Follow The Light

Dear Parishioners,

The word epiphany means “manifestation.” Luke’s gospel presents the shepherds as the first to pay homage to Jesus (Lk 2:8-20). For Matthew, the magi, Gentiles, were the first to adore Jesus (Mt 2:1-12). The Magi of this Sunday’s gospel are not the fortune teller magicians of Acts 8:9-25. Matthew portrays them as wise men from the East who probably had knowledge of Astrology and Astronomy. It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. The Magi saw the star and followed it, not knowing exactly where it would lead them. The fascination with the star and its origins should not take away from the true meaning of the passage: that these Gentile men saw the Jewish star and that was enough for their faith. They got up and left everything and allowed the light to guide them, and they chose the right path. On the other hand, King Herod feared the coming of a Messiah who could threaten his power, and tried to get rid of him. The Gentile magi accepted the new born king, and his poverty and lack of power did not confuse them. Instead, it filled them with joy and moved them to adoration and surrender.

While the powerful become restless and reject Jesus, the Gentiles acknowledge Him as King. We should learn from the Magi to identify the signs, set out on the journey with determination, and not allow anyone or anything to become an obstacle along the way. May we lay down our life and offer our treasure in worship to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

May everyone have a blessed and joyful year in 2022.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Merry Christmas!

Dear Parishioners, 

I hope you all had a nice Christmas with family and friends reconnecting after time apart as you gathered for dinners and other social gatherings, and especially Mass. I am sure most experienced great joy not only in “getting” but more importantly in “giving.” As Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than receiving. “ (Acts 20:35). Hopefully, we will keep that in mind during the coming year. It will make for a Happy New Year.

There’s an old expression when you haven’t seen a young person for a long time, “How quickly they grow up!” Yesterday we encountered Jesus as a newborn baby; today we see him grown to be a boy of twelve with intelligence beyond his year. “All who heard him were amazed…” And what’s more? He had not finished growing. The gospel tells that after returning to Nazareth, “Jesus progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.”

We can’t help growing in age. There’s no such thing as a “fountain of youth.” But we can stop growing in wisdom and grace before God and men. That’s easy; all we have to do is be satisfied with ourselves and stop trying to grow.

As we begin a new year, let us ask what we need to do in order to progress in wisdom and grace both personally and as a member of our immediate families. How can I a better husband or wife, son or daughter, brother or sister? As we celebrate the Feast of The Holy Family, let us ask “What can I do to help make my family a more holy family?”

Fr. Carl

True Meaning Of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday’s readings remind us that Jesus is reborn every day in ordinary people living ordinary lives, who have the willingness to respond to God’s call and the openness to do God’s will. They suggest this Advent should inspire us to carry out God’s word as Mary and Jesus did, in perfect obedience to His will, in cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity.

What is the true meaning of the Advent season? The readings highlight what should characterize everything we do in Advent, and that is taking Christ to others. A time we bring people to experience Christ by our way of living; by the way we love each other. It does not matter whether you are a significant figure or not, God wants to use you to bring Himself to others.

God is faithful to His promises. From something insignificant, God brings out something significant. It doesn’t matter how small or seemingly insignificant your good deeds are, God always treasures them and makes something meaningful out of them. So be positive minded and never to be discouraged in doing what little you can for others. At Christmas, we celebrate the unique sacrificial gift of Christ to the world. May our lives be sacrificial during this period of Advent to reflect God’s gift of himself to us.

May you and your family leap for joy as Christ enters your home this Advent season.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Rejoice! The Lord Is Near!

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, is know as “Gaudete Sunday.” It’s a command in Latin telling us to “rejoice,” because the theme of the readings are joy, and the entrance antiphon from Philippians says “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Indeed, the Lord is near!” (Phil 4:4–7) But why? Not just because the Lord came into the world at Bethlehem and will come again at the end of time, but because He comes now in Word and Sacrament. As St. Paul says in the second reading, “The Lord Himself is near.” And if He is near, our lives should be different and reflect His presence in our lives. We should dismiss our anxiety, turn over our problems to God, reach out to our brothers and sisters in need, and spend more time with God in prayer and meditation. Then we can be open and receptive to Him who alone can give us peace, comfort, and joy. So “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Fr. Carl

Christ’s Messengers

Dear Parishioners,

In ancient times, when a king was going to visit a city, he would send before him someone to herald his coming, someone to announce that he would be arriving soon. The herald would go around the city, and go before the leaders of the city, telling them all, “The king is coming. He will be here any day. So, clean up your lives. Make sure you are all in obedience to the kings commands.” As we look at the Gospel reading for this week (Lk 3:1–6), this is what we see going on. The King is coming, and He has sent a herald to announce His imminent arrival. The king, of course, is Jesus Christ, and the herald is John the Baptist. John’s message is that the people need to repair their lives and prepare for Christ’s coming. He does this by calling the people to repent and be baptized. In this second week of Advent, Luke emphasizes the incomparable importance of Christ’s coming by pointing out how Isaiah had prophesied not only the arrival of Jesus but even the appearance of the messenger, John. God had long been preparing this pivotal moment in the world’s history and wanted to do everything possible to alert his people of its coming.

Although Christ has come to the earth, and although he has come to dwell in every human heart, there are many who have not heard of him or welcomed him. With each person, Jesus continues to use this same approach: he sends his heralds ahead of him. We are those heralds. Each of us is Christ’s messenger, boldly drawing others’ attention to the truth and grace of Christ by our words, deeds, and example. Among the many responsibilities each of us has, none is greater or more rewarding than teaming up with the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts for the Lord. Are we being good messengers?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Father Knows Best

Dear Parishioners,

It’s hard to believe that only 2 weeks ago we celebrated the 75th anniversary of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish. For those of you unable to attend, it was a glorious event with six visiting priests, good music at Mass, and an inspirational homily by Msgr. Jay O’Connor who grew up in the parish and attended the parish school. The Mass was followed by a social gathering at Kurtz’s Beach featuring a silent auction, appetizers, a nice meal, and good conversation. Many of the attendees came up to me and said what a nice occasion it was. One of the highlights of the Mass and gathering was the presence of two former teachers, Sr. James Brian and Sr. Aloysius, both of whom taught here for 30 years and were celebrating 55 and 60 years of serving the Lord as School Sisters of Notre Dame. They were truly an inspiration.

So much for the old; the new is now here. This weekend, we celebrate the beginning of the new liturgical or church year as Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent. Among other themes in the scriptures this weekend, Psalm 25 concentrates on walking in paths which bring us life (Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14). The key to finding the right path is humility which allows us to confess our absolute dependence upon God and makes us less sure that we have all the answers. After all, we are fallible human beings, whereas God is all knowing. The old TV show in the fifties had it right, “Father Knows Best.”

Fr. Carl

Christ The King

Dear Parishioners,

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The readings this week speak of kingship (Dn 7:13-14/Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5 [1a]/Rv 1:5-8/Jn 18:33b-37). We think of kings taking power from others by winning violent battles or by force. Jesus ushered in his kingdom through love, by appealing to the hearts of people—a kingdom that will not be brought through revolution but through the conversion of hearts.

Do you belong to his kingdom? Does Christ reign in your heart? Let us today re-commit our heart to Christ the King. If he truly reigns in our hearts, then our actions will be Christ like. Also, let us give Jesus control over our lives. In the gospel of Matthew, he says, “come to me all you who labor and are burdened....” It is only in him that we can truly have rest for our hearts. Let us emulate Christ's lesson of humble service to the truth. He came to bear witness to the truth. If we belong to the kingdom, truth must surely be our focus, even when it hurts. Lastly, we need to obey the law of love because that is what governs in the kingdom of Christ.

I would also like to thank everyone involved in last week’s celebration of our 75th Anniversary of St. Jane Frances parish. It was a wonderful day. We are a blessed faith community where love and friendship are truly present.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Happy Anniversary!

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Anniversary, St. Jane Frances de Chantal! This weekend we celebrate our parish’s 75th anniversary or Diamond Jubilee. In case you didn’t know it, the word “jubilee” comes from a Hebrew word “yobel” which means “ram’s horn trumpet.” If you’ve ever celebrated the Jewish New Year, it’s possible you’ve heard the ram’s horn trumpet to mark the jubilee. In ancient times, a jubilee was celebrated every seven years. Land sold by the poor to provide sustenance in past years was restored to them to farm and to be used to provide a livelihood for their families. It was an occasion of great joy and the basis for the word “jubilation.” Today’s diamond anniversary jubilation is also a time of great joy as we reflect on St. Jane’s past. We have brought Jesus to our people and our people to Jesus through baptisms, communions, confirmations, weddings, confessions, funerals, and education. There have been our activities

1. Spiritual (Mass, Confessions, Adoration/Benediction, Missions and Retreats)
2. Educational (St. Jane Frances School—72 years, the School of Religion, and Adult Education)
3. Athletic (soccer and basketball)
4. Social (St. Patrick’s Day Bazaar, Bull Roasts, Bus Trips, Lenten Fish Frys, and Golf Tournaments).

Truly, St. Jane Frances has done so much for its people and the wider community. We have every reason to be filled with thanksgiving and jubilation. Happy Anniversary, St. Jane’s!

Fr. Carl

Gift Giving

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus taught his disciples an unexpected lesson about giving with love in this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Mk 12:41-44). Love is selfless and sacrificial. Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people making their offering. Jesus praised a poor widow who gave the smallest of coins in contrast with the rich who gave greater sums. How can someone in poverty give more than someone who has wealth? Jesus’ answer is very simple: love is more precious than gold! Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given for display or show loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is priceless. The amount or size of the gift doesn’t matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she generously gave away all she had. Jesus praised her because it was everything she had, her whole living. 

What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord’s disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our imagination. Do you know the joy and freedom of giving generously to God and to neighbor with gratitude and love? In what ways can I give my entire self to God?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us

Dear Parishioners,

“The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.” (Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6) These words from last week’s Psalm were probably not on our lips during the past two years. Still the Lord has done great things for us. The god given intellectual gifts of our scientists coupled with the monetary support of our government have enabled many of us to survive these difficult times and see a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not all over, but we are moving in the right direction.

I particularly want to thank you all for your prayers and support on behalf of the parish. Obviously, with the church closure and social distancing over a lengthy period of time, our income took a hit. Nevertheless, many of you stepped up and mailed in your weekly/monthly contributions, while still others signed up for online giving. (It sure beats writing a check each week.) Thanks so very much. I was so touched by your thoughtfulness and loyalty to St. Jane’s.

I have enclosed the financials for the parish Fiscal Year 2021 (see page 3 of the 1/31/2021 bulletin). This year’s were not too bad. But last year’s were. The parish had a FY2020 deficit of $273,646, and the school a deficit of $212,865. Fortunately, thanks to your generosity in past years, we had enough savings to weather the storm. This year the parish—even after the church provided deficit funding for the school—showed a modest surplus of $90,948 thanks to you and the financial aid from the federal government’s Payroll Protection Program.

This year we are keeping our head above the water. The end of September showed a modest surplus of $13,000 in our ordinary income. So, thank you for your continued support.

Finally, if your finances allow it, please prayerfully consider increasing your contributions to the parish. Thank you and God bless.

Fr. Carl

Security Blankets

Dear Parishioners,

We learn a valuable lesson this week from the Gospel story (Mk 10:46-52). The blind man, Bartimaeus, provides us a model of faith to follow. The Gospel points out that when Jesus called him, he threw aside his cloak, jumped up, and went to his Lord at once. The cloak was the most versatile item of Palestinian clothing at the time. It was protection against the rapid and frequent temperature changes, insulation against the harsh Judean winds, and at night, it doubled as a blanket. The cloak of the blind man symbolizes our own self-sufficiency, those things in our lives that we depend on for our security—the things that can hold us back when we hear God calling. By leaving it behind, Bartimaeus teaches us that our only sufficiency should be Jesus Christ. Our true security is in Him alone. Let us get up, throw off our cloak, and go to Jesus at once when we hear Him calling.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Achieving Greatness

Dear Parishioners,

Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday, when we are reminded that the Mission of the Church is the spreading of the Gospel. So it is very fitting that the Friday before, we celebrate the feast of Pope St. John Paul II, the greatest missionary since St. Paul in the early days of the Church. Traveling 725,000 miles to 129 of the 195 countries of the world, St. John Paul II spread the Gospel in person and through the media, to billions, not millions, of people. He was truly Pope St. John Paul II, the Great. Nobody will ever again have such a global missionary effect. None of us could ever come close to John Paul II and never will we be called “The Great.” However, we can become great without doing what the world considers to be great things. Jesus says, “Anyone who aspires to greatness must serve the rest.” It is a very simple task and yet it is difficult for many to sacrifice their time, talent, or treasure in service to others. Laziness, comfort, and pride are the chief enemies of service which we must try to overcome.

One of the early popes, St. Gregory the Great, realized the value of service calling himself “Servus servorum Dei”—the servant of the servants of God. It’s a title popes have taken upon themselves ever since. So, if they see themselves as servants, how much more should we?

Fr. Carl

Are You All In?

Dear Parishioners,

The rich young man in today’s gospel is eager to inherit eternal life (Mk 10:17–30). So he asks Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus speaks to every seeking heart with the answer. We must move beyond the bare minimum. We must tear down any obstacles that stand between God and us. To be in right relationship with God, we must rely entirely on him, not ourselves. We know that eternal life is a gift that God offers to us. It isn’t forced on anyone, and we are free to say, “No, thank you.”  To accept God’s gift of eternal life, we must be utterly dependent on Him. We can’t be the one in control. And this is essentially what Jesus is telling the rich man in this week’s gospel. Jesus says that if he wants to have a deeper relationship with God, if he wants to go “all in,” then he must let go of his wealth. When Jesus tells the rich man to give everything he has to the poor and follow him, he is asking him to trust God completely. By giving away his earthly treasure, the rich man will find an even greater treasure. Jesus wasn’t making a bargain with the man. The “letting go” was the only way he would experience true charity and giving of self. This is the love that God wants us to experience with one another. This is the love for which we were created. Are we all in? Yes, I know it’s not easy, but with God all things are possible.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Marriage: Permission, Thank You and Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

In the first story of creation, we see the power of God. God said and it was done as soon as he said it. Wouldn’t parents like to have that kind of power over their children? When He said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen 1:26), it was the high point of creation. However, it was impersonal; he simply said it, and it came to be. But the second story of creation shows God taking a more personal interest. God “formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” But God didn’t stop there, for as the old saying goes “No man is an island.” And so he formed Eve from the side of Adam to be a help mate, wife, and mother. God is good!

There are great blessings and joys in marriage, children, new homes, new jobs, mutual support and encouragement, moves to different states and sometimes countries, family vacations, and companionship in the later years. The devotion between couples married 50, 60, or even 70 years is truly an inspiration.

Still it’s not all sweetness and light. Differences arise, arguments take place, and personalities change. Personality quirks once so interesting become annoyances, and patience sometimes gives way to rude/ hurtful remarks. Marriage can be challenging and difficult at times; so divorce becomes an option. What to do? Pope Francis, in a speech, shared three words to head off divorce—permission, gratitude, and forgiveness. On the topic of permission, the Pope said, “always ask your spouse ‘what do you think, what do you think of this?’” rather than running over the other without getting their opinion. 

He also stressed the need to be grateful, “because it’s the spouses who confer the sacrament of marriage, one to the other. And this sacramental relationship is maintained with this sentiment of gratitude of thanks.”

The third word he noted is forgiveness which is “a very hard word to say.” In marriage, mistakes are always made, he said, noting that the important thing is to know how to recognize one’s mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Permission, thank you, forgiveness—three words to remember to which I would add one more: crucifix. It would be good to have one hanging in the bedroom as a reminder that real love demands sacrifice—“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Fr. Carl

Temptation

Dear Parishioners,

Today, we might re phrase Jesus’ words from the Gospel this way: “If it costs an arm and a leg to resist temptation, it is worth it.” (Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) When we talk like that, we are not suggesting that a person literally sacrifice an arm or leg, but Jesus is simply using dramatic language to emphasize and make a point that resisting temptation is very, very important.

However, if we should not take Jesus words, “cut it off,” literally, we must take them seriously. Discipleship sometimes requires amputations. We need to amputate bad habits, resentments, ambitions that cause us to sin. We need to amputate things that stand between us and God. Our Lord teaches us that the pain of removing sinful ways is nothing compared with the sorrow of cutting ourselves off forever from God’s love. May the love of the Lord be our heart’s desire, and may our words and deeds reflect our love.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Combining Parishes

Dear Parishioners,

Back in the late 1960s, I read an article in the Catholic Review about the declining number of priests in the country. The vocations crisis was just beginning, so I thought maybe I could help. After making a private weekend retreat at the Jesuit house of Manresa overlooking the Naval Academy, I contacted the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese, had several interviews, attended the seminary in Washington, and was ordained along with eleven other men in 1975. Back then the shortage was not being felt as we had four priests serving St. Dominic’s on Harford Road. Now there is only one priest, and he is also pastor of another previously large parish.

With this happening throughout the Archdiocese, over the years, a plan was needed. So five years ago, after extensive listening, the Archbishop issued a pastoral letter titled A Light Brightly Visible. While partly intended to enable the diocese to operate more efficient administratively, financially, and pastorally, a main objective was to improve on evangelization efforts, the primary objective of the Church. To do this, some individual parishes were needed to combine and form a pastorate with one pastor responsible for two or more parishes. Some pastorates would have an associate pastor as well.

When the pastorates were designed, it was decided to join St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. The timing will be a gradual process over a period of years. It will start when I retire as of July 1, 2022.  At this time, the plan is for Father Stephen Hook to be appointed Pastor of St. Jane Frances while continuing to serve as Pastor of Our Lady of the Chesapeake.

While it will be difficult to leave St. Jane’s, I do so knowing I am leaving it in capable hands of a good, talented, holy priest.

Fr. Carl

Faith In Action

Dear Parishioners,

Who do we say Jesus is? Is He our savior? Is He our Lord? Is He our God? If we answer “yes He is,” do our actions reflect this profession of faith? Are we a people who walk the talk no matter what the consequences?

In the Gospel, Peter represents the Christian community, both in his profession of faith and in his misunderstanding of the faith (Mk 8:27-35). We, too, are most willing, even eager at times, to proclaim what we believe about Jesus. But most of the time, we are only half ready to follow through with the implications of what we say, especially when it calls us to follow the redeeming suffering of the Savior. Jesus says to the Church, too, what he said to Peter: “Get in line behind me; walk in my path; go where I will lead.” May our faith in action follow in the footsteps of Christ which will lead us to everlasting life.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Work and Rest

Dear Parishioners,

As we mark the end of most summer vacations this Labor Day Weekend, we celebrate the work and workers not only of our country but also of the world. Sometimes we are tempted to think of work as drudgery and the exploitation of freedom. Certainly, when we think about slavery in the past and some of the injustice in some places in the world today, that is true. However, work in itself has been ennobled not only by Jesus and Joseph in their work as carpenters but also by the Father himself. The Book of Genesis portrays the story of creation as the work of God. “Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:1-3)

Now before the fall of Adam and Eve, life in the garden was not an idyllic stroll in the park. Since God worked, so too did Adam and Eve, for they were created in the image and likeness of God. They were told by God to not only be fertile but also fill the earth and subdue it. In giving them seed-bearing plants and seed-bearing fruit trees, God was turning them into farmers to produce food. And while it was work, it was a sharing in God’s work and therefore satisfying. Only after original sin, did it become more difficult and challenging.

Still along with work, God gives us a day to rest, recharge our batteries, build family relationships, and the opportunity to strengthen our connection to God in worship. In the old covenant, it was the Sabbath (Saturday); in the new covenant, it is Sunday, the new creation occasioned by the Resurrection of Jesus. The two—rest and work—give balance to our lives. Work gives meaning to our lives from which we can take pride of accomplishment; rest and Sunday worship put it all in perspective. We need both; that’s why God worked and rested. May you have a Happy and Restful Labor Day.

Fr. Carl

What Is Your Heart Condition?

Dear Parishioners,

What is our heart condition? The readings this week speak about our heart condition. Jesus sees what is in the heart of people. (Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Ps 15:2-5 [1a]/Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23)

The heart is the center of our spiritual life just as it is the center of our biological life. Our thinking comes from the heart. Also, our desires and fears arise from our heart. That is why Jesus is perfectly clear when He says that from the heart come evil thoughts, lust, and many other undesirable behaviors. Thus, we sin from within, not from outside.

Although washing hands is a good practice to maintain good physical health, it has nothing to do with our spiritual health. To avoid sin and thus maintain purity, we need to follow God’s commandments; the greatest of them is to love Him and to love others as we love ourselves. Indeed, it is important that we make our body clean, but it is far more important to keep our mind and heart free from evil thoughts and sinful desires.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Making The Right Choice

Dear Parishioners,

One of the things we all need to do is be more grateful and thankful for the blessings we have and the people around us. I want to thank everybody for their prayers and support for one another and the parish during the pandemic. I was particularly impressed by the good stewards who helped clean the pews after each Mass week after week, the ushers who helped seat the people with distance spacing, the many who signed up for electronic fund transfers (EFTs) when they couldn’t bring their envelopes to Mass, the gentleman who recently refinished the pews damaged by the cleaning solutions, and you, so many of whom have come back to Mass. Somebody jokingly said, “They might just get used to watching the Mass on TV in their pajamas with a latte in their hand and the newspaper by their side.” But if there’s anything we learned in the past month from the Gospel of John, if we want to share in the life of Jesus, we must eat the “Bread of Life,” Jesus in Holy Communion. And we can’t do that through television.

Today’s readings call for us to make a choice (Jos 24:1 2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; Jn 6:60-69). At Shechem, Joshua invites the Israelites to make a choice. It’s either the God who liberated them from Egypt or the gods of the Amorites. The people and Joshua made the right choice. The gospel shows Jesus offering Peter a choice as well. He could stay with Jesus or go with the many who left because the teaching of Jesus was “hard to endure.” Peter made the right choice. May we always do the same even when we find His teachings through the Church “hard to endure.”

Please pray for Haiti and Afghanistan.
Fr. Carl

Feast of the Assumption

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday we celebrate the Assumption of Mary. Have you ever wondered why the church uses the word “assumption” instead of “ascension” for this dogma of faith? The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was Assumed body and soul into heaven, but artistic representations throughout the centuries have portrayed our Blessed Mother as Ascending into heaven in a similar fashion as Christ, perhaps carried on the wings of Angels. The reality is assumption is a deeply biblical concept, but is brought about by God’s action. In contrast, an ascension is only recorded once in Sacred Scripture, and it implies that the one who ascends does so by their own power. Therefore, “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.” It is only Jesus, the Son of God, who can ascend and descend from heaven by His own power.  Truly the Feast of the Assumption is good news for all of us who believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We see the Easter promise of our salvation realized in the Assumption of Mary. Mary is the first to receive the fullness of the redemption that her son has won for all of humanity.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Bread of Life

Dear Parishioners,

Again we pause and take a break from Mark’s gospel and listen to John’s. John is the only gospel writer to leave out Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Instead, John gives us 45 verses of Jesus referring to himself as the Bread of Life and what it means for our lives—namely that it is Jesus who give us real life.

The opening verse of today’s gospel uses an unusual word “murmur”. “The Jews started to murmur in protest because Jesus claimed ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven’.” Murmur means rumble or complain and was first used in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites in the desert without water grumble and complain to Moses. Life is hard and they aren’t happy with it. As always, God comes through and leads them to a place with 12 springs and 70 palm trees. So, their murmuring stops until they run out of food and complain to Moses again. So God provides quail to quench their hunger and grumbling.

Human nature often leads to complaining when difficulties or hardships occur. It was that way with both the Jews of Moses’ time and those of Jesus’ time. For the latter, it was hard to believe that a man could actually have come down from heaven and be the bread of life and that eating this bread would lead to eternal life.

Hopefully, we have learned that grumbling, complaining, or murmuring is not the way to go when we encounter any kind of hardship. God loves us and is with us. Let us turn to him for support to help us weather whatever hardships come our way.

Fr. Carl

The Gift of Life

Dear Parishioners,

Over the past few weeks, I’ve celebrated a few birthdays and graduations with family, and I began to think about the whole ritual of giving and receiving gifts.

We are usually quite open to giving gifts, but most of us are reluctant to receive them. Do we readily accept and receive the precious gifts from God—specifically the gift of life? Life is a gift. Life, our very existence, does not originate with us, nor do we will ourselves into being. Creation, itself, is a gift. It is the overflow of love from the eternal love of the Trinity. We cannot demand to exist. All is a free gift. Have we received the gift of life this day? Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not here, all we have is today. Are we receiving this day as a gift from God? Father, thank you for the gift of life. Help me to receive your gift of life today with joy and celebrate it in every circumstance.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

75th Anniversary Events

My Brothers and Sisters of St. Jane Frances,

It has been nice to see many of you returning to Church since the Archdiocese began to open back up. This year, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is celebrating the “Year of the Eucharist.” The Year of the Eucharist was developed by Archbishop William Lori to help us as we move along our path of life and offer us concrete ways to connect with the Lord and experience his never ending light. As a matter of fact, every time we come to church and participate in Mass, we are joined to the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb through Holy Communion. Furthermore, we are even more deeply connected to Jesus as we practice the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. And the more we grow in those virtues, the greater our sharing now in the prize of heaven despite our earthly problems.

As we are planning our 75th Anniversary events, I would invite you to take part of the celebrations in the coming months. On November 14th, Archbishop Lori will be here to celebrate our Anniversary Mass. Following the 11:30am Mass, we will have a luncheon at Kurtz’s Beach. Please consider joining us this day to celebrate our Parish.

Fr. Carl Cummings

Year of the Eucharist

Dear Parishioners,

Many years ago, I had to go to summer school to catch up on math. It was warm with no air conditioning and involved a bit of hard work. It wasn’t much fun. This past week, we had school at St. Jane’s, and it was fun for all involved. It was Vacation Bible School. I attended just two of the sessions but couldn’t get over how enjoyable it was for the 31 children enrolled, our teen aged mentors, and adult supervisors. The final evening was full of life, enthusiasm, and joy. Many thanks to Melissa and all who helped make it the highlight of our summer.

Over the past few months, we had the sad duty to announce the closing of St. Jane Frances Preschool. Since then, people have inquired about the future of the school building. Immediate plans call for it to be used for Parish meetings, Religious Education classes, and Youth Ministry meetings, etc. In addition to parish functions, there will be an Independent Catholic school that will rent some of the classrooms for just one year. In addition to the changes in the school building, a daycare center will rent half of the Parish Center during the current year.

The parish itself remains strong and vibrant. Even though attendance was down as was the offertory, our cost cutting measures and the generosity of so many parishioners signing up for Electronic Fund Transfer donations have left us in a good financial position which will be disclosed in the bulletin when the financials are completed in the next few weeks. Thank you ever so much.

Each year at Mass, our gospel readings concentrate on one of the three synoptic (seen in a similar way) gospels. One year it’s Matthew; another year it’s Luke; and this year it’s Mark. So what happened to John’s gospel? Since Mark’s gospel is the shortest, during his year, there are a number of weeks that we hear from John. As a matter of fact, this week and the following 4 weeks will center on John’s gospel and concentrate on Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse. As the Catholic Church embarks on this Year of the Eucharist, there is no better way to begin than chapter 6 of John’s gospel.

Fr. Carl

Seasons

Dear Parishioners,

As I reflect on the Gospel reading for this week (Mk 6:30-34), I’m reminded of how our world is full of activity that runs in cycles or in rhythm. The seasons of the year, daylight and night time over the 24 hours of a day, even the plant life has its cycles of growth and bearing fruit. There are many other examples—these are just a few. Jesus speaks to us about the cycle or rhythm of the Christian life. The Christian life is a continuous going into the presence of God from the presence of men and coming out into the presence of men from the presence of God. After the activity of ministering and serving others, we must reconnect and recharge in prayer with our Lord, otherwise our spiritual life becomes ineffective.

Deacon Howard

Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Dear Parishioners,

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Feast day is always celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi. It goes back to the late 1600s when Jesus appeared to a nun of the Order of the Visitation, the order founded by St. Jane Frances. The nun, St. Margaret Mary, said that Jesus visited her three times between 1673 and 1675. Our Lord said he was deeply saddened by the ungrateful, neglectful, even contemptuous way he was treated by mankind. He explained how His heart burned for all creation, and that he had perpetually given His mercy, compassion, and uncompromising love to every person. Yet so many, including Christians, were not returning that love.

He asked Margaret Mary to honor his love by frequently receiving holy Communion, especially on the first Friday of every month. He invited her to spend a holy hour the night before offering recompense for what he experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane.

During another visit, Jesus urged the nun to promote a church feast to be held on the Friday after Corpus Christi Sunday. He desired people throughout the world to celebrate the day by receiving holy Communion and by prayer.

Through these pious acts, Christians would make reparation for all the times people have ignored or even mocked his love. In return, Jesus made 12 promises. Among them was that anyone who received holy communion on the first Friday of every month for 9 consecutive months would always know the refuge of His Sacred Heart, especially at the time of death. The promises Jesus made are as follows:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.
5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm hearts will become fervent.
8. Fervent hearts shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of My Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in my heart.
12. Those who make the 9 first Fridays will receive the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

That’s not a bad return for a little extra time with Jesus.

Fr. Carl

Introducing Deacon Howard Klohr

Hello, everyone!

I want to introduce myself to the parish this weekend.  I was ordained a permanent deacon this past May 2021. I’m thrilled to be here at St. Jane Francis parish. I grew up in Glen Burnie and attended Church of the Crucifixion parish all of my life. The parish is now part of Christ the King Church. I’ve lived in Pasadena for over 31 years with my wife Sandy. We’ve raised our three daughters here, all of which are grown adults living here in Pasadena. We have two son-in-laws, two grandsons, and a granddaughter. I hope to get to know each of you as I settle into my vocation in the parish. I look forward to working together in ministry and serving each other as we worship and praise our Lord we love and adore. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our activities as well as our daily lives.  
 
As I reflect on the second reading for Sunday’s mass (2 Cor 12:7-10), I’m reminded of how much we need to surrender our own will, and trust the Lord to work in and through us. When we accept our weakness then we can fully rely on the Lord. It’s when we’re relying on God’s strength that we’re truly strong, for it’s God’s strength working through us, not the strength of our own flesh. When we are weak, but God is strong in and through us, keeping us faithful in our weakness, he can work through us in amazing ways. This brings glory to his name, because it’s clear that it’s not us, but God at work. So, let us be strong in the Lord and go forth in God’s strength and let him bring glory to his name, through us—even through our weaknesses.
 
Again, I look forward to being a part of this parish family and sharing in our faith journey together. I ask that you please keep me in your prayers, and I will keep you in my daily prayers.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

God versus Science

Dear Parishioners,

From time to time, you hear people denying the existence of God. They say, “If God is the is the creator of all things, why did he create evil?” In a book entitled God vs Science, the author answers this way. He begins by talking about heat and cold, and asks the atheistic professor, who has been questioning God’s greatness, “Professor is there such a thing as heat?” The professor answers, “Yes.” “And is there such a thing as cold?” Again, the professor answers “Yes” to which the student answers, “No sir there isn’t.” The student explains “You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super heat, mega heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest 458 degrees.

The student then does the same thing with light and darkness to show that darkness doesn’t exist by itself; it is the absence of light.

Finally, the student asks “Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?” The professor answers “Yes” and then refers to the news saying that you read and hear about all the crimes reported. To this the student replied “Evil does not exist or at least it doesn’t exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.” The professor had nothing to say and sat down.

Fr. Carl

P.S.: The student’s name was Albert Einstein.

God’s Plan For Us

Dear Parishioners,

As I am writing this, I am thinking that this will be my last reflection for the bulletin. I have enjoyed writing these little notes, and I hope they have not been too annoying! 

Our readings today speak about trust in God who quells the storms in our lives (Jb 38:1, 8-11; Ps 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31; 2Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41). I would say that this is perhaps the biggest decision we need to make. Above many things is our need to say to Christ, “Yes, I trust you.” I believe that my move to St. Mary’s will be lead by God. It is my job to listen for what God is offering to me and what He wants from me. My answer will come in the opportunities I am given, the people I meet, the little nudges I get from family, friends, and church. This move, if guided by God, by me allowing God’s will to guide me and the Holy Spirit to inform me, will result in good things. 

Can I say how this will happen? Well, no. Can I tell you how God will use me for His purposes? Well, no. But I need to work at saying “yes” to God and trusting Him with my life. I don’t always follow this wonderful dictate, I sometimes act selfishly and say stupid stuff or do dumb things. I hope that God has a sense of humor. He needs it with most of us! But when I reflect and think reasonably, my trusting God is the only thing that really makes sense. If I try to seek out happiness, that doesn’t work because some circumstances are not happy. If I try to fill up things with money or activity, that doesn’t work for the important things can’t be bought, and sometimes the best reaction is simple quiet. Let us trust in God and be open to His will. Let us know that God will reveal His plan in His time and in His way. Let us listen and keep our eyes open to His presence and His word.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Changes and Blessings

Dear Parishioners,

This is the time of the year for changes. As you know, our deacon, Steve House, will be leaving to serve at St. Mary’s in Annapolis, and our music director, Jay Klapka, is retiring after a long career. They will be very much missed. However, the Lord has blessed us and given us two replacements. Deacon Howard Klohr and his wife, Sandy, will be joining us on July 1st. Deacon Howard was just ordained, has lived in Pasadena the last 30 years, is the father of 3 grown daughters and a grandfather of three. Our new Director of Music is Robert Henry and has served as an organist/music director for the past 21 years in different churches in the Archdiocese. I am pleased to welcome both of them on board.

While I am not a fan of modern technology and am frequently frustrated by my computer and the never ending changes, I cannot live without my smart phone. I so much appreciate the information I can get and the tasks it will do for me. Today, we can do so much more with it and all the other labor saving devices on the market, that we are losing the virtue of patience. Our consumerist culture brainwashes us to expect almost instant, visible results. But that’s not how God works. In the Gospel (Mk 4:26–34), Jesus uses the image of the farmer and the seed. It takes a good while for all the seeds planted to grow and become the harvest. It took 600 years for God to plant the seed with Abraham and bring it to fruition in Moses, and another 1200 years to grow into the incarnation of Jesus. Now there are over 1 billion Catholics in the world!

We have had the seed of God’s love planted in us at baptism and are called to grow in holiness. But that takes time—actually a whole lifetime. And so we must be patient with ourselves as we grow. We will make mistakes along the way, so we must be patient with ourselves, because God is patient with us. As Mother Theresa used to say, “God doesn’t ask us to be successful; he asks us to be faithful.”

Fr. Carl

Feast of Corpus Christi

Dear Parishioners,

I was driving to church a couple of weeks ago when my car was hit on Richie Highway. It was totaled, and we had to get a new car. This is what I feared about the trip from Annapolis. So, I am relieved that with my reassignment, I won’t have to regularly do the trip. But the accident also brought home to me God’s protection. Had the car hit my car a couple of feet further to the front, my door would have been hit, and who knows what injury would have occurred. As it was, I was thankfully not injured.  
 
God’s protection and presence in my life is a source of goodness and holiness that I readily acknowledge and seek out. This is a reflection of my faith. Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. This Solemnity recognizes the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is his body and blood, soul and divinity. It dates back to 1264 and Pope Urban IV, under the influence of St. Juliana of Mount Cornillon, Belgium, a sister who had great devotion to the Eucharist and St. Thomas Aquinas, the great theologian. The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist means that we believe that Christ is truly present, and as we consume the Eucharist, Christ comes to be present in our body, mind, and spirit. The Eucharist is significantly described by the Vatican II Council as the source and summit of our faith. Christ is therefore present in the world around us and in ourselves, having partaken of the Eucharist. We live in him and he in us, in him we have our being. Let us therefore be aware of his true presence and be open to the fruits of his presence and thankful for its benefits.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Part Of The Family

Dear Parishioners, 

In last week’s bulletin, Deacon Steve announced that he was being reassigned to St. Mary’s in Annapolis, effective July 1, 2021. While it is sad to see him go, it will be a relief for him and his wife, Rochelle, to serve in a parish much closer to their home. Deacon Steve has been a tremendous help to the parish and me personally. St. Mary’s is getting a choice blessing with him and his wife. We wish them all the best. 

This weekend, we celebrate Trinity Sunday and look to this central mystery of our faith. It’s all about God’s family—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who live in an eternal relationship and community of mutual love and support. It’s a community like no other, for as you travel about, you find many lovely communities. However, the nicest are usually gated to keep out unwanted visitors. The Holy Trinity is an open community where all are welcome. When we were baptized, we were welcomed into this community and given membership privileges to dine with the Trinity at Mass and socialize and converse with them in prayer. At the same time, we are expected to reflect their behavior of love both towards God and neighbor.

May we always strive to make the Trinity proud to call us part of the family.

Fr. Carl

Farewell from Deacon Steve

Dear Parishioners,

It is with sadness that I report that I will be leaving St. Jane Frances Parish in July. I have been reassigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis, effective July 1st. This past December, 2020, I was asked if I would be interested in joining the staff at St. Mary’s. Because I live in Annapolis, it was an opportunity that was hard to turn down. I went through the process for clergy to be reassigned, and I recently received a letter from Archbishop Lori indicating my change in assignment. 

I have to admit that the drive from Annapolis for St. Jane Frances for activities and Mass can be stressful and tiring. I welcome the loss of an hour trip to make an evening meeting, but I also will mourn the loss of the opportunity to serve the people of St. Jane Frances Parish. In my almost 5 years here, I have developed many wonderful relationships. It has been a pleasure to serve the community. It has been a pastoral assignment that I have enjoyed. I have grown as a deacon through the many communion services, Grief ministry meetings, Marriage prep, Men’s ministry, Adoration, days at NCEON, RCIA and ME time presentations, homilies, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. 

My love of the deaconate comes from the opportunity it gives me to be involved with people and share Christ with them. I thank the staff—Gina, Tracey, Melissa, and Claire—for their dedication and help over these years. I want to especially thank Fr. Carl for his leadership, support, and openness to my activities. I wish also to apologize for my shortcomings and for anything offensive I may have said or done. I keep a prayer list of people for whom I pray, and on this list are several parishes where I have worked during my time as a deacon. Please know that I will also pray daily for the good people of St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Please pray for me and for our church.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Heaven On Earth

Dear Parishioners,

As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, our thoughts are lifted up to heaven. We might well wonder what it will be like. And if things are not going well in our lives, we might hope to get there soon. However, we don’t have to wait until death to experience heaven. As a matter of fact, every time we come to church and participate in Mass we are joined to the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb through Holy Communion. Furthermore, we are even more deeply connected to Jesus as we practice the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. And the more we grow in those virtues, the greater our sharing now in the prize of heaven despite our earthly problems.

Fr. Carl

Hail Mary, Full Of Grace

Dear Parishioners, 

May is Mary’s month. The weather has been pleasant, sunny, and warm. I imagine it to be like Mary’s disposition. When I think of Mary, I recall her “Yes” to the angel of God. Yes to being the mother of our Lord. Yes to a life she was probably not expecting. Yes to a major role in the history of the world. Yes to her contribution to the life of her son. Mary’s humanity was given freely to Jesus. His love and mercy, his self-giving spirit, his obedience to the Father—all these reflect also the disposition of his mother. 

How can we judge our own “Yes” in faith compared to Mary’s? I have said yes to marriage, probably not really knowing what I was getting into. I said yes to having kids, again not knowing the full life-changing decision that would be. I was ignorant but hopeful, willing to take the risk tempered by optimism. I said yes to the deaconate, not really knowing how I would be changed by the journey but open to God’s hand in my life. These pale to the enormity of Mary’s yes. Her yes further opened the door to God’s intervention and revelation in this world. Her yes was not the whole of it, but it began the revelation of God in earnest. 

The birth of Christ was given a place, a time, a family and a person in Mary. Like the gears of a huge clock turning through the years, churning through the centuries, Mary’s yes was the clock striking the significant hour that resounded through the universe. God’s plan was made real. It stood on the simple yes of a very young woman whose assent flung open the movement of God’s goodness and love. The spirit was released and rested upon her, sending grace into her life in a way not seen before. Mary, Mother of God, how can we thank you, how can we love you, how can we adore you enough? This month of Mary, let us contemplate the ways we can fashion our yes to God after hers. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

 

“Never be afraid of loving Mary too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”
- St. Maximilian Kolbe

No “Free Lunch”

Dear Parishioners,

This past weekend, a number of our children made their first Holy Communion, receiving Jesus’ body and blood, soul and divinity for the very first time. And I tried to impress upon them and their parents the
importance of this sacrament. Of the seven, it is the only one we call the “Blessed Sacrament,” because this food doesn’t just become a part of us. We become a part of it and become one with Jesus and the other members of the Church. We enter into a common union, and strengthen it by our prayers and sacrifices. 

This weekend it is fitting that Jesus refers to himself as the vine and ourselves as the branches. The vine carries the nourishment for the branches and keeps them alive so that they can provide fruit. The branches depend on the vine, for without it, they cannot produce fruit. As branches of the vine, Jesus nourishes us with the Eucharist, expecting us to bear the fruit of obedience and love of God as well as love of neighbor.

With this great privilege of being in communion with Jesus and the Church comes the responsibility of being fruitful Catholics. Jesus refers to the unfruitful branches as withered and useless, and fit only to be thrown into the fire and burnt. That’s a wake up call for all of us and a reminder that there’s no such thing as a “free lunch.” However, great things await those who live in God’s words and bear much fruit, for they truly become Jesus’ disciples.

Fr. Carl

Thank You, Lord

Dear Parishioners,

I live with a two year old. Now for those of you who know, that means that there is always activity, always chatter, and always a little presence you have to be aware of. Because of Easter, we are doing egg hunts. This means we hide the 6 plastic eggs in plain sight, while the little one goes and finds them. There used to be more! She gets so excited even when it is hidden in the same spot over and over. She doesn’t tire of the game. Something else that recently happened was that I pulled my phone from my pocket and out spilled the small wooden cross I have in my pocket. Little Harper saw this and said, “Baby Jesus!” We were all surprised even though we have read to her about the Nativity and other stories about Jesus. It told me that she has been touched by “Baby Jesus,” and that it is something we can build on and elaborate and connect to her life. 

For me, it also points to the hope and promise that Easter brings. Little Harper doesn’t know about the suffering that Christ went through, the wonderful things he did and said, and his position as Son of God. She doesn’t know about church history, or the Mass, or the Eucharist yet. But the ground has been tilled and the seed planted. God is sharing His life with her in a simple way, and the Holy Spirit is at work. 

The joy and beautiful morning of Easter has radiated out. The living presence of God is at work and has captured the mind and heart of another Christian, albeit a small and innocent one, whose new journey in Christ has only just begun. Thank you Lord for being with us. Thank you Lord for giving your life to us. Thank you for your promise and your loving presence that touches even the heart of a little child!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

The Ultimate Comfort Food

Dear Parishioners,

From time to time you hear the term “comfort food.” I never knew exactly what it meant, until I googled it. Originally used in a 1966 newspaper story, it was what adults under severe emotional stress turned to in order to bring back the security of childhood—like mother’s chicken soup. It had a sentimental or nostalgic appeal. These foods provide a temporary sense of well being and make a person feel good.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced the ultimate “comfort food” on the road when they met Jesus and broke bread with Him (Lk 24:35-48). Beforehand, they were discouraged and running away from Jerusalem due to the apparent loss of all their hopes and dreams caused by the crucifixion. However, that meal of the breaking of the bread led to their reconnection with Jesus, a renewed hope, and the energy, enthusiasm, and confidence to return to Jerusalem. What great comfort they received!

There are times in our lives when we might feel as those disciples. And we, too, need an Emmaus experience with Jesus. Only we don’t have to take a long walk, because Jesus is here each weekend at Mass, providing the extreme comfort food “the breaking of bread” (the Eucharist).

Fr. Carl

Christ’s Gift Of Peace

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I hope that you had a meaningful and moving Easter celebration. For me, Easter is indeed the high point of the year. It comes with the beginning of Spring, so there is a sense of hope and new life in the air. I know that having to wear masks can be a hassle, but I am hopeful that the end of the pandemic is in sight. I want to ask you to do something. Wherever you are, stop what you are doing, pause, and take a deep breath. Close your eyes and conjure up an image of Jesus standing before you. He has been crucified and has suffered but has been raised up in resurrection. He is offering you His peace. He told his disciples, “My peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” He is offering that peace to you as well. See Him opens his hands to you and smile at you, for you are his beloved. Can you relax your tension, your anxiety, your life plans and actions for a little while, and allow Christ to give you this gift?

The gift of Christ in Easter is His life for us and the promise of life with Him. Today, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday which reflects the meaning of Christ’s passion, suffering, death, and resurrection. God loves us truly, with our faults and blemishes, weaknesses and failures. But also in our good actions and loving relationships. We cannot be separated from Him. His mercy is divine and thus hard for us to understand and even comprehend. The God of Love cares for us, we are his people. We are the subjects of His care and attention. In our trials and pain, Christ is there wanting to ease our suffering. He is offering us peace. While the Easter season will last another month or so, let us work on believing in His peace and accepting it into our lives.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Happy Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

How different it is from last Easter to this Easter. No one was at Mass except the priest celebrant, one or two assistants, and the videographer. Thanks be to God, we will be able to accommodate many more this year. Still because of the virus, social distancing, and the reluctance of many to come out of concerns for their underlying health conditions and fear of the virus, attendance will be less than in previous years.

As the days grow longer, warmer, and brighter, so too does our morale. However, it’s not just the weather; it’s Easter! The joy of the Resurrection following the Passion and Crucifixion restores hope and brings joy to our hearts. Former baseball player, manager, and Hall of Fame member Leo “the Lip” Durocher once quipped, “Nice guys finish last.” That’s not really true in baseball, it’s not true in life, and it’s certainly not true about Jesus’ apparent defeat on Good Friday. He came back on Easter stronger than ever having shut out Satan, the forces of evil, and even death itself. So while the virus will present some difficulties in the days ahead, Jesus serves not only as an example of “Good” triumphing over “evil,” He also wants to be our companion in our journey through life.

Happy Easter!
Fr. Carl

Sacred Lessons Of Holy Week

Dear Parishioners,

Today we begin with Palm Sunday, the remembrance of the wondrous events of Holy Week. We remember all that happened so long ago. But if these events were only relegated to the past, something that happened to people long gone in a place that no longer exists, remembering would be nice but not particularly significant. This is by far not the case however. 

What happened in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago led to an eruption of energy that continues to reverberate today. The crucifixion of Christ and his glorious resurrection broke open the movement of God that significantly touches us today. Our lives were present in that terrible suffering of Christ. The mercy displayed in the love of God by the suffering of his Son continues to touch us. The powerful truth of the events of Holy week do not fade over time. God is constant in his love and mercy, and these do not come and go with the passing of time. 

The world changed those days in Jerusalem, and our lives were formed in many ways by those events. The purpose of our lives, the way we relate to one another, the importance of our families, how we look at our gifts, the liturgies we celebrate, our relationship with the living God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—all find their source in those ancient moments of profound significance. Christ endured pain and sorrow, betrayal and trial, adulation and mockery. Yet he spoke to us through those events clearly and with a strong voice, saying that his life was in service to ours, and our lives were to be for him and each other. He showed us how to be church and to be a community. He showed us what service, sacrifice, and love is. Let us be open this week to all these sacred lessons.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Passiontide Begins

Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend Daylight Savings Time began as we set our clocks forward one hour. We also had several days of spring-like weather. This weekend, we celebrate the actual arrival of Spring and hope the warming trend continues. We also hope the increasing availability of vaccines will drive down the Covid-19 virus even farther, resulting in its eventual elimination and a return to normalcy.

We passed the half-way point of Lent last week, and this weekend we begin Passiontide, the last 2 weeks of Lent. With the death of winter and new life starting to show in the flowers, shrubs, and trees, our spirits are beginning to rise. However, death is in the air. Next Sunday will be Passion Sunday, and we will revisit that terrible ordeal of our Lord. But today’s gospel puts it in a different light (Jn 11:1-45). Jesus says about his passion and crucifixion, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” In other words, it’s not a shameful humiliating defeat; it’s a time of triumph and glory, for Satan will be defeated and mankind saved. It’s also an opportunity for us to see our pains, sorrows, disappointments, and sufferings as sharing in the cross of Christ. And of course doing so willingly brings us closer to Jesus in our earthly relationships and eventually to our heavenly relationships.

God Bless,
Fr. Carl

Parish Mission this week!

Dear Parishioners,

Our time in Lent is a special time having us to focus anew on the practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is fitting that we should also have the opportunity to gather our community for our Parish Mission. I am especially excited because this year our speaker will be Fr. Paschal A. Morlino, OSB. 

The “OSB” indicates that he is of the Order of St. Benedict. My deacon formation was administered by the Archabbey of St. Meinrad, a Benedictine monastery in southern Indiana. I have to say that I owe a big portion of my spiritual growth to the monks of St. Meinrad. The Archabbey was built in the late 1800s in southern Indiana. My parish in Indiana conducted Men’s retreats at the Archabbey once a year for more than 25 years. I cannot think about the place without a warm remembrance of the interesting, joyfilled, and instructional retreats we had. The Archabbey staff also administered our deacon formation which culminated in a weeklong retreat at the Archabbey learning how to give homilies.

From looking over his biography, Fr. Morlino does not have a direct connection with St. Meinrad, but has been associated with several Abbeys over the long course of his varied ministerial career. He has been at St. Benedict Parish in Baltimore since 1984. I will not try to describe his vast and interesting experiences. But let me say that our Parish Mission is a time to reflect on our faith and a time to join with our fellow parishioners in asking where is God in our lives and how can I better serve Him? This is a time to have our faith touched and renewed. We have come through a terrifically difficult year. We are all worn down and exhausted by the challenges we have endured. Can you let God give you a gift of time and renewal? Come and join with us as we allow Fr. Morlino to help us rejuvenate our spirits. The Parish Mission is March 15th, 16th, and 17th at 7:00 pm.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Freedoms and Laws

Dear Parishioners,

We are a people who love our freedoms. As we look around and see those living in countries under the yoke of dictatorships, communism, socialism, or military control, we thank the good Lord for our freedom. Unfortunately, some see the Ten Commandments or laws of God as restricting or limiting our freedoms. Actually, they are guides to happiness and peace of mind. In the Book of Deuteronomy 6:3 Moses tells Israel about the commandments. “Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more...” Then in verse 24, Moses says “Therefore, the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes in fear of the Lord, our God, that we may always have as prosperous and happy life as we have today.” Now any way of living that promises prosperity and happiness is what most people really want. The problem is that temptation comes into the picture, and sinful choices are attractively presented. To resist temptation requires sacrifice which is never easy. However, when we don’t resist it, we usually feel guilty and unhappy with ourselves afterward. At least, that’s been my experience and most people I know.

Fortunately, when we fail to keep the commandments, we have a remedy to restore our relationship with God. Of course, you know that I am talking about: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Now is a good time to make use of it as we prepare for Easter. The times are still 3:30–4:30pm on Saturday and by appointment in the Rectory. I encourage you to come soon before the lines grow too long!

Fr. Carl

Fasting, Prayer And Almsgiving

Dear Parishioners,

I heard an interview recently with a man who wrote a book on gratitude. He wasn’t religious, but it got me thinking about Lent and the many gifts of God that I have received. 

Lent is a time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In all these, God’s abundance has been made clear to me. In fasting, I am thinking about the food we have. Our refrigerator has been adequately stocked. Even in the pandemic, we ate well. Of course, toilet paper was hard to find as were cleaning supplies. We would go to the grocery store real early or real late to avoid others, and we wiped down each item. But we did not starve. I am grateful that I may fast, not out of necessity, but as a matter of my decision to sacrifice to make a space for God in my life. 

My prayer life is strong I believe. Over the past year, it has focused on all those who have passed or been sick. The loss of life due to the pandemic is beyond comprehension, but my prayer has been a tool that has helped me to offer up what little I can for the invisible suffering around me. My prayer has also been a comfort and consolation, and in Lent a way to thank God for his goodness. 

I am retired and done with the everyday grind of work. My friends however, say that I still work, I am a deacon! But we have been blessed with savings and income to get through these hard times. Our kids all work from home, so they have not been affected financially. We continue to give to the church, organizations, and others in need. I thank God for his generosity to us and know how privileged we are. I ask his blessings on those who are struggling. Lent has a deeper meaning this year it seems. Thank you Lord for your abundant gifts this past year. Help us this Lent to give back to You in sacrifice of our appetites, our wallets, and our time in prayer.

Deacon Steve

Have You Read My Book?

Dear Parishioners,

Congratulations to our young people who are being confirmed by Bishop Adam Parker this weekend at the 11:30 Mass. They have worked hard attending weekly classes, a day of recollection, and an interview by me, their pastor. We look forward to their increased involvement in the life of the parish.

We are now in the Lenten season and find Jesus in the desert for 40 days being put to the test by Satan (Mk 1:12-15). It is now that yearly time for us to join Jesus by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One of the best ways to make this Lent special is to participate in a podcast that a number of parishioners have recommended. It’s entitled “The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz.” Each podcast is 15–20 minutes long, and you can start at Day 1 (January 1) or jump in on the current day if you are familiar with the bible. I just started today and found it very well done. I started with Day 1 and will listen to several a day until I catch up with Fr. Mike. You might remember that Pope Francis has designated the Third Sunday of the Year as Bible Sunday as an encouragement for all Catholics to become more familiar with the Bible. For as St. Jerome used to say, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” I don’t know exactly how our interviews for entrance into heaven will go, but what if God asks us, “Have you read my book?” It’s the best seller of all time, and Lent is the perfect time to start; and if you’ve read it once, read it again. The prolific author Louis L’Amour wrote “If you’ve only read a great book once, you haven’t read it at all.”

Fr. Carl

Go To The Next Level

Dear Parishioners,

Our faith is a wonderful gift from God. From the beauty of the Mass to the cleansing power of Reconciliation, our faith gives us a way of life that is life giving and filled with goodness. For me, the actions of the Church, its liturgy and beliefs, the community it sustains, and the giving charity it supports, help me to keep focused on the reality that is bigger than myself. I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t have a loving God to draw me out of my selfishness. I think it is easy to see many examples of others who are self-focused and whose life begins and ends with what they can get for themselves. This is natural and ordinary and a function of our need to survive, feed our hunger, and need for safety. 

But Christ calls us to an extraordinary life! We are to love our enemies, forgive 7 times 70, and turn the other cheek. Christ is asking us to go beyond our genetic need to protect ourselves and what is ours. He is asking us to go to the next level, to join with others in a deep, personal, and supportive manner. We are to love one another as He loves us. We are to see others as having dignity and value. We are to share with others a piece of our bread, some of our clothing, some of our time. 

In a very small way, wearing a mask is for others. I live in a basement apartment that has a family of 5 upstairs. For me, being other-centered is what happens in a typical day. We watch the little one, we pick someone up, we eat together at times. I guess you could say that my lifestyle is communal! And so I find God in these little actions. Really, while I need some quiet alone time, I thank God for all my life includes: the kids, the noise and commotion, the church and the community!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Remain Faithful To God

Dear Parishioners,

After serving many years at St. Jane Frances as Youth Minister and then as Administrator of Religious Education, Claire Horvath, after prayerful consideration, is stepping away from these ministries to spend more time with her family. She has given countless hours above and beyond her contracted responsibilities. We are very grateful for her dedicated service. However, as a good steward, she will continue sharing her talents as a volunteer in different ways e.g, Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, etc. In the meantime, Melissa Boyle will be in charge of religious education, sacrament preparation, and Youth Ministry.

Whenever you have a really bad time in your life and a number of problems, difficulties, or even tragedies happen to you, read the Book of Job. He had it all—oxen, camels, sheep, and children. Then he lost it all—one trial after another, after another, after another. Still he remained faithful to God. Even after he became covered in boils, he remained faithful. Even worse, he had to listen to several friends explaining why these things happened to him. Still, while he curses the day he was born, he remains faithful to God. And because he does, God restores all the blessings Job had at the beginning. Hardships and even tragedies may come our way, but if we remain faithful to God, we will be rewarded—maybe not in this life, but in the life to come.

Fr. Carl

Year of St. Joseph

Dear Parishioners,

I got my first shot for the Covid 19 virus last week. After registering online and getting an appointment, I drove down to Anne Arundel Community College to the Cade Building, went in, and received my shot five minutes later. All was well organized, and I spent the majority of my time sitting for the required 15 minutes afterwards to make sure there were no side effects. If you haven’t registered yet, I encourage you to do so soon.

This weekend marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. This system of schools has done so much to prepare her students academically and spiritually to take their rightful place in society and the church. Sadly, we had to close our school last year due to a lack of students and financial resources. In its place, we opened up a preschool (PK2–PK4) in the hopes that our school can rise again. Please be generous in your support of our pre-school.

Several months ago, Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church. He did so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” 

The Church will grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who recite any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph especially on March 19th, the saint’s solemnity, and May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The indulgence will also be offered on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, a day dedicated to St. Joseph.

The three conditions necessary for receiving a plenary indulgence are sacramental confession, the reception of Holy Communion, and a prayer for the pope’s intentions.

Fr. Carl

Taking Chances

Dear Parishioners,

Today we have the incredible story of Christ’s call to the first disciples (Mk 1:14-20). It is extraordinary, because he asks them to follow, and they drop what they are doing, leave their jobs and family, and begin to follow him. This certainly says something about the power of Christ to have an impact on people. Whether it was his persuasive ability or the power of the Holy Spirit, the event is hard to take in. What would it take for you to leave all that you know and follow some person who makes an offer to you? What would you be willing to give up, and what would that offer have to be to give it up?

We don’t make such moves very often. I have moved to a different state for a job. I have packed all I owned in my little car to go to graduate school, moving several states west. My risk was so much less than the disciples. And the payoff so much less as well. They said “yes” to years of divine instruction in the wisdom and example of Jesus Christ. Little did they know that they were on a journey to change the world with the greatest teacher who ever existed. Little did they know that they were embarking on a path that would lead them to live with, eat with, sleep with, walk with the living God of Christ.

The impact they would have and the significance they would exert were probably beyond any of their imaginations. The dimensions of the life they acceded to, miracles they would witness, tragedy they would encounter, were but shadows in their awareness. Yet they took the chance. They said “yes.” And my, how the world has benefited from that yes. So let us say “yes,” let us impact the lives of others with Christ’s love and care as our guides. Let us exhibit even some small part of that yes, and allow Christ to impact our lives and those around us.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Prayer for Government

Dear Parishioners,

What a week! Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse in our country there was the turmoil at the Capitol Building in Washington. I understand from one of our parishioners who was there that it was mostly peaceful with a number of the demonstrators praying for our country and some even down on their knees. Unfortunately, a number of others protested in a violent way, and five people died. Archbishop Lori has asked us to pray for our country—the Prayer of St. Francis or the Rosary. Furthermore, the Archbishop has asked us to perform some act of penance on Friday the 15th. Since this day has come and gone, we could do it on the following Friday. Finally, the Archbishop suggests, on the eve of the Inauguration, January 19th, we pray Archbishop John Carroll’s Prayer for the government of the United States composed in 1791.

As we rebound from the unfortunate events in Washington, we might look to the example of Rev. Martin Luther King who called for some much needed change in our country. His method was one of non-violence and prayer. His way did so much good and helped improve conditions for so many of our African American brothers and sisters. While not all problems were solved, many were. Let us hope that dialogue will replace diatribe (bitter and abusive speech), for what we are doing now isn’t working. May the Lord help us make the sacrifices necessary to bring healing to our country.

 Fr. Carl

Happier New Year

Dear Parishioners,

One of the things I often say at a Baptism is that the baptism signifies a new beginning for the infant being baptized. We Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit enters the heart of the infant who undergoes this beautiful Sacrament of initiation. In scripture, this is represented by the dove who appears when Jesus comes out of the water after his baptism by St. John the Baptist. As we contemplate scripture and think about our own baptisms, let us open up our lives to those new things that God has in store for us. 

The past year has been very difficult, and the new will not be without struggle, but God is inviting us to a new awakening in the Spirit. How can your life be changed by God’s invitation? What areas are in need of repair, what parts of your life need renewal, where is God needed to fix some brokenness? We all have New Year’s resolutions, but this is a deeper, truer, and more profound change that we are being called to experience. I know that my life is not perfect and that I need God’s presence in order to live up to the holiness, reverence, and love that He calls me to. Can we trust the Holy Spirit to energize us to be more faithful followers of Christ? Can we let go of our control enough to give over to God the power of my being so that I may be a person in whom God’s Spirit resides? Where in my relationships is God’s peace and charity needed? How can my loving energy impact my family, work, community or church? 

Baptism brings light to the world, renews the world, through the presence of the Holy Spirit. At this beginning of the new year, let us seek to spread this light of joy and peace.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Brighter Days Ahead

Dear Parishioners,

As you know, we are in the month of January of the New Year, hoping and praying that this new year will be very different from the old year 2020. January gets its name from the old Roman god Janus, the father of Zeus. Janus was a most unusual god as he had two faces—one in the front of his head and one in the back. So Janus was able to look forward and look back at the same time. In January, especially on New Year’s Eve and Day, we do the same thing. We remember the significant blessings as well as the difficulties of the past year that we and the world encountered, while we look forward to a brighter future. Only this year when we look back, the Covid-19 virus is going to overshadow all that happened—good or bad. However, as we look forward, the future—thanks to two vaccines—looks much brighter, and we can look forward to a brighter year.

Talking about bright, today we are reminded of the bright star that led the Magi/the 3 Kings/the 3 Wise Men to the infant Jesus. So how come King Herod and the people of Jerusalem failed to see the star? I believe the reason is they were not looking for it, nor were they looking for Jesus or even God the Father. Instead, they were focused on their own self interests: financial success, security, material goods, popularity, pleasure, etc. And so they missed the boat, or in this instance, the caravan.

As we look back on the past year, let us not forget our family or friends who succumbed to the virus, be grateful for our having survived, and pray for the rapid distribution of the vaccines in the months ahead.
May you and your families stay safe, healthy, and have a Happier New Year.

Fr. Carl