourselves and others to the glory of God’s Kingdom.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Gift Of Faith

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our readings speak to us about faith. The Letter to the Hebrews sums up the biblical understanding of Faith – the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. This gives us some insight into the gift of faith that each of us has been offered by God. Biblical faith is having trust in God’s promises even when we cannot actually see them or experience them in the present. The Catechism says that faith is our response to God who has revealed Himself to us and gives Himself to us so that, as we search for life’s meaning and purpose, we come to discover it through God’s self-revelation in Christ.

Jesus reinforces this through the parable he tells in the Gospel about the servants remaining vigilant for the return of their master, who may return at any time. They do not know when, but they have faith that he will, and in the meantime, they ought to be ready when he does return. We do not know when Jesus will come again in glory, but we have faith that he will return as he said he would. In the meantime, we are asked to live our lives in faith that the Lord is faithful to His promises.

I would like to thank everyone who assisted with Part 2 of our Pastorate’s Summer Mission. We had over 50 middle and high schoolers sign up to serve in our local community and enjoy some fun times together during the afternoons. Special thanks to Carrie Hilmer and Diana Healy for their work in organizing this awesome service opportunity for our youth.

It is hard to believe that summer is rapidly coming to an end and school will begin in a couple of weeks. Mark your calendars for our annual backpack and book bag blessing the weekend of Aug. 23-24. All of our students returning to school are invited to bring their backpacks and book bags to Mass as we bless them and their upcoming school year.

We will also be welcoming the Little Sisters of the Poor to our Pastorate during the last two weekends in August. The sisters will be at OLC the weekend of Aug 23-24 and at St Jane Frances the weekend of Aug 30-31.

This Friday, August 15th, is the Solemnity of the Assumption, a Holy Day of Obligation (think Opportunity because you are being offered this awesome opportunity to hear the Word of God and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.). Masses will be offered on Thursday, August 14th at 7:00pm at St. Jane, and Friday, August 15th at 8:30am (St Jane), 12:00pm (OLC), and 7:00pm (OLC).

Finally, please keep Tracey Laber, St. Jane’s office assistant, and her family in your prayers. Tracey’s father, Robert Sanders, passed away on Aug 3rd. May Robert rest in peace.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

The Rich Fool

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel this weekend, we hear the parable of the Rich Fool. This parable is in response to the man who asks Jesus to tell his brother to share the inheritance with him. Both are dealing with Greed, which is one of the seven deadly sins. Greed focuses us too much on a desire for things instead of desiring God. We fall into a state of greed when wealth or power becomes more important than being generous with our time, talent or treasure. The rich fool in today’s parable decides to build additional barns in order to store his abundant harvest instead of sharing his blessings with others. As Jesus instructs us in the Gospel, strive to become rich in what matters to God.

I would like to thank Michaela Stanton and her volunteers who hosted an awesome Vacation Bible School at OLC this past week. Thanks to everyone who has helped transform the Gathering Place into a cabin in the woods of Alaska, where our youth learned that Jesus is the True North who will guide us in our daily lives. Check out OLC’s Facebook page for pictures of the great time had by so many volunteers and participants. Please keep our Pastorate’s youth and volunteers in your prayers as they continue to come to know God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

Please keep our middle school participants and high school peers in your prayers this week as we offer Summer Mission – Part 2, taking place August 5–6 at St. Jane Frances. We have had an excellent turnout of teens who wish to serve the Lord by serving others in our local community. Special thanks to Carrie Hilmer and Diana Healy for their behind the scenes organizational work to make this event so successful.

Enrollment for Religious Education, Middle School, and High School Youth Ministry has begun. Please go to our websites (stjane.org or olchesapeake.org) to register your kids for our faith formation programs, which begin in September. This year, we will also be offering opportunities for families to participate in our faith formation offerings as we have been asked to do by Archbishop Lori.

Also at Archbishop Lori’s request, we are beginning our three year process of moving the age of Confirmation to age 9. This year, all incoming 8th graders and 9th graders should be enrolling in our standalone Confirmation program (including all students in Catholic Schools.) If you have a child entering 8th or 9th grade this fall, please be sure to enroll them in our Confirmation preparation program in addition to Middle School and High School Youth Ministry programs.

Mark your calendars for the Solemnity of the Assumption, a Holy Day of Obligation (think Opportunity) which is Friday, August 15th. Masses will be offered on Thursday, August 14th at 7:00pm at St. Jane, and Friday, August 15th at 8:30am (St Jane), 12:00pm (OLC), and 7:00pm (OLC).

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

Our Father

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel this weekend, we hear of Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray by giving them the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is, of course, is the most perfect prayer of our faith, for it teaches us how to come to the Father in our times of need. We begin by acknowledging the greatness and holiness of God and our desire to do His will in our lives. Then we ask the Father to nourish us, to forgive us, and to guide us in our earthly journey of faith. Jesus goes on to encourage us to be persistent in our prayers and trust that God will always give us what we need when we ask for His will to be done in our lives. So turn to God in faith and trust. Our Father is ready to lovingly give us what we need, which ultimately is forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in His presence.

I would like to thank Marie Griffiths and her volunteers who hosted an awesome Vacation Bible School at St. Jane Frances during the week of July 14–18. Check out St. Jane’s Facebook page for pictures of the great time had by so many volunteers and participants. This week is OLC’s turn to host VBS. Michaela Stanton and her volunteers have been preparing the Gathering Place to welcome the participants to the True North. Please keep our Pastorate’s youth and volunteers in your prayers as they continue to come to know God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

Summer Mission – Part 2 will be taking place August 5–6 at St. Jane Frances. This middle school outreach and service program is open to all middle schooler and high school chaperones. Registration is required. Please contact Carrie Hilmer or Tim Janiszewski for more information or to participate.

Enrollment for Religious Education, Middle School, and High School Youth Ministry has begun. Please go to our websites (stjane.org or olchesapeake.org) to register your kids for our programs, which begin in September. This year, we will begin our three year process of moving the age of Confirmation as instructed by Archbishop Lori. All incoming 8th graders and 9th graders should be enrolling in our standalone Confirmation program (including all students in Catholic Schools. Sacramental preparation is done at the parish, not at the schools.) If you have a child entering 8th or 9th grade this fall, please be sure to enroll them in our Confirmation preparation program in addition to Middle School and High School Youth Ministry programs.

Mark your calendars for the Solemnity of the Assumption, a Holy Day of Obligation (think Opportunity) which is Friday, August 15th. Masses will be offered on Thursday, August 14th at 7:00pm at St. Jane, and Friday, August 15th at 8:30am (St Jane), 12:00pm (OLC), and 7:00pm (OLC).

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

Make Time

Dear friends in Christ,

God bless you! I pray you are all having a blessed summer! Whether you’ve had a vacation or staycation or a day or two off, these are ideal times to refresh spiritually. Like Martha in today’s Gospel, we all need to rest our souls and bodies.

“There is need of only one thing,” Jesus says. The one thing is Him. Time with Jesus at Mass, in the chapel, with Scripture, with the Rosary, is never time wasted! Make time to be with our Lord and Friend. If you like worship music, “One Thing” by Housefires is excellent in light of this passage.

Have you ever heard of visio divina? This is when we use sacred art to help us pray. In this prayer, we engage in prayerful/divine/holy “looking.” Why do I bring that up?

The first reading this weekend reminds me of an extraordinary icon by Andrei Rublev called “The Trinity.” Check it out. The icon depicts the three visitors of Genesis 18 seated at table. There is an open seat of sorts right at the center. In your visio divina, consider that as the place prepared for you. Go and take your seat! Look; listen; be loved; be fed.

Sunday’s second reading meditates on the mystery of suffering, which can be challenging for many, if not all of us. “Through Christ and in Christ, the riddles of sorrow and death grow meaningful,” the Second Vatican Council said. Christ the Risen One appears to His friends with His wounds still visible; but, what was sorrowful and painful has become glorified. Jesus desires the same for us.

Allow yourself to be a patient in the “field hospital” of the Church. Here, there is always a bed; always brothers and sisters in the beds next to you; and the Doctor, the Divine Physician is always in, offering the medicine of the Eucharist, listening and giving encouragement, and giving healing and glory to our many wounds. “I make all things new,” (Rev 21:5).

Special invitation to ladies of the Pastorate:

Come together as sisters for a special evening of Eucharistic adoration and worship on July 22, this
Tuesday evening at St. Jane. The 22nd is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. She is known as the “apostle to the apostles” and is a special intercessor for all daughters of the Father. I will lead a brief reflection and song. All ladies are welcome—bring a friend, mother, daughter, baby, grandbaby, etc.

Special invitation to gentlemen of the Pastorate:

Join us on Saturday July 26 at the Rumor Reel for breakfast and a talk by Orioles legend Scott
McGregor. Come enjoy a delicious meal, connect with other men of faith, and be inspired by Scott’s powerful testimony! Tickets are $35; 8:30am–10:30am. See bulletin and Flocknote for more details. All men are welcome—bring a friend!

THANK YOU Marie Griffiths, staff, volunteers, and participants for your enthusiasm, prayerfulness, time and talents in Vacation Bible School at St. Jane this past week! “Jesus is our true north; He is our way home… Let’s trust in Jesus.” We look forward to another round at Our Lady of the Chesapeake in a couple weeks!

Thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John

Do This And You Will Live

Brothers and Sisters,

The scripture readings this week teach us that the key to living a fulfilled life depends on love. First, loving God and also loving our neighbor. Christ makes it clear that all who desire to inherit eternal life passes through love.

In the Gospel (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus’s response to the curious scholar who correctly answered his own question should fill us with hope. Jesus tells him, “Do this and you will live.” You will live a full life, a meaningful life, a fulfilling life. Isn’t that the deepest desire of every human heart? Isn’t that the desire we find at the core of every other desire? All the choices we make, all the decisions and the sacrifices we make in life are made because we think they will help us live life more fully, more satisfactorily, more happily. This core desire of ours is also Christ’s core desire for us. He tells us in John’s Gospel, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) He created us. He wrote this core desire into the depths of our souls. He wants to satisfy it. In fact, that’s why He came to earth, to give us the light and grace to know and to follow the path to a more abundant and more fulfilling life both here on earth and forever in heaven. All we need to do is follow that path which is Christ’s path. The path to eternal life goes through loving our neighbor, being marked by complete and total love for God. Let us live this love and experience the abundant, fulfilling life that we were created for. Nothing else really matters. How firmly do we believe that? How courageously are we willing to give that direction to our daily life?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard