Feast of the Holy Family

Dear Friends of the Pastorate,

I can’t think of another feast day in the Church calendar more relevant and needed today than the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It’s relevant, because it denotes God’s ordered plan for the family: a mother, a father, and children. The simplicity, truth, goodness, and beauty of such a family cannot be redefined or supplanted as some today are trying to do. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is needed, because it reminds us how God chose to unite Himself lovingly to us, the supernatural to the natural: in the midst of a family, God is with us—“Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23).

God knows that none of us grew up in the Holy Family, and that our natural biological family can be plagued by dysfunction, sin, and division. This is why God “adopted” us into the fullness of His own family, the Catholic Church, through baptism. But God also knows that even members of our Church family can be plagued by dysfunction, sin, and division; none of us are as holy as the Holy Family is. Yet even in its holiness, the Holy Family was not immune from suffering, as Simeon in today’s gospel prophesied to Mary: “and you yourself a sword will pierce.” (Luke 2:22-40)

Regardless of the particular state of our biological or church family, and our suffering, God calls us individually and collectively to be united to Him through the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, with its visible and spiritual dimension and its human and divine elements. The Lord knows the weakness of our human nature, yet He lavishes His grace upon us in the sacraments, especially in Holy Communion. We look forward to the Day when those who remain faithful to Jesus will be freed and purged of all effects of sin and become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

In the meantime, we live in the imperfect communities of our biological and church families. God has patience with all of us, with our faults, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).” Today, let us look for inspiration and intercessory help from the Holy Family, and let us be God’s instrument to bestow His love and mercy to our families through the grace we receive from Jesus Himself in Holy Communion. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

On behalf of all of us from our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—I would like to wish all of you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas! This is a great time of the year as we remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and celebrate the miraculous events that begin Jesus’ journey from the wood of the manger to the wood of the Cross. Christ is Born! Alleluia! Enjoy this joyous season surrounded by the love of family and friends… and invite them to Mass with you!

Our Christmas Mass Eve schedule is as follows. At Our Lady of the Chesapeake, there will be Masses at 3:30pm (with Fr. Martin Burnham), 5:30pm, and 7:30pm (our Youth and Family Mass with Carols beginning at 7:00pm). At St. Jane Frances, Masses will be at 4:00pm and 6:00pm. Our Pastorate Christmas Eve Mass at Night will begin at 10:00pm at St. Jane Frances, with Carols starting at 9:30pm. This Mass will feature our combined music ministry choirs as well as the return of the Bell Choir, so please come and join Fr. Jim and myself as we celebrate together our Pastorate of the Visitation Christmas Mass. On Christmas morning, there will be a 9:30am Mass at St. Jane Frances and 10:30am Mass at OLC.

Next weekend, will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Holy Family over the weekend (regular weekend Mass schedule) and then the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st. Since the Solemnity of Mary falls on a Monday, there is no “obligation” to attend Mass; however, you are warmly invited to join us for one of our two Pastorate Masses as we honor our Blessed Mother and start our civil New Year. Our world, our nation, and our families are in need of prayer, so please join us! There will be a vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Mary on Sunday, December 31st at 5:00pm at St. Jane Frances and a Mass on the feast day, January 1st at 10:00am at Our Lady of the Chesapeake.

Finally, as we come to the end of the year, I would like to invite you to consider making an end of year donation to your parish for Christmas or an IRA distribution. At St. Jane Frances, please consider a “Church tax free” gift to the School/Parish Hall roof replacement fund or at OLC, a gift to support our religious education programs. Thank you!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

Merry Christmas!
Father Steve

Rejoice Sunday!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday, as we are rapidly approaching the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! Our readings speak to us about our need, or maybe more appropriately, our response to God’s gracious act of being born among us in Jesus Christ. We can’t but rejoice at this good news and be thankful for the gift of salvation being offered to us by Christ’s coming: first as an infant in Bethlehem and second as King of the Universe. As we continue on our Advent journey, may we join with John the Baptist in making straight the way of the Lord as well prepare to welcome Christ today and every day.

On Monday, December 18th at 7:00pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake, we will be offering our second Pastorate Advent Reconciliation Service. This is another great way to prepare ourselves to welcome Christ into our lives by celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation and forgiveness. I invite you to make time to experience this wonderful gift of God’s love and mercy.

Next weekend is the 4th Sunday of Advent, but as you know, that Sunday is also Christmas Eve. It will be a busy day in the Church as we make the transition from Advent to Christmas. We will be offering our 4th Sunday of Advent Masses in the morning: 8:00am and 10:00am at St Jane Frances and 8:30am at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. The 10:45am and 11:30am Masses are cancelled on December 24th. Bishop Adam Parker will be celebrating the 10:00am Mass at St. Jane Frances that morning, so please welcome him to our pastorate!

Our Christmas Mass Eve schedule is as follows. At Our Lady of the Chesapeake, there will be Masses at 3:30pm (with Fr. Martin Burnham), 5:30pm, and 7:30pm (our Youth and Family Mass with Carols beginning at 7:00pm). At St. Jane Frances, Masses will be at 4:00pm and 6:00pm. Our Pastorate Christmas Eve Mass at Night will begin at 10:00pm at St. Jane Frances, with Carols starting at 9:30pm. This Mass will feature our combined music ministry choirs as well as the return of the Bell Choir, so please come and join Fr. Jim and myself as we celebrate together our Pastorate of the Visitation Christmas Mass. On Christmas morning, there will be a 9:30am Mass at St Jane Frances and 10:30am Mass at OLC.

As challenging as it may be, I invite you to be intentional this week in spending time to prepare yourself for next weekend’s celebrations. Find time to enter into prayer more deeply than usual. Try to block out some quiet time on your busy calendars. Jesus is waiting to welcome you into a deeper friendship, so make time to get together with your “old friend, Jesus.”

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Prepare The Way

Brothers and Sisters,

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, be prepared to welcome him.” As we look at the Gospel reading for this week (Mk 1:1-8), this is what we see going on. The King is coming, and He has sent a herald, John the Baptist, to announce His arrival. The king, of course, is Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. John’s message is that the people need to reform 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, Mark emphasizes the 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 significant moment in the world’s history, and wanted to do everything possible to awaken his people of His coming.

Christ longs to dwell in every human heart; there are many who have not met him or welcomed him. With each person, Jesus continues to use this same approach as in the Gospel reading. He sends his heralds ahead of him. We are those heralds today. Each of us is Christ’s messenger, boldly proclaiming 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 cooperating with the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts for the Lord. Are we being faithful messengers?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Deeper Meaning Of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

What is the deeper meaning of Advent? The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” We just finished the last 3 weeks of the liturgical year with Sunday Gospel readings about Jesus’ Second Coming and Judgment, so why on this 1st Sunday of Advent is the Church continuing to read about Jesus’ warning to remain vigilant about His future coming?

The “coming” of an infinite God in finite space and time is a great mystery. Perhaps a natural analogy would help: While we experience a distinct changing of the seasons over time (fall, winter, spring, summer), what we’re really experiencing is the natural effect of the earth’s continual and recurring orbit around the sun. In an analogous way, while we experience a distinct changing of the liturgical seasons over time (Advent and Christmas, Ordinary Time, and Lent and Easter), what we’re really experiencing is the supernatural effect of God’s continual and recurring “coming” in His Creation. God is always and everywhere present in His Creation—especially us who are baptized—but He wants us to experience his Presence distinctly and fully at each moment. The liturgical seasons help us punctuate these moments.

Just as the Jewish people in Jesus’ day were watching and being vigilant for the promised coming of the Messiah, so Jesus says to us in today’s gospel, “Be watchful. Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Indeed, Jesus will come again at the end of time, but He also enters and re-enters His Creation and comes to us liturgically and spiritually in a variety of continual and recurring ways, including the Eucharist, in prayer, in Scripture, in each other (the Body of Christ), in the hungry/ thirsty/ stranger/ naked/ sick/ imprisoned (last Sunday’s gospel), etc. This allows us to see the Church’s wisdom in selecting today’s gospel reading: to remind us that Jesus is continually “coming” to us, so let’s prepare for it at Christmas and when He comes again at the end of time.

During this Advent season, Jesus wants you and me to make more room for Him than we did last year, to invite him to “come again” into our hearts in a new and vibrant way. Let’s not allow our “preparation for Christmas” (decorating, buying gifts, etc.) overshadow our “preparation for Christ.” In one of his sermons on Advent, St. Bernard of Clairvaux said that we should “be aware that [Christ’s] spiritual coming is a hidden one… You need not sail across the seas or pierce the clouds or cross the Alps! No grand way is being shown to you. Run to your own self to meet your God! The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart! (Romans 10:8)” In the last verses of the Bible, Jesus tells John, “Surely I am coming soon.” Let our Advent prayer be John’s response: “Amen. Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The readings speak to us of the “divine judgment” anticipated at the end of time. For many of us, the word “judgment” may stir up feelings of uneasiness or discomfort, for who likes to be judged? Even Jesus tells us not to judge one another, BUT the Church has always professed our belief that Jesus “will come again to judge the living and dead” as we profess each week in our Creed. Therefore, we are already anticipating this, and since we know that, we are able to prepare ourselves. We can walk the path of conversion and repentance each and every day so that, when Jesus comes again, we can be ready to welcome him with joy in our hearts, for our salvation is at hand. So don’t be discouraged, but instead prepare today and everyday by turning to the Lord with trust in God’s loving mercy, compassion and forgiveness for us.

Over the past month, we have been conducting a poll of the people who regularly attend the 5:00pm Mass at OLC concerning a change to the start time for the Mass. This request was made of me by several parishioners at OLC who would like to have the option to attend an earlier Mass in the wintertime because of not wanting to drive in the dark. After taking several polls, including one during Mass, we have received overwhelming support for changing the Mass start time to 4:00pm (initially during the winter months). Therefore, starting next weekend, Saturday, December 2, 2023, Our Lady of the Chesapeake will be starting the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00pm (with Confessions being offered at 3:00pm). I know this change may impact some people who wish to keep the Mass time at 5:00pm, so I apologize for that. As we continue down the road of our pastorate planning process, we will need to take into account the Mass schedules for both parishes in order to offer options to all parishioners. To that end, for those who prefer the 5:00pm time, St. Jane Frances will continue to offer the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00pm.

Also starting next week, we will be rolling out our new title for our Pastorate: “Pastorate of the Visitation” with the subtitle of “Catholic Churches of Pasadena.” This title will begin appearing on our bulletin covers for both parishes and will make its way into all of our communications, including Flocknote, Facebook, and our websites. This additional identification will have no impact on our two parishes, which will continue to exist, thrive, and be called Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances. Visitation is only meant to be a label to unite our Pastorate community parishes in one extended family of faith. So…Welcome to the Pastorate of the Visitation!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Pastorate of the Visitation

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

I would like to thank everyone who submitted a suggestion for a name for our Pastorate. We received over 50 suggestions! After much consultation and prayer with parishioners, staff, and our Pastorate Mission Team, we are planning to move forward with the title of “Pastorate of the Visitation.” Additionally, the Mission Team requested that “Catholic Churches of Pasadena” also be incorporated into the title. We will begin this process over the next several months with adding the name to our Pastorate’s communications, including: the bulletin, Flocknote, Facebook, and our websites. It was felt that the title “Visitation” was best able to embrace and unite both parishes for several reasons. First, St. Jane Frances founded the Order of the Visitation in 1610, so there is a connection to St. Jane Parish. Second, Our Lady of the Chesapeake is named after our Blessed Mother, who in Luke’s account of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-45)journeyed to “visit” her cousin Elizabeth. Third, the Visitation is a feast day of the Church, celebrated on May 31st which offers our Pastorate a way to celebrate something new together. And fourth, as with Mary and Elizabeth, our two beautiful parishes are “related” to each other, with OLC being a “daughter” parish of our mother parish, St. Jane Frances. Just like Elizabeth and Mary, we are coming together to support and assist each other and work together to proclaim Jesus Christ to the greater Pasadena community. (And to reiterate once again, nothing is closing! BOTH St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake as individual parishes will continue to exist.)

This weekend, we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel is the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30). Three servants receive talents from their master before he leaves for a journey. Two of the servants are able to multiply their talents, while the third one was afraid; so he buried his in the ground. On his return, the master rewards the first two servants and chastises the third for doing nothing with what was entrusted to him. The Lord has entrusted to us many talents (or gifts) that we are challenged to put to use throughout our lives. This week, pray and reflect upon what gifts God has given you and how you can put them to use to build up God’s kingdom on earth.

On behalf of all of us at the Pastorate, I would like to wish everyone a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you will be able to enjoy quality time with your family and friends. Don’t forget to join us at our Pastorate’s Thanksgiving Mass this Thursday, Nov. 23rd at 8:30am at St. Jane Frances. Please consider bringing a bag of nonperishable food items to support the food pantry at NCEON and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Next weekend (Nov. 25-26), we will continue to collect non-perishable food items at both parishes, so if you cannot make it to our Thanksgiving Mass, then please bring your donations to any Mass over the weekend.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

Has The World Lost Its Mind?

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

Has the world lost its mind? Do you find the changes our country and our culture are undergoing mind-boggling—and not all for the good? Where has “common sense” gone? Does anyone seek wisdom anymore?

That last question contains the key to answering the previous questions: Wisdom—the subject of our 1st Reading (wisdom personified) and the Gospel (the wise virgins). When society stops seeking wisdom, it devolves and disintegrates. The same thing happens to an individual. God made us in His image, with “the capacity to understand and function (make choices) accordingly,” ie, with wisdom. If a person is raised and formed in a good, healthy environment, he or she ought to have this first kind of wisdom: “natural” wisdom.

But there’s a second kind of wisdom, a transcendent wisdom that God imparts to those who are close to Him who is Wisdom itself. This wisdom from God comes through the Church (Ephesians 3:10) and leads to paths of peace. It must be sought. When we seek it and ask for it, we will find it and it will be given (Wisdom 6:12, Matthew 7:8, James 1:5). I’ve heard from many in our pastorate who are taking deliberate steps to learn the wisdom of God through our women and men’s study groups (Walking with Purpose; Into the Breach, and Men of the Word Bible Study), and I, too, know from personal experience: learning God’s wisdom changes our lives for the better. The deeper we go in our relationship with Jesus Christ through learning and understanding Scripture, Church teaching in the Catechism, and the Liturgy of the Mass (these are the topics of my Going Deeper series), the more divine wisdom we gain, and hopefully, with God’s grace, the more loving and merciful we become as missionary disciples of Christ.

A big THANK YOU and congratulations to St. Jane’s parishioner Andrew Bryant who completed his Eagle Scout Project with his Boy Scouts of America Troop 414 on October 28th: a beautiful pollinator and native plant garden sanctuary! It contains flowers that bloom throughout the spring, summer, and fall, beautiful grasses, small flowering trees, and more—all of which promote the local population of bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

The vision of this project is to help parishioners prayerfully reflect on the beauty of God’s creation, and to educate and inspire us to install pollinator and native plant gardens in our own backyards. An educational kiosk will be installed soon, and berry plants and herbs will be added in the spring, which parishioners are welcome to harvest in season. A special thank you also goes to St. Jane’s parishioner Rich Hergenroeder, an Anne Arundel Watershed Steward, who spearheaded the awarding of a grant from The Chesapeake Bay Trust which expanded this beautiful garden’s footprint.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

You Have But One Teacher

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel is a challenge to those in positions of authority in the days of Jesus, and by connection, to me and all who lead the parishes and the Church as well as our leaders of government (Mt 23:1-12). This can also be extended to each and every one of us who “lead,” such as the leaders of families or the leaders of coworkers or teachers. All of us are challenged to lead in ways that give witness to not only what we profess with our lips, but more importantly, to what we believe in our hearts—to be authentic and transparent. When there is a perceived disconnect between the two, as Jesus indicates in the Gospel, it can be recognized by others. Jesus asks us to know with certainty that He is our true and authentic leader and teacher, so whatever we do, ought to flow from our faith in our Savior. May the Holy Spirit of God continue to speak to our hearts and be our guide throughout our earthly lives.

As we continue into the second year of our Pastorate of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake, we are looking for ways to bring our two communities together in worship. This year, we will be celebrating one Thanksgiving Day Mass for the Pastorate. The Mass will be on Thanksgiving Morning at 8:30am at St. Jane Frances. Please plan to join us so that we can practice our faith together as one, AND so that we may join our voices together in one celebration of thanksgiving and praise. Fr. Jim and I are looking forward to celebrating Mass together as well—something that we rarely do since we are always at different parishes each weekend.

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to pray and reflect upon my request for you to consider making an increase in your stewardship/offertory donations to our parishes. We are impacted by the same financial pressures that everyone is facing, so any increase in your giving would be gratefully appreciated. I have increased my giving by about 5% this Fall, so I pray and ask if you are able, if you could also make a commitment to increasing your giving to your parish. Any money donated to the parishes through the offertory collection will be used solely by the parish to support our parish programs and operations. Thank you for your consideration of my request.

This weekend is our Eucharistic Revival weekend. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will occur between the Sunday morning Masses at OLC and between the 8:00am and 10:00am Masses at St. Jane. Please plan to spend some time with our Lord truly present to us in the Holy Eucharist.

Finally please keep our Pastorate’s Confirmation Candidates in your prayers this week. Our teens from OLC and St. Jane will be confirmed together on Wednesday, Nov. 8th at 5:30pm at OLC. Everyone is invited to attend the Confirmation Mass as we welcome Bishop Adam Parker with us.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

What Is Love?

Dear Parishioners,

In today’s gospel, Jesus says these commandments are the greatest: “You shall love the Lord, your God… and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:34-40) The classical Catholic definition of love is “willing the good of another.” Love is not a feeling, it’s a decision, an act of the will. We love God, our family, and neighbor when we do things for them when we don’t feel like doing them.

St. Dymphna Mental Health Ministry

With mental health becoming a growing concern among our families, the pastorate’s newest ministry couldn’t be more timely. I’ve had the privilege of working closely this summer with the Core Team of parishioners from OLC and SJF, being led by Paula Gentile, who have been pouring their hearts into planning and preparing to launch this much-needed ministry. Named for St. Dymphna—the patron saint of mental health—the St. Dymphna Mental Health Ministry hosts a Prayer Gathering & Conversation every other month. It’s an opportunity for anyone with mental illness, and/or those who love them, to gather together for prayer in a caring and listening atmosphere, followed by casual conversation over light refreshments, in a relaxed environment free of pressure, personal questions, or therapeutic advice. You’re welcome to come to our first Prayer Gathering & Conversation on Tuesday, November 14th at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake in the Maryland Suite. I wish this type of ministry had been around when my wife Shirley was struggling with her mental illness years ago.

Axe-Throwing Challenge & Pig Roast & Family Games Event Results

Last Saturday’s Axe-Throwing Challenge & Pig Roast & Family Games Event at OLC was a big hit… enjoyed by over 150 men, women, and children! It was refreshing to see so many non-parishioners who came because parishioners invited them (“3 in 1”). It was loads of fun watching husbands and wives, mothers and sons, etc. competing side by side in the timed “as many points as you can score in 60 seconds” competition. Congratulations to the Axe-Throwing Competition’s Grand Prize winner… DENNIS BRYANT! who was awarded the pig’s head on a platter and a St. Joseph Terror of Demons picture. Runner up Ashley Klaiss, the top woman scorer, came up with a great suggestion for next year’s competition, which I endorse: introduce 4-point Throwing Stars competition (they stay stuck in the wood easier)!

…A special thanks to OLC’s Grand Knight Joshua Frank who planned and hosted the entire event with his Knights of Columbus Council 10881, receiving excellent support from Pasquale Carannante who spearheaded the food planning, purchasing, and preparation, and Pat Cappelaere who donated and roasted the 100-pound pig with his companions. Also great thanks to SJF’s Grand Knight David Gonzales and his Knights of Columbus Council 10966 (especially Dennis Bryant, and their sons) who put on the axe throwing competition and family games. Thanks also to our pastorate’s Director of Operations Mike Downes who set up the portable electrical power and lighting system (generously provided by Bay Country Rentals free of charge) and the sound systems.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

How Do You Give Back To God?

Dear Friends of our Pastorate,

This weekend, we celebrate the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel is the account of the question posed to Jesus concerning the payment of the census tax (Mt 22:15-21). This question may seem innocent, but the ones who are asking it are really trying to trap Jesus so that they can eventually have a reason to arrest him. Jesus outmaneuvers them by responding—if it is Caesar’s image on the coin that pays the tax, then give that coin back to Caesar as it must belong to him. However, he adds that they also need to repay to God what belongs to God, which we can see as a reference to humanity being made in the image of God. Each one of us is made in God’s image; therefore, we have a duty, even an obligation to pay or surrender to God what is God’s—and that is our very lives! What is God due from you? How do you repay to God what belongs to God? What parts of your life do you offer (or surrender) to God each day? These are good questions to ponder this week as we continue our lifelong journey of conversion—of turning our lives back to God.

A couple of weeks ago, we published our parishes’ financial reports for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023. At this time of the year, it is also part of my due diligence as your pastor to ask you to consider making a financial recommitment to your parish for this fiscal year. Part of that request is to ask for you to consider making, if your finances allow, an increase in your weekly offertory. For example, if you usually give $10/week, could you increase it to $11/week? If you give $100/month, could you increase it to $105/month? Or, if you have any mandatory IRA distributions that you must take before the end of the year, would you consider making a donation to the parish from those funds? Any increase would be appreciated. Personally, I give the same amount in offertory income each month to both parishes. This month, I increased my giving by about 5% because I believe in our mission and the need to fund it. If you could help us by making a small increase in your offertory, it would be most appreciated. Any money donated to the parishes through the offertory collection will be used solely by the parish to support our parish programs and operations. Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Our Pastorate Mission Team met last week to begin reviewing the feedback we received from the listening sessions we held over the summer. Everyone was able to attend, which was great! The team will continue meeting on a regular basis as we work together to develop our Pastorate’s plan for evangelization as guided by the Archbishop’s Pastoral Plan – A Light Brightly Visible 2.0. We also reviewed and discussed a name for our Pastorate. One comment made by the team was that whatever name is chosen, our Catholic identity needed to be clearly stated in it, so… stay tuned for more details!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Are You Flourishing Or Being Humiliated?

Are you flourishing? …or being humiliated? In today’s 2nd reading (Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20), St. Paul tells the Philippians that he has “learned the secret” of having plenty or having nothing. His secret to living in any circumstance is to “live in Christ” who strengthens him, something Paul learned from personal experience and not from some book or theory. He learned it from the life of Jesus, who “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Like Paul, we too can become strong when we live like Jesus, that is, when we live to serve others and not ourselves. This principle woven throughout Scripture—that when we humble ourselves, God raises us up—is the secret to being truly happy in all circumstances.

Some parishioners are sharing with Fr. Steve and myself how they’ve been “off and running” inviting others to come to Mass or other pastorate events and ministries. A 3rd grader invited two of her friends to Mass, a parishioner invited her niece to Mass, and while on vacation overseas, another parishioner invited 5 fellow tourists to join her for Mass following the tour of a church! These are just a few examples. Nothing is easier and more invigorating than praying for people and inviting them to something you’re already going to. It’s contagious. When you see and hear about others doing it, it inspires you to do it. When such power of the Holy Spirit is personally experienced, the phrase “Evangelization as a way of life” goes beyond a mere slogan to become an exciting new reality of changing lives by cooperating with God’s grace. We come to personally experience and be an active part of God’s growing His Kingdom on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19).

“But what if people say ‘no’ to my invitations?” Remember that to fulfill your “3 in 1” commitment, all you need to do is invite 3 people; they don’t necessarily have to accept your invitation. If after you’ve prayed and invited someone to Mass (or to one of our many pastorate events and ministries), and he or she says, “no thank you,” don’t be discouraged. Continue to pray for them, and also pray for others and invite them. Remember today’s gospel parable (Matthew 22:1-14): after many people turned down the king’s invitation to the feast, the king told his servant to invite “whomever you find.” And what happened? The hall was eventually filled with people who said “yes!” Imagine if—for the rest of our lives—we developed the habit of prayerfully and charitably inviting people to join us at Mass and pastorate or ministry events that we’re already going to. Imagine what the Holy Spirit could do with this! This indeed is what the Lord calls us to do. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).

Good fishing!
Father Jim

The Stone That The Builders Rejected

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

This weekend, we celebrate the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel is the parable of the tenants, who are entrusted to care for and tend to the vineyard of the landowner (Mt 21:33-43). When it is time to receive the produce, the landowner sends his servants to obtain this produce, but they beat them or kill them or stone them. He sends more, and they do the same. Finally, he sends his son, thinking they will respect him, but they kill his son as well. These images from the parable reference how the prophets of the Lord were treated here on earth and, ultimately, how the Son of God will be treated as well. Jesus is rejected by his own people, but by his passion, death, and resurrection, He becomes for us the cornerstone of the Church – the people of God.

As Archbishop Lori announced on September 29th, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in response to a new law in Maryland that retroactively and permanently removes the time limits on filing lawsuits tied to historic cases of abuse. Chapter 11 will allow the parishes, schools, and charitable entities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to remain in operation while at the same time enabling victim survivors to receive rightful compensation for their abuse. What does this mean for our parish? While it is the Archdiocese that has filed for reorganization, and not our parish, the new law enables lawsuits to be filed not only against the Archdiocese but against the parish as well. As a result, the final plan of reorganization is meant to support the Church’s moral responsibility to care for those who were so gravely harmed. As the Archdiocese enters Chapter 11, which is expected to last 2 to 3 years, the good work of our parish continues.

In this weekend’s bulletin, you will find our annual financial report, which presents to you our parish’s financial results for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2023 and the budget for the current fiscal year that began on July 1, 2023. There is also a brief write-up of our results for your information. As always, I am very grateful for your continued financial support. Please be aware that as far as I have been told, the money you place in the collection basket or give to the parish online will continue to be used solely to fund the day to day operations of the parish. Any restricted gifts you give to the parish, such as for capital projects (ex, St. Jane School Roof Replacement) will be used only for these projects. Our parish needs your continued financial support. I thank you for your patience as we journey through these uncharted waters together.

Please continue to pray for the victim-survivors who have experienced and endured the scourge of abuse by members of the clergy and church, that God may bring healing and comfort to victims and survivors and their families.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Obedience Leads The Way

Brothers and Sisters,

The readings this week speak to the importance of obedience to God. At the same time, obedience requires humility. We cannot truly follow our Lord if we are not first willing to lay down our own will in order to follow His. Disobedience alienates us from God. On the other hand, obedience draws us closer to God. When we do disobey and sin, we need to turn back to God and seek His forgiveness. He will show us the way. It requires a humble heart to admit we have sinned and seek to get back on the right path. Christ is our model of obedience and humility. It is obedience that will help us to be like Christ, who obeyed His Father unto death.

The meaning of the parable in the Gospel reading this week is crystal clear (Mt 21:28-32). The Jewish leaders are the people who said they would obey God and then did not. The tax-collectors and the harlots are those who said that they would go their own way and then took God’s way. The most important lesson we can take from this passage is to seek the humility, openness and genuineness of the tax collectors and prostitutes. They were praised by our Lord, because they could see and accept the honest truth. Sure, they were sinners, but God can forgive sin when we are aware of our sin. If we are not willing to see our sin, then it’s impossible for God’s grace to enter in and heal us.

The true follower of Christ must deny himself and commit his whole life to God in truth, humility and obedience to His will. It is only in humble obedience that we can experience the peace of letting God lead us on the path that He has chosen for us. To be like Christ, we must not only profess our obedience and trust with our words but also with our actions.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Become Equipped!

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake,

This weekend, we celebrate the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel is the parable of the generous landowner, who hires workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard (Mt 20:1-16a). At the end of the day, the ones who were hired first thought they would receive more money than those who were hired later in the day, but all received the same amount. This is an image of God’s Kingdom, and the rewards of eternal life in the kingdom offered to all – no matter when they turn to the Lord. It is the Lord’s desire and the Church’s prayer that all people be saved, no matter when they come to know Jesus. May we continue our efforts to evangelize our community and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people.

To that end, we are in the final week of introducing our Pastorate’s major evangelization effort, called “3 in 1.” This weekend, we are asking all of our parishioners to make a commitment to invite 3 people over the next year to join us for Mass, pastorate activities, bible study groups, or to share your faith with them in some other way. It is all in the invitation—they do not need to say “yes.” What is important is that you extend the invitation to them—plant the seed—then let the Holy Spirit take it from there. If you would like help in figuring out how to do this, join Fr. Jim’s “Become Equipped” workshop on either October 9th at 7pm at OLC or Oct 14th at 10am at SJF.

Next weekend, our pastorate will begin offering a monthly marriage anniversary blessing at the Sunday Mass. If you were married in the month of October, be sure to join us at the 8:30am Mass at OLC or the 10:00am Mass at SJF for the marriage blessing.

Our Pastorate is also joining in the National Eucharistic Revival initiative by offering a Holy Hour (Eucharistic Adoration) on the Sundays following 1st Fridays. The Holy Hour will begin at the end of the first Sunday Mass at both parishes and last for one hour. The first event will be held on Sunday, Oct 8th following the 8:00am Mass at SJF and the 8:30am Mass at OLC. Please plan to join us and spend time in prayer and adoration before the Eucharistic presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

There are numerous activities and events coming up in the next few weeks. All of these will be great opportunities for you to invite someone to join us at our pastorate (and fulfill your “3 in 1” commitments). Be sure to check the bulletin or our websites for more information so that you can mark your calendars—and invite your friends!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

3 IN 1 Is Here!

Dear Friends,

Jesus entrusted His Church with the Great Commission:
“Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt 28:19)

This month, our Pastorate is launching a major evangelization initiative that can change your life and many others. Called “3 in 1” in honor of the Trinity, it stands for “3 people in 1 year”: a challenge to you and me to evangelize by personally inviting 3 people in 1 year to Mass or a pastorate or ministry event, or to share your faith with them, or to reach out and do something—anything—that you weren’t doing before.

For three weeks in September, prior to the start of Mass, we’re hearing from a variety of parishioners whose lives were forever changed merely because someone they knew cared enough about them to personally invite them to something (Mass, Bible study, etc.) that set in course a series of events that had a profound impact on their lives and, consequently, those they love…FOREVER.

3 in 1 is NOT a “ministry” with regular required meetings. It’s nothing else to add to your busy schedule. It’s a commitment to change the world as an everyday part of your life… to get used to regularly personally inviting people to encounter Jesus in the life of the Church. It’s evangelization as a way of life.

If you’re thinking, “I’m not involved with anything at the parish that I can invite people to,” 3 in 1 is for you. Notice that our bulletins/flocknotes are FILLED with many spiritual and social events and ministry opportunities for you to participate in. Now is the time to step forward in your life of faith. If no one personally invites you, invite yourself! And personally invite someone to come with you.

If you’re thinking, “I’m already involved in parish life,” 3 in 1 is for you! Don’t merely come by yourself to your ministry gatherings or pastorate events—invite someone to join you.

Please pray and consider making a commitment next weekend, September 23 and 24 at Mass, to personally invite 3 people in 1 year to Mass or a pastorate event, or to share your faith with them, or something else. With prayer and the grace of God, you can literally change the future of the world, most importantly for those you love and care about.

How can I do this? Through personal prayer and grace. The Holy Spirit will help you discern and reach out to people.

You’re invited to an optional 3 in 1 Kickoff & Workshop (Oct. 9 and Oct. 14) to help equip yourself and become more comfortable with inviting people, even if you’re shy. See elsewhere in the bulletin for details.

The power of personal invitation… Jesus used it, and He changed the world through it. He wants you to, also. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37). Be a laborer!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

From the Desk of Director of Family Faith Formation

Dear Parishioners,

As we step into this brand-new chapter of the calendar, we are filled with excitement for the start of the many ministries and programs that will take place this calendar year. The season of Fall reminds me of all of the gifts that I am grateful for and all that God has blessed me and my family with.

Today, our Faith Formation program began, and we welcomed our families back and the kids back in the classrooms. The start of a new school year is not just a time for fresh starts; it’s an opportunity to deepen our connection with faith, knowledge, and each other.

Next Monday, is the beginning of new opportunities for adults in our Pastorate. We will begin RCIA, Walking with Purpose, The Chosen Bible Study, Going Deeper, and then shortly after that Into the Breach will begin. Wow! All great opportunities for Adult Faith formation.

Each first Sunday of every month, parents in the Religious Education program are asked to attend a session with a guest speaker each month. On those Sundays, there is a different presenter as well as a different topic. This time, not only allows us as busy adults time to take time for ourselves but it allows us to focus on your relationship with God and grow more along our spiritual journey.

This year, I would like to personally invite parishioners on the 1st Sunday of the month to join us in the hall from 8:45-9:30am. While the children are in classes, please consider joining us! Here are a few of the topics and speakers that will be presenting in the coming months.

• September: Fr. Jim, Topic, Evangelization
• October: Joanne Calhoon, “Celebrating the Ordinary” with St. Therese
• November: Brother Nick Romero, “The Eucharist”
• December: Joanne Calhoon, “She Made Space” reflecting on Mary during Advent

May our faith continue to deepen as we journey together through the fall months, growing in love and understanding.

Blessings,
Melissa

Moving The Heart Of God

Brothers and Sisters,

The woman in this week’s gospel is a pagan from the region of Canaan, a place full of sinful and idolatrous people (Mt 15:21-28). She was seeking a healing miracle not for herself, but for the sake of her beloved daughter.

Jesus does not mind her when she initially calls out to him using the title “Son of David.” From her seeking, we can imagine that she believed in Christ. Upon the insistence of the apostles, Jesus tells her: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” But she does not give up.

Even if pagans like her do not believe in the teachings of Jesus, she persists: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” As you know, dogs and swine were common expressions among Jews for Gentiles or pagans. It is hard to imagine how she had come to believe in Jesus. Perhaps her initial faith was quite small, but contact with Jesus increased her faith. Her persistence paid off. The woman had what Christ’s heart yearns for which is love, faith, and humility. She knew that he could heal her daughter. She also knew that he would not do it because she deserved it, but simply because Jesus cared. She was not angry with God for sending this trial. She did not come to Jesus angry or demanding. She accepted her trial and recognized that a miracle would be a gift. This enabled her to take the rejection and come right back with another petition to the Lord.

Are we persistent in our prayers to God just like this woman? Our persistent prayer may not necessarily change God, but it will change us. It increases our faith, because we are putting our faith in action. All things are possible if we let God take control and let His will, His plan, materialize in our lives. Love, faith, and humility: these are the ingredients for prayer that moves the heart of God, even a simple prayer such as, “Lord, help me.”

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Peter’s Bold Move

Peter’s bold move. If there’s one thing to admire in Peter in today’s gospel (Matt 14:22-33), it’s his boldness. In the midst of a terrifying storm at sea, Peter sees Jesus walking on the water and yells out: “Lord, if it is you, command me...” Stop and think what’s happening. Peter here is requesting that Jesus command him to walk on the water, with the implication being that only if it is Jesus’ will. In other words, “It’s up to you Jesus, do with me what you will.” Peter knows that only Jesus has the power to enable him to walk on the water. This is courageous faith.

The sin of presumption. Peter’s bold request is different than committing the sin of presumption: “presum(ing) upon God’s almighty power or his mercy” such as attempting to obtain God’s forgiveness without conversion (Catechism paragraph #2092). One can also presume upon God’s power to achieve something for selfish gain, such as some popular televangelists in the “Word of Faith” movement do who erroneously teach that Christians can get power and financial prosperity through prayer, and that those who believe in Jesus have the right to physical health …“All you have to do is ‘believe’.” Such presumption (expecting with confidence) that God will do something because you ask Him for it “in faith, in Jesus’ name” implies in the Word of Faith movement that if God doesn’t grant it, you must have too little faith. Whereas Peter asks in faith to walk on water if it is Jesus’ will, presumption asks for something believing absolutely that it is God’s will.

Peter is not bold enough! Back to the gospel. After asking Jesus in faith to walk on water, Peter waits… and Jesus responds “Come!” As long as Peter keeps his eyes of faith on Jesus, he walks on water, but when he depends only on his own ability, he sinks. Jesus says, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" not to condemn Peter but to correct and encourage him to have even greater and more courageous and enduring faith. It’s as if Jesus were saying, “You’re asking for too little! …Ask for more! …Do not doubt that I will give to you far more than what you can do on your own!”

Our take-away. Jesus DOES want us to ask in faith and confidence to receive what He wants to give (“Ask and you will receive…”), however the context of His promise is that we are to ask for that which will help us to get to heaven (Luke 11:13), not to stay on earth. Jesus didn’t abandon Peter in the storm, and neither does He abandon us in the storms of our life. He is always near with hand outstretched, ready to save us when we call out to him, to lift us up from any doubt of faith. And He always wants us to ask for more!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Being Transformed In The Presence Of Jesus Christ

The Transfiguration (Carl Bloch, c. 1865)

Dear Parishioners,

Since today’s gospel reading takes us with the 3 apostles to the top of a mountain where Jesus’ face is transfigured like the sun (Mt 17:1-9), we might ask: How can I relate to the Transfiguration of Christ?

First, by realizing that the other people present were like us: Moses and Peter did not initially want to answer God’s call, Elijah fell into despair, Peter was double minded and he denied Christ, and James and John sought their own glory. They were human just like us, with strengths and weaknesses. Also, each of them did not choose God, but God chose them first, just like He calls each of us, regardless of what we’ve done or not done.

The Apostles’ Mountaintop Experience. We also discover how we are like the men present at the Transfiguration by looking at Matthew’s context of the Transfiguration. Just prior to the Transfiguration, Matthew records that Peter’s profession in Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, was revealed to him by the Father; we, too, have received this truth of the Catholic faith handed down to us. During the Transfiguration itself, we can relate to the apostles’ experience of the presence of the Transfigured Christ on the mountain when we receive the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist—a real Communion with the living God in our midst. After the strengthening experience of the Transfiguration, the apostles suffered (living through Christ’s suffering on the cross, and Peter and James suffering martyrdom). Similarly, Jesus in the Eucharist strengthens us in our current and future suffering.

Our Mountaintop Experience. As I mentioned last week, during this Year of Eucharistic Revival, starting in October, all of us in the pastorate are invited to spend a Holy Hour (or part of it) with Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration on the 1st Friday of the month at 7:00 pm in St. Jane’s church. Throughout the year, Eucharistic Adoration occurs at Our Lady of the Chesapeake in the church on the first Friday of the month from 9 to 10 am, and at St. Jane’s in the church 9 am to 2 pm. St. Jane’s also has weekly Eucharistic Adoration every Monday 9 to 3 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. These are precious opportunities to be transformed in Jesus’ Presence similar to the way Peter, James, and John were transformed on the mountaintop. Come and spend time with Jesus “face to face!”

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

What Is The Kingdom Of God Like?

Dear Parishioners,

What is the Kingdom of God like? Jesus taught a lot about the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God (kingdom is used 126 times in the gospels). While it may seem that the kingdom is complex—Is it now or in the future? Is it here on earth or in heaven? Does it have to be sought, or is it given automatically—Jesus also seems to make it simple: “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21).

In Matthew’s gospel readings from last weekend and today, Jesus’ six descriptions of what the kingdom of heaven is like have some common characteristics: it’s something discovered (like a buried treasure or a pearl of great price) and it seems to magically grow (like a mustard seed or activated yeast).

Ask. In what ways can we discover the kingdom of heaven and make it grow within us? King Solomon provides a model for us in today’s 1st reading:

God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered, “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.”
God replied, “I do as you requested.”

Solomon does not ask for “a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies.” Rather, he asks God, in effect, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done… in my heart.”

While we receive the kingdom of heaven at our Baptism, we are called to preserve it in our hearts through prayer and frequently receiving the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, so that God grows His kingdom in our hearts like a mustard seed and we continually discover it like finding a buried treasure. St. Paul describes this transforming effect in Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Ask. Wouldn’t it be great if God would say to you and me what He said to Solomon: “Ask something of me and I will give it to you?” He did! Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given you.” (Matthew 7:7). We just need to ask, like Solomon did, for what He wants to give us, which is the kingdom of God in our hearts.

Ask. Discover. Grow. With Jesus. Can you think of a better setting to dialogue with Jesus and discover and grow His Kingdom in your heart than being in His Real Presence? Starting in October, during this Year of Eucharistic Revival, all in our pastorate are invited to spend a Holy Hour (or part of it) with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration on the 1st Friday of the month at 7:00 pm in St. Jane’s church. Jesus longs for us to spend time with Him in this special way, to fill us with His radiant love, so we can carry His Kingdom in our hearts through all our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of each day.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

The Garden of Weedin’

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake,

This weekend, we celebrate the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel is another parable from Jesus involving the sowing of seed (Mt 13:24-43). This parable speaks to us of how the Lord sows good seed, but the evil one sows weeds with the good seed. It is difficult to pull the weeds without damaging the good seed. Any of us who have planted gardens know how challenging this can be. Weeds seem to grow and thrive in the absolute worst conditions. If we try to remove them while the good seed is growing, we tend to damage the good plants. The parable tells us that at harvest time, the Lord will separate the good plants from the weeds. One of the messages for us is to continue to do the good works we have been instructed to do as Jesus’ disciples and not worry about what others are doing. It is the Lord who sees our good works, and He will be the one to ultimately separate the good from the bad. So remain faithful to the mission entrusted to you, produce good fruit, and trust that the Lord will take care of the rest.

We have completed our Pastorate Synodal Listening Sessions this past week. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend one of the four sessions we offered over the past two weeks. I would also like to thank our Parish Renewal Team members, Wayne Ripley and Becky Kamen, for helping our pastorate to begin the process of discerning our vision for our future. There is still much work to be done, but we are now beginning to walk the path toward our future. I will publish the findings of our listening sessions once they have been compiled. If you were not able to attend but would still like to contribute, please feel free to send me your vision for our future. What are your hopes for our pastorate in the next five years? What can we do to begin moving toward those hopes and dreams? What can the pastorate do to support you in reaching them?

Summer vacation season is in full swing. I hope and pray that everyone will have a chance to relax and enjoy the remaining days of summer. Fr. Jim and I will be going on vacations over the next month. In fact, between today and September 2nd, between our different vacation and retreat plans, we will only be together at the pastorate a total of 7 days! There are still many things happening behind the scenes, so stay informed by reading our bulletin and receiving our Flocknote announcements.

Finally, please welcome priests from Cross Catholic Outreach to both parishes in the coming days. Fr. Collins will be at St. Jane Frances this weekend, and another priest will be at OLC the weekend of July 29–30.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

God’s Extravagant Generosity

Brothers and Sisters,

The way we hear the parable story in this week’s Gospel tells us how receptive we really are to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mt 13:1-23). The parable is about the character of God, and how God reveals that character to those who recognize it. It shows how a parable can reflect back to us our ability to understand them. As you listen to the story, it will reveal and identify which kind of recipient you are by the way you hear it. The depth of our understanding depends on our willingness to be changed by what we hear. We can’t change the kind of soil we are—only God can do that.

The story is not about the type of soil we are since that would make the story be about us—about the soil. But the story is not about us; but the story is for us. This parable, like all scripture, is really about God and God’s extravagant generosity.

God is the Sower, scattering seed liberally, even wastefully, everywhere. It’s what God does. It’s what God keeps on doing. God keeps throwing seeds, regardless of where the seed might land. God is loving, generous, lavish, abundant, eager to share what is good. God will not withhold His Word from anyone. God will not deny anyone access to the Good News. How we understand the Word and absorb it into our lives will determine the extent to which it can change us, transforming us into fruitful plants that bear abundantly.

As we listen to the parables of Jesus over the next few weeks, what will they reveal about us? How will our ears hear them? How will we be changed by God’s Word which “… achieves the end for which it was sent?” As we find ourselves drawn into God’s story and as God invites us to become part of it, how willing are we to be transformed by that story, becoming someone we have not been before?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

God Is Near

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake,

This weekend we celebrate the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel passage this weekend from Matthew’s Gospel is with words that are meant to express God’s closeness and comfort to us (Mt 11:25-30). The coming of Jesus among us has revealed to us the living God in the flesh. God has come to his people and walked among us in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. This great gift from God ought to give us an overwhelming reminder of the Lord’s care and concern for us. Wherever we are on our journey of faith or even how far we may have wandered away from the Lord, Jesus gently invites us to come to him, to rest in him, to learn from him, and to share our burdens with him. What more could we ask for from our God than his longing to join us and walk with us on this earthly journey. May you experience this warm embrace from Jesus during this coming week!

This Sunday, July 9th, we are welcoming Fr. Sampson Onwumere to the 10:45am Mass at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Fr. Sampson was ordained to the priesthood on June 24th at the Cathedral and has been assigned to the Pastorate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Clare. He will be celebrating Mass with us as we celebrate his priesthood with him. There will be a reception following Mass. Welcome Fr. Sampson!

Our Pastorate Synodal Listening Sessions begin this week. All parishioners and friends of the parishes are invited to join us at one of the four scheduled sessions. The session schedule is as follows:

1. OLC (Gathering Place) Monday, 7/10 at 7pm
2. OLC (Gathering Place) Saturday, 7/15 at 9:30am
3. SJF (Parish Hall) Monday, 7/17 at 7pm
4. SJF (Parish Hall) Tuesday, 7/18 at 9:30am

We will be using this time to envision what we would like our Pastorate to become in the years ahead as we continue to implement Archbishop Lori’s vision for the Archdiocese as outline in A Light Brightly Visible 2.0. Please join us for whichever session works best with your schedule, even if it is not at your home parish. I will also have a summary of the proposed pastorate names that I have received so far. If you have a suggestion for a name for our Pastorate, please send it to me at Shook@olchesapeake.org.

I would like to thank everyone who joined us for our Pastorate Fourth of July Mass at St. Jane Frances. I am especially thankful to Kevin Garner and the music ministry at OLC for supplying our music for the celebration.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Who Do You Love More?

Dear Parishioners,

Who do I love more? Jesus …or my mom or dad, sister or brother, son or daughter? Is Jesus really pitting the love we have for our family against our love for Him in today’s gospel?...

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Following Jesus is costly. Sometimes Jesus exaggerates to make a point. But here He’s clearly teaching that if you follow Him, prepare to be rejected—even by those you love—just as He was. This is why Jesus said immediately prior: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt 10:34).

True love. Jesus’ point is this, as an example: if someone you or I love advises or encourages us to do or say or believe something contrary to God’s law, we must choose to follow God instead. Jesus is warning us about the grave danger of “giving in” to a loved one who is attempting to drive a wedge between you and Jesus by wanting you to go along with something that is immoral. Such misguided “love” is detrimental to our relationship with God, our loved one, and our own salvation. Rather, we are to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and be kind and pray for them. By doing so, we are truly loving both God and our loved one, even though we may be unjustly accused of being bigoted or, ironically, “unloving.”

Jesus is with us… Jesus knows that we will experience such unjust reactions when following Him, ie, we will receive a cross like He did, which is why He immediately adds: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Matt 10:38). Jesus also says: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12).

…always. In summary, it’s not “either I love my family, or I love Jesus.” In the long run, the most loving thing we can do is “(teach) them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20).

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Fear Not

Brothers and Sisters,

The emotion of fear is probably the most pervasive and powerful motivating force we face as human beings. From the moment we are born, we learn to fear the world around us, certainly to fear the stranger, sometimes to fear even those who are closest to us. Fear can cause isolation, depression, or cause us to act in a way which is contrary to the truth we know. But most of all, fear can prevent us from acting at all. We become afraid of doing anything, and so we do nothing. Where do we find ourselves?

Jesus recognizes that fear can cause the failure of discipleship. Jesus’ disciples courageously leave the security of their homes and families to follow him as they proclaim the coming of God’s reign. They, too, will face the power of fear on their mission. Faithful proclamation and practice of the gospel inevitably puts his disciples on a collision course with the powers of this world. So, as Jesus prepares his disciples for their mission, He is frankly realistic about the threats they will face. At the same time, He builds the case for why they should not let fear master them or hinder their witness.

Jesus asks us to leave our fear behind and to follow in the security of being His disciple. Trusting in His promises and knowing that God’s presence is always with us. God’s absolute protection and provision is always upon us. Jesus reminds us not to fear harm, because while man may be able to hurt us physically, the world cannot spiritually harm us. God is the one who has power over both body and spirit, and God has promised to guard and protect us and bring us to eternal life. The God who created and tends every living thing, values us more than anything. His love for each of us is greater than our fear. “Perfect love casts out fear.” So do not be afraid.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

Dear Friends of OLC and St. Jane Frances,

This weekend, we celebrate the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel is a good one for our transition to summer and our preparation for our Pastorate’ mission of proclaiming: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 9:36–10:8) It begins with one of those statements of Jesus that I believe offers us a glimpse into his Sacred Heart. Jesus was moved with pity for the crowds of people because they were troubled and abandoned. He wants to help them, but he also knows that he needs people to help him with this mission. In the Gospel, it is the Apostles; but today, it is us! We are the ones who are being sent into the community seek the troubled and abandoned and show them the healing power of Christ at work within us, and within our pastorate. This Summer, may each of us accept Jesus’ invitation for us to be sent out to proclaim, to heal, and to love as Jesus loves.

I am very excited to announce that we’ve hired a Director of Pastorate Operations for our pastorate. Mike Downes will be joining our team in the days ahead. Mike comes with an extensive resume of work in the Archdiocese, including being the Director of the Msgr. O’Dwyer Retreat House, and a stint as Youth Minister at St. Jane Frances back in the mid-1990s. Mike’s main areas of responsibility will be to oversee the Pastorate’s facilities (including leases and rentals), building repairs and maintenance, technology (internet, phone, website, etc.), and office operations (Ministry Platform, bulletin, etc.) with some collaborative work with the parishes’ finances, although not a direct area of responsibility. He will have direct managerial responsibility for the staff working in these areas. Please join me in welcoming Mike to our Pastorate!

On Saturday, June 24th, the Archdiocese will be celebrating the ordination of eight men to the Priesthood. This is probably the largest ordination class in the past 30 years, if not longer. The Ordination Mass begins at 10:00am at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, and will be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s webpage if you would like to watch. In light of this weekend’s Gospel reading, please continue to pray for vocations – asking “the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Finally, please plan to join us for the 8:30am Mass on the Fourth of July at St. Jane Frances. Kevin Garner and the music ministry from OLC will be there to celebrate with all members of the Pastorate. Please plan to join us and celebrate together with us.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

God Dwells with His People

God Dwells with His People. God has an incredible history of doing what He loves to do: dwell among His people. He loves us and wants to be close to us! Since the beginning, He has chosen to do this not only spiritually, but also materially or physically on earth. The Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he dwelt among His chosen people Israel in the Holy of Holies on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant for over 850 years, and he became man and lived among us for 33 years and died for us to show us how much He loves us.

With that kind of a track record, would he just leave and never come back to us physically? No, for Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I WILL COME TO YOU.” (John 14:18). Jesus here was not referring only to the coming of his Spirit—the Holy Spirit who proceeded from the Father and the Son—but also to the fact that he WAS coming back to dwell with us sacramentally, physically in the Eucharist at Mass.

Jesus’ Most Emphatic Teaching. Today we celebrate the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Latin: Corpus Christi). Today’s Gospel reading from John 6, one of the longest dialogues in Scripture (John 6:25-71) is arguably Jesus’ most emphatic teaching dialogue in all the gospels. He uses straightforward language in his discourse with the Jews and his disciples, leaving no room for misinterpretation: “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” He uses the word flesh 6 times, blood 4 times, and two different Greek words for eat 8 times. Jesus’ disciples clearly understood that he was not speaking symbolically, because they said: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? …and after this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.” (John 6:60, 66). Driving his literal—not figurative—point further, Jesus turns and asks his 12 apostles, “Do you also wish to go away?” (6:67).

Heaven on Earth. Receiving Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion IS the fulfillment of Jesus’ assurance that he would always be with us to the end of the age through all our joys, trials, and suffering. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us in His Most Holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist at Communion, making us truly united as one in His Body on earth, the Church.

Eucharistic Revival. This fall our pastorate will be actively participating in the national and archdiocesan Eucharistic Revival, offering a variety of opportunities for us to encounter anew Jesus in the Eucharist, who desires us to spend sacred time with him not only spiritually, but also in his real sacramental, physical Presence. More to come!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

The Most Holy Trinity

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake,

This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The mystery of the one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is a mystery that is difficult if not impossible for the human mind to fully comprehend, for it is really the mystery of our God. We understand the Trinity through the relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit, and the revelations of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but we also acknowledge that our human language is limited in its ability to fully explain God. Therefore, it is a dogma of faith on our part to profess that our Triune God has revealed himself to us in three persons, yet is of one nature (or substance – that is why we profess in the Creed that Jesus is “con-substantial” with the Father – of the same substance).

As we approach the end of the school year and begin the transition to summer vacation time, I wanted to continue to remind you of our Pastorate events scheduled for the coming weeks so that you can work them into your busy lives. First and foremost, of course, is weekly Mass! We hope you will make time to join us for Mass each weekend this summer when you are in town. I would invite you step out of your normal routine and consider attending Mass at the “other Parish” once or twice over the summer. Both of our parishes offer such beautiful, uplifting, and spiritual liturgies. As we continue to draw together in our Pastorate and begin to form a pastorate plan, it would be helpful for us to have a fuller appreciation for our Pastorate parishes.

This Sunday, June 4th is the Men’s Pastorate BBQ at OLC. This event is for all men of our Pastorate, and you are encouraged to attend with your father, son, grandfather, grandson, uncle, nephew or even your neighborhood buddy! We will begin at 4:00pm at the fire pit at OLC. There is also the Blessing of Trucks and Family Vehicles on Saturday, June 17th at 9:30am at St Jane. Invite your neighbors to come and have their vehicles blessed as well, and be ready for your summer road trips. Our Walking With Purpose summer series starts up this June as well. Contact the parish office for more details or to sign up, and invite a friend to join you.

Also this month, Deacon Sampson will be ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, on Saturday, June 24th at 10:00am at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. He was with us at OLC during his pastoral year in 2020 and 2021. He is hoping to come and celebrate Mass with us sometime in July. I will keep you posted.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

The Holy Spirit

Dear Parishioners,

Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Permeates Everything. The Holy Spirit can be understood as the love that flows from the Father and the Son. Although the mystery of the Trinity runs deep, the concept of “three in one” can be imperfectly seen in Creation. For example, when a husband and wife become “one flesh,” we have a name for it: a child. One family, three persons; one which flows from the love of the other two.

The Holy Spirit in Scripture. The Hebrew word transliterated ruach (pronounced roo-akh) appears in the Old Testament 373 times and is translated as spirit, wind, breath, etc. The Holy “spirit (ruach) of God was moving over the face of the waters” at the beginning of Creation (Gen 1:2) and was in His chosen leaders such as Moses, Joshua, David, Ezekiel, and others. In the New Testament, “spirit” (Greek pneuma) appears 379 times, with the Holy Spirit acting profoundly through Jesus and the apostles.

The Holy Spirit in the Mass. References to the Holy Spirit permeate the prayers of the priest and the faithful during Mass. “Holy Spirit” is printed 983 times in the Roman Missal—the thick book on the altar from which the priest prays.

The Holy Spirit in Church teaching. Referring to Pentecost 27 times and the Holy Spirit 593 times, the Catechism describes how the Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and how “Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church… through the sacraments.” (#1076) What does this Holy Spirit mean to you and me? Since the Holy Spirit permeates our Catholic lives—literally since our Baptism—we may have questions such as: 

• Should I be concerned if I don’t feel the “power of the Holy Spirit” in my life as we’ve been reading in the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season? 
• How do I know if my spirit is on the same wavelength as the Holy Spirit? 
• How can I tap into the guidance of the Holy Spirit for important decisions in my life?

Going Deeper. Asking and addressing these types of questions is what we do in the “Going Deeper in Your Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ” Series on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, 7–8:15pm (except July and August), see the bulletin for details. These sessions are not “talks,” but rather opportunities for you to bring YOUR questions as we navigate the Bible, the Mass, and Catholic Teaching to help answer them. I hope to see you there sometime!

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

The Great Commission

Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this Sunday, we are invited to listen intently at the last verbal direction given to the Apostles by our Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20). This final direction is commonly called “the Great Commission.” The words are spoken to the Apostles but they are also spoken to us.

Before Jesus ascends in the presence of his followers, he passes on and entrusts them with the responsibility of carrying on his mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and of establishing the kingdom of God. This ordinary group of men and women are the ones who were chosen by God to be the heralds and witnesses of the resurrection. Through their words and actions, the world will know that Jesus is truly alive and more alive and present to us than he ever was. As Jesus’ earthly life ends, theirs and our mission and ministry begins.

Today, that responsibility now belongs to us. The first friends and followers of Jesus are our foundation of faith, and we are their descendants. It is now up to each of us in our own way to carry on the mission and ministry of Jesus. Through us today, the world will know that Jesus is alive, present and active in our world. As Pope Francis says to each of us, “every Christian is a missionary to the extent that they have experienced the love of God in Jesus.”

Even though we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus, he has not left us, deserted us, or abandoned us. He is with us when we gather to break bread with each other. He is with us when we reach out to help and support each other. These are the signs that Jesus is in us and with us, today and forever. May we go out into our world and make disciples.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

God Is Love

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! Our Easter season continues this weekend with the celebration of the
Sixth Sunday of Easter. Our readings this weekend begin to make the turn toward the coming of the Advocate: the Holy Spirit. John’s Gospel tells us the Spirit will remain with us and be in us so that we are never abandoned or left as orphans. The Spirit of God is the bond of love between Father and Son that is now shared with each and every one of us as well. Whenever we experience love in our lives, we are experiencing God. (Just a reminder—the celebration of the Ascension will occur next weekend, May 20-21, and not on Thursday, May 18th.)

I would also like to wish a Blessed and Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and the women in our lives who have been like mothers to us. I pray this day will fill you with love and surround you with the blessings of many loving family members and friends. May our Blessed Mother continue to watch over you and guide you on your faith journey as she leads you to a deeper love for her Son. May is the month of our Blessed Mother. We had beautiful weather for the May Crowning at St Jane’s last weekend. This weekend at OLC, we will be celebrating the crowing of Mary after the 10:45am Mass. You are invited to bring bouquets of flowers to place before the Blessed Mother throughout the month of May.

This week, please keep in your prayers our OLC 10th graders who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday, May 17th. After this Confirmation, our pastorate youth will be celebrating the Sacrament together in the fall of 10th grade. The next pastorate Confirmation is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th at 5:30pm at OLC and will include teens from both parishes.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has given me birthday cards and ordination anniversary cards. I celebrated my 60th birthday on May 10th and will be celebrating my 20th ordination anniversary on May 24th. I would like to thank everyone who has been working on parish celebrations for me (it is very generous and I am most grateful!) There is a celebratory gathering on Saturday evening, May 13th, after the vigil Mass at SJF Hall and on Sunday, May 21st after both Masses in the Gathering Place at OLC.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

The Priesthood Of The Baptized

Dear Parishioners,

“As a priest, what sacrifice do you offer at Mass?” This question is not for me, but for you. Did you know that every baptized Catholic is a priest? Not an ordained priest of Jesus Christ, but a priest of the priesthood of the baptized, as Peter states in today’s First Reading: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own.” (1 Peter 2:9).

The priesthood of the baptized is a fascinating New Covenant reality with an Old Covenant parallel. In the book of Exodus, God establishes “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6) in the context of the liturgical establishment of the Mosaic covenant (Ex 19:5-8) where Moses consecrated the people of Israel with priests who at that time were the first born son-priests (Ex 19:22) before the Levitical priesthood was established. The acceptance of the covenant brought about Israel’s communal liturgy which included Moses and the elders’ eating and drinking a covenantal meal in the presence of Yahweh himself on Mt. Sinai (Ex 24:11). Immediately following this extraordinary liturgical meal, God commands Moses to make Him a sanctuary “that I may dwell in their midst.” (Ex 25:1,7). What does this—a liturgical meal with a kingdom of priests in the presence of God—sound like? The Catholic Mass!

One of the predominant themes of the Book of Revelation is the priesthood of the baptized, which, according to Cardinal Vanhoye, establishes a very strong connection between worship and life, between the heavenly liturgy and earthly history. With respect to Revelation’s three priestly texts (Rev 1:6, 5:9-10, 20:6), the theme of royal and priestly dignity (along with today’s Second Reading) is presented in a glorious context.

In answering the question—“As a priest, what sacrifice do you offer at Mass?”—from the perspective of the baptized Catholic’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Peter answers: “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices [a notion referred to 16 times in Scripture] acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2:5).” That is, to offer under the action of the Holy Spirit one’s entire life to God in one’s day-to-day activities, in imitation of Christ. In our hearts which we “lift up to the Lord” in the Offertory, and our offering of the Eucharistic Prayer and the bread and wine as the symbols of our human life, we surrender everything to God in Christ who, “after consecrating our offering in his Eucharist, will give it back to us in holy communion, the crowning moment of the Eucharistic sacrifice (Louis Bouyer).” In other words, as priests we offer the sacrifice of ourselves united with Christ at Mass and receive the greatest union possible: where “the two (Christ and the Church) shall become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31-32).” May this insight lead us all to a “full, conscious, and active participation” at Mass as priests (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1141) in the greatest and most important work of the Church.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter!

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! Our Easter season continues this weekend with the celebration of the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday as the readings this weekend are from passages where Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd to his people. As a good shepherd watches over and protects his sheep, Jesus is our Good Shepherd who watches over us, protects us, nurtures us, and leads us to the green pastures of our heavenly home.

We are approaching the half-way point of our Easter season, but we are continuing to celebrate in many different ways over the coming weeks. This weekend at the 11:30am Mass at St. Jane, we will be celebrating 1st Communions for 20+ young members of our parish community. Congratulations to all who will be receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. Next weekend (May 6–7), we will be celebrating 1st Communions at OLC at the 5:00pm Mass on Saturday, and on Sunday at the 10:45am Mass and a special 1:00pm Mass. Also next weekend, our high school youth will be on retreat so I ask you to keep them in your prayers. Confirmation for OLC’s high schoolers in 10th grade and higher will be celebrated on May 17th at 5:30pm with Bishop Parker. After that, Confirmations for both parishes will be celebrated together starting in November.

May is also the month of our Blessed Mother. Our May crowning at St Jane will take place on Sunday, May 7th following the 10:00am Mass. At OLC, we will celebrate the crowing of Mary on Mother’s Day, May 14th. You are invited to bring bouquets of flowers to place before the Blessed Mother at both events. Mother’s Day Spiritual Bouquet cards are available at both Churches as well. This is a wonderful way to remember your mothers, grandmothers, godmothers and any women in your life that have had a motherly influence on you. If you are still blessed to have these women in your life, there are Mother’s Day cards you can send them or give to them on Mother’s Day.

Finally, I would like to give you an update on the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. St Jane has received pledges for $31,795 (goal: $65,048) from 127 families. OLC has received pledges for $39,861 (goal: $57,481) from 199 families. If you would like to make a donation, go to www.archbalt.org/giving. Thank you for your generosity to our pastorate parishes!

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

God’s “Far Greater Plan”

 

God’s “far greater plan” on the road to Emmaus.

About 10 years ago, I purchased as the central piece of art for my remodeled living room, a print of Robert Zund’s painting “The Road to Emmaus,” the subject of today’s Gospel. It’s one of my favorite paintings, depicting one of my favorite bible passages.

This beautiful work of art stunningly portrays Jesus with two of his disciples on the day rose He from the dead. The disciples were downcast, “hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel,” i.e, free the Jews from the Roman occupation… something inferior to God’s “far greater plan” to free them from sin and death in the New Creation.

Sometimes we can unknowingly take on the “Old Creation” perspective of the two disciples when, after persistent prayer, we become downcast because God has not relieved our suffering or the suffering of a loved one. Sometimes God does answer prayers miraculously. But He answers prayers in one of three ways: 1. Yes. 2. Not yet. or 3. I have a far greater plan.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus reveals his Father’s “far greater plan”: God brings good from evil and suffering. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things AND (emphasis added) enter into his glory?” It’s not “either-or” (either suffering or glory), but “both-and” (both suffering and glory). Confidence in God’s love for us in the midst of our suffering is how Jesus interpreted the entire Old Testament: “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:26-27). After this Liturgy of the Word, Jesus proceeded to the Liturgy of the Eucharist: “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:30-31).

What does all this mean for you and me? YOU AND I ARE THE TWO DISCIPLES on the road to Emmaus! Today’s Resurrection gospel is the story of you and me: Jesus’ disciples at the Catholic Mass. Jesus comes along side us (particularly when we ask Him to). He opens our hearts to hear his Word and our eyes to His Real Presence in the breaking of the bread, even in our suffering.

At the Offertory during Mass, when we offer to God our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, let us take confidence in knowing that God loves us and that He will bring good from evil and suffering. And at the Dismissal, let us, like the two disciples, “Go forth” and share this good news—the Gospel—to those we know and love: “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:35).

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Brothers and Sisters,

Remember a time in your life when you were fearful and sad, and felt lost and alone. Perhaps you experienced a significant loss or change in your life or were struggling with a painful situation. At that time, it would have been a great gift if Jesus had suddenly appeared and said: “Peace be with you.”

When we feel lost and alone, we may not always have a clear sense that Jesus is with us. Typically, we do not physically see Jesus appear to us. However, at that point in your life, was there any sense of Jesus’ presence with you? Did you experience the gift of strength from your faith in Jesus? Perhaps your faith and your belief enabled you to keep on going.

We know that Jesus is always with us, gifting us and gracing us with His presence; even if we may not realize it at that moment. Jesus walks with us daily through all of life’s circumstances. Do we believe and trust that reality? As the case of Thomas illustrates from this week’s Gospel (Jn 20:19-31), even the disciples who walked with Jesus sometimes had doubts. Jesus meets us wherever we are on life’s journey and removes our doubts. Even if we do have a sense of Jesus’ presence, we may desire evidence that Jesus is with us, just as Thomas did. Thomas wanted to know if the resurrected Jesus was real. Isn’t that what we all seek and need at times? We need to live in the reality that Jesus is alive. How do we encounter him without physically seeing Him with our eyes? Jesus says that we do not have to see Him to believe in Him. We are invited by Jesus himself to believe by trusting the first-hand accounts given to us by the Apostles in Sacred Scripture. By encountering Him through prayer and the sacraments and through our neighbor. Today, if we doubt Jesus is near us and with us, may we reach out in faith and ask Him to come and be present and real in our current circumstance. Jesus will come to us and bring us His peace as we proclaim, “my Lord and my God!”

Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
Deacon Howard

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Sunday, April 16th, the Second Sunday of Easter, is also Divine Mercy Sunday when the faithful may receive an indulgence by devoutly participating in certain pious practices, including: receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation within a week of Divine Mercy Sunday, receiving Holy Communion at Sunday Mass, praying the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father, a prayer for the intention of the Pope, and a devout prayer such as, “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you.” Confessions are heard weekly on Saturdays 3:30–4:30 pm and Thursdays 7:45–8:15 am, or by appointment by calling the parish office. For more information on Divine Mercy, please visit: https://www.stjane.org/divine-mercy-novena/