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

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

On behalf of all of us at OUR Pastorate of the Visitation, I would like to wish everyone a very Blessed and Joyous Easter! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Today is the most important day in the Christian year, even more important than Christmas. For today, we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, offering to us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in the heavenly kingdom. Jesus’ Resurrection also ushers in a new era in human history, where we have been invited into a deeper union with God and sent forth into the world to share our witness and testimony concerning the saving power of Christ. So go forth today, and every day to proclaim that Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

The celebration of Easter is so important that the Church celebrates it as an Octave, meaning eight days. The Octave of Easter concludes next Sunday with the Sunday of Divine Mercy. This feast was added to the Church calendar by St. John Paul II in the year 2000. Also during the Easter Season, we will read through the Acts of the Apostles, which documents the growth of the early Church, empowered by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Easter Season concludes with the Solemnity of Pentecost, which we will celebrate on May 19th. We also celebrate on Easter the Sacraments of Initiation for those entering into the Church at the Easter Vigil. We congratulate all who have joined or have been confirmed in the Church this year!

I would like to thank everyone who has made a commitment to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. Your financial support assists the Church in helping those in need throughout our Archdiocese. As of March 15, 2024, OLC has raised $29,030 from 59 gifts and St. Jane Frances has raised $20,169 from 84 gifts. If you haven’t made your pledge yet, please go to www.archbalt.org/giving. All proceeds support the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and are protected by a trust established in 1993 for this purpose.

Both parishes are in the midst of roof replacement projects. 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!

There are many great events and celebrations planned for the coming weeks and months for our Pastorate. Many of them are included in this weekend’s bulletin. Please take a moment to review them and mark your calendars so that you can join us.

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

Holy Week Is Upon Us

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend begins our journey through the holiest week of the year with the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Palm Sunday. Holy Week offers us many opportunities to experience Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper, to his Cross, and to his Resurrection. As a Pastorate, we will be coming together for the first time for some of these liturgies so invite you to join us as we worship our one Lord as one Pastorate Community. Our choirs have also joined together to share their gift of music with unified voices.

Here are the Holy Week and Triduum schedules for the Pastorate: 

• Holy Thursday (@ SJF), March 28th – 7:00pm Mass followed by Adoration until 9:00pm
• Good Friday, March 29th – Passion of the Lord – 3:00pm at SJF, 7:00pm at OLC 
• Good Friday, Stations of the Cross – 12:00pm at SJF, 3:00pm at OLC
• Blessing of the Easter Foods, March 30th – 9:00am at SJF, 12:00pm at OLC 
• Pastorate Easter Vigil (@ OLC), March 30th – 8:00pm at OLC 
• Easter Sunday, March 31st – SJF: 8:00am, 10am, 11:30am. OLC: 8:00am, 9:30am, 11am.

In addition to the events listed above, the Archdiocesan Chrism Mass will take place on Monday, March 25th at 7:30pm at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. At this Mass, the Archbishop will bless the holy oils to be used for anointing of the sick and the catechumens, as well as consecrate the Sacred Chrism that will be used for Baptisms, Confirmations, and Holy Orders during the coming year. The priests of the Archdiocese will also renew the promises we made at our ordinations. This celebration is open to the public and all are invited to attend. As a priest, I know I am always thankful to see current (and former) parishioners in attendance. Please consider joining us.

Fr. Jim and I will be offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday, March 26th at St. Jane Frances. The morning session is from 9:30am to 10:30am and the afternoon session is from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. Tenebrae will be celebrated at St. Jane Frances at 8:00pm that evening.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers! I know this year is different than in the past in that we are offering only one Holy Thursday Mass and one Easter Vigil Mass. I continually pray for guidance as we work together in our Pastorate to create a shared community of faith, steeped in a desire to serve one another and evangelize our families and neighborhoods.

God Bless,
Father Steve

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Brothers and Sisters,

How is your Lent going? Are we dying to self and bearing fruit? This week in the Gospel Jesus answers those who wish to see him with the secret to living a meaningful life, a life that he lived and calls each of us to live. Jesus says, “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” That’s his response to those who want to see him; to the Greeks, to you, and to me.

Seeing Jesus isn’t a spectator sport. It is a way to be followed, a truth to be embraced, and a life to be lived. It’s being a grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies so that it might bear much fruit. That’s where we see him. It’s in the letting go, the emptying, the leaving behind, and the dying that makes space for new life to arise. That’s what Jesus calls us to embrace. Letting go is what allows us to be more authentically present to ourselves, to others, and to our Lord. It makes room for new life and new ways of being present to arise. Our letting go gives God something to work with. Why then would we continue to hold onto or cling to anything preventing us from truly seeing Jesus?

So, what are those things in your life today that needs to fall into the earth and die? What do you need to let go of and leave behind so that God can bear much fruit in your life? Is there anything blocking the fullness of life that we desire or God offers us? Yes, dying to self is where we can renew and change our life. And maybe that’s where we will see Jesus.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

God Bless,
Deacon Howard