Our Lord’s Generosity

Brothers and Sisters,

In this Sunday’s Gospel from John, a large crowd follows Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus wonders to Philip about how to feed such a large amount of people. Philip is unsure, but Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, tells Jesus about a boy who is willing to share his five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus then multiplies the five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men plus women and children, with 12 wicker baskets left over. The people are amazed and proclaim Jesus to be “the Prophet” for whom they have been waiting. The multiplication of the loaves is the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels.

Our Lord wants us to play a part in His miracle. God has the power of creating something out of nothing, but He asks for human collaboration, even if it is minimal. Here it is no different. The Apostles are utterly poor as they can bring to Jesus only five loaves and two fish from a boy they find in the crowd. Jesus asks us to contribute, because He wants to teach us to be generous, even when we think we have nothing to give. It is when we give from our want that we most please Our Lord. Our insufficiency is never an excuse for lack of generosity in serving and working for Our Lord. This miracle proves to us that Our Lord can never be outdone in generosity. We only need to bring Our Lord whatever we have without reservation, no matter how small that may be and trust that He will use it and multiply it for His purpose.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Rest Awhile

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

Our Gospel for this 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time begins with the apostles meeting up with Jesus after
completing the mission Jesus sent them on in last weekend’s Gospel. They report to him on “all they have done and taught,” and Jesus invites them to rest awhile. Yet the people who had encountered their good works continue to seek them out, so much so that it was difficult for them to take a break. As we know, getting away to be refreshed and renewed is so important, not only during the summer, but also each week. We all should spend one day a week in rest and relaxation, be it Sunday or another day if need be. Also make time to come to Mass each Sunday to receive strength and healing from the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist… the best medicine for a weary soul!

This weekend is the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Tens of thousands of Catholics from throughout the country are gathered there to celebrate the gift that the Eucharist is to us and to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for our Church, our country, and our world. After the attempted assassination of former Pres. Trump, we know how desperately our nation is in need of prayer: prayers for peace, prayers for civility, prayers for God to become a part of our daily lives once again. As the Letter to Ephesians reminds us this weekend, Christ is our peace.

Our Pastorate youth have been working at the Catholic Heart Work Camp in Wilmington, DE this past week. Although it has been a hot week, they have been working hard to serve those in need in the local community and have learned much about how we as Catholics put our faith into action. Please continue to pray for our youth as we grow and expand our pastorate’s youth ministry programs, and invite your kids to participate.

The next opportunity for our youth to serve is Summer Mission. The program is open to middle school youth as participants and high school youth as peers. There are two sets of dates for Summer Mission: Aug. 6–8 based at OLC and Aug 13–15 based at SJF. Sign up for either or both! Contact Diana Healy (dhealy@stjane.org) or Tim Janiszewski (timjolc@verizon.net) for more information.

Thanks to everyone who has donated to our roof replacement projects. We have raised over $50,000 so far at OLC and about $64,000 at SJF. Tax free donations (nothing will go to the Archdiocese) are still being accepted for both projects.

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

Introducing Fr. John Belinki

Peace in Christ.

First, I wish to thank everyone for your very warm welcome thus far! I am moved by your encouragement and assurance of prayers. I look forward to continuing to meet you all, learning your names and stories, and sharing life together as we encounter the Lord Jesus: in His Word, His Body and Blood, and in our pastorate. I am excited to share with you in Christ’s commission to proclaim His Gospel and build up His Kingdom. Here in my first bulletin letter, I’ll offer a few words introducing myself and my journey thus far.

I was born and raised in Catonsville and Woodstock. I attended St. Agnes parish and school and then St. Alphonsus Rodriguez. I attended Mount Saint Joseph High School (2013). I am returning to MSJ as the chaplain in addition to my assignment at the Pastorate of the Visitation. I then attended Mount St. Mary’s University (2017) where I studied theology.

My parents Tony and Mary Ellen are for me the first image and teachers of the faithfulness, selfless love, and generosity at the heart of our Christian life. You will probably see them around from time to time! Just look for my dad; I look just like him. I am blessed with three older brothers—Matt, Brian, and Ben—whom I admire and look up to immensely. I love spending time with my family. We’re a musical bunch, so you may catch me occasionally at the piano or with a guitar. I love to sing as well.

In addition to my upbringing, a great conduit of God’s grace in my life has been Christian friendship and community. As a high school student, my desire to be holy and to take our Faith seriously was enkindled by the witness of friends. I saw that their love of Jesus and their practice of the faith made them happier, healthier, holier people. Thanks to their friendship and witness, Jesus and the Church became more and more the center of my life. As this happened, my heart opened up to the priesthood. As I continued growing in my faith in college, it was the prayerful and joyful exuberance of priests and seminarians I had come to know that resonated with me. I could see myself among them, doing what they did, loving God and the Church like them. And so, I followed the joy!

I entered priestly formation in 2017—one year at St. Mary’s in Baltimore; four years in Rome; one year nearby at St. John in Severna Park. Throughout my formation and various parish assignments and apostolates here in the Archdiocese and beyond, God has worked so generously through community in the Archdiocese and in parishes. So many times, through my ministry and service to others and through the faithful’s gifts and genius at work, the Lord has revealed, confirmed, and strengthened His calling of me to be His priest. I thank you in advance for your patience and prayers during my transition to this role! God reward you.

This Sunday, we get a beautiful passage from Ephesians—a hymn to be more precise. It gladly sings of our purpose: to live for the praise of God’s glory. What a purpose; what a life! Through our life of prayer, our family life, our ministry, our work, our leisure – all of this, with the promised crosses and glories along the way, can be directed to the praise of God. Growing in this spirit of praise is ultimately readying us for our desired eternal life in Heaven where our praise will be unending. So, how is your preparation going? What material things, weaknesses, or attitudes keep you from growing in a spirit of praise?

The Ephesians hymn also sings of the inestimable Gift that God has given us to live out and accomplish so awesome a purpose: God the Holy Spirit himself, the “first installment of our heavenly inheritance.” Jesus says in John 14 that the Holy Spirit will be with you and in you: in our hearts and minds, the deepest center of our souls. The Holy Spirit is in us, loving us and inspiring us so as to show us how to live for God’s glory. What a Gift! And just as any gift is intended to be opened and enjoyed, so too with the Holy Spirit, our Consoler and Sanctifier. There is no better Gift. Have you opened the Gift?

In Christ,
Fr. John

Summer Transitions

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our readings speak to us of the prophetic voices that the Lord has sent among us to encourage us, to challenge us, and to awaken us to the living God in our midst. How often it happens that someone speaks to us words that we do not really want to hear, yet ultimately turn out to be true. Jesus’ words can be challenging at times as well, and sometimes they make us uncomfortable, but we know his are truth. May he also supply us with his sufficient grace to realize this and act upon in words in faith.

I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful turnout for Fr. Jim’s farewell receptions at both parishes. It was a great show of support and love for him and for all he accomplished in his two, short years with us. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he begins his new assignment working for Archbishop Lori as his priest secretary.

On Monday, July 8th, Fr. John will officially begin his ministry with us as our associate pastor. He will be celebrating the 8:30am Mass at St. Jane Frances on the 8th and the 8:30am Mass at OLC on the 9th. His first weekend at OLC will be July 13–14 and at St. Jane the weekend of July 20–21. Please join me in welcoming Fr. John to our pastorate.

Our capital projects are continuing at both parishes. The windows are being replaced at OLC followed by the new siding and shingles being installed on the church. We anticipate beginning the 2nd phase of the roof replacement project at St. Jane School in the coming weeks. Thank you for your financial support for both projects. Donations to both projects are exempt from Archdiocesan taxes so 100% of your monetary gifts will remain at the parishes.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation in your thoughts and prayers. As we go through some transitions this summer, your prayers are felt and appreciated.

God Bless,
Fr. Steve

You Remain In My Prayers

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

In my last bulletin letter two weeks ago, I fondly reflected on and gave thanks to God for my priestly assignment here in the Pastorate of the Visitation. I am not really saying “good-bye” because I will continue being a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and I anticipate seeing you again, most especially if and when Archbishop Lori may visit the pastorate.

For this—my last bulletin letter—I can think of nothing more fitting to say from my heart than what St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:15-19) 

You remain in my prayers; please keep me in yours.

Gratefully yours in Christ,
Father Jim

Trust In God

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

Our readings for this 12th Week in Ordinary Time remind us to trust in the Lord to bring calm to the storms of our lives. Although to us, it may seem at times that God is “asleep” or that God is disinterested in our problems or struggles, that is far from the truth. The Lord is present to us when we turn to him in faith and trust, not telling him our plans for how to resolve our problems, but instead asking God for his plans to unfold for us – that his will be done. That’s a lot of Trust! But God’s ways are always going to be better than our ways, so I believe it is worth the risk.

This weekend, our Archdiocese welcomes 6 new priests are to be ordained on Saturday, June 22nd, at 10:00AM at the Cathedral. All are invited to attend. Please join me in welcoming the soon to be Frs. Angel Acuna, Daniel Andrades, Franz Belleza, Mike Misulia, Lenin Suarez, and Zach Watson to the Priesthood of the Archdiocese of Baltimore! Please continue to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Religious Life so that more men and women will respond generously to God’s call to serve the people of God in the Church.

This weekend is Fr. Jim’s final weekend for Masses at St. Jane Frances. He will be celebrating all of the Sunday Masses, and there will be farewell reception for him following the 11:30am Mass in the Parish Hall. His last weekend at OLC will be June 29-30. We wish Fr. Jim well at his new assignment, and we especially thank him for his two years of dedicated service to our Pastorate.

Our Pastorate has a group of teens and adults leaving this Sunday for Appalachia Work Camp. This program has been ongoing for many years. The volunteers will be working on repairing homes in Terra Alta, West Virginia. In the evenings, they will gather for prayer and fellowship—to share their experiences and see how God is working in and through them as they serve others. Fr. Jim and I will also be away this week at the annual Archdiocesan Priests Retreat being held at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. Please keep the Appalachia Work Camp participants, as well as Fr. Jim and me, in your prayers this week.

Tax free donations (nothing will go to the Archdiocese) are being accepted for the St. Jane School Roof Replacement project and the OLC Clerestory and Roof project on our online giving platforms. Links to online giving can be found on our websites. This is also a great way to maintain consistent giving to your parish when you traveling this summer, so please consider signing up for online giving at GiveCentral (OLC) or ParishSoft (SJF). Thanks 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

Fond Farewell

Dear Friends of Pastorate of the Visitation,

It’s hard to believe that the first two years of my priesthood are coming to a close at my beloved first priestly assignment here at St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Thank you for welcoming me, inviting me into your homes, developing friendships, and just wanting to talk. You have greatly blessed me. I am thankful to God for you, and I will miss you. 

Some of the treasured memories that I will keep in my heart include: first and foremost, the time we have spent together as the Body of Christ listening to His Word, receiving our Lord in Holy Communion, worshipping our mighty and loving God at Mass. Bringing about new life in Baptism. Joining a man and woman as one in Holy Matrimony. Strengthening the sick and those close to death through the Holy Anointing. Celebrating the reception of First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Celebrating Holy Week, Triduum, Easter and Christmas Masses, and other Solemnities. Visiting the elderly homebound each month and bringing Jesus in the Eucharist to them. Offering funeral Masses for our loved ones who have passed on. Time in the Confessional being forgiven. In Eucharistic Adoration. These are the supernatural joys of being a priest—being a “father” during the most sacred moments in life—a privilege beyond all telling, gifts freely given to us by our loving God.

I am thankful to God that the Body of Christ is alive and well in our pastorate, that the Lord calls so many here to serve Him and each other. I’ve loved spending time with you in our pastorate ministries and events, including men in the Knights of Columbus, women in Walking with Purpose, children in our Religious Education classes, youth in our vibrant middle school and high school ministries, our young adult group, RCIA, liturgical ministers and altar servers, our music ministers, the 7 Sisters, the Scouts, and VBS, to mention just a few. I’ll miss our Lenten Fish Frys and other parish meals and gatherings, Stations of the Cross, St. Patrick’s Day bazaar, Trunk or Treat and Easter egg hunts, Staff lunches, and the many other good ministries and events I did not list, as well as the countless celebrations and other good reasons for gathering together.

I’m also thankful to all who have helped lead, volunteer, or participate in some of our more recent pastorate ministries and events I’ve been honored to be a part of, including the annual Family Axe-Throwing Challenge & Pig Roast, men’s groups, Blessing of the Trucks, 3-in-1 Evangelization initiative, 3-in-1 Apologetics talks, Going Deeper, Seekers, the Lenten Mission on prayer, the St. Dymphna ministry for mental health, the Liturgy Committees, the Garden and Flower Committees, and other ministries that extend the Kingdom of God on the Pasadena Peninsula beyond our familiar boundaries.

You’ve shown me what it means to be a priest of Jesus Christ. You’ve helped form me to be a better priest, and for this I am eternally grateful. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I move on to my next assignment on July 1, as you remain in mine. I look forward to seeing you at my Farewells.

Gratefully yours in Christ,
Father Jim (Bors)