Dear Friends of OLC and St Jane Frances,
This weekend we celebrate the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Sunday is also now known as the Sunday of the Word of God, instituted by Pope Francis in 2019. This designation is meant to remind all of us of the importance of the Sacred Scriptures in our lives as well as the relationship between the word of God and the liturgy (Mass). The document instituting the Sunday of the Word of God is called Aperuit Illis coming from Luke’s Gospel which says: “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:25). I would encourage all of us to take a few minutes each day to read the Sacred Scriptures, and allow the Lord to open your minds to the mystery of God’s love for us. Just be sure you are reading from a Catholic Bible. Non Catholic Bibles have deleted some of the books of the Old Testament (For example, if you don’t have 1st and 2nd Maccabees, then you don’t have a Catholic Bible.)
The scriptures this weekend remind us of God’s power to save us, which fulfilled the promises made to the prophets of old. The great light of Jesus Christ has shown on the people walking in darkness, as we hear from the Prophet Isaiah. Matthew’s Gospel begins with the fulfillment of this prophecy by Jesus Christ among us. Jesus begins his ministry by calling the first apostles, Peter, Andrew, James, and John to come and follow him. What Jesus does in those early days of his ministry is what the Church continues doing to this very day: teaching, proclaiming, and curing/healing. This is salvation—the healing power of Christ at work in the Church, and in each one of us.
Excitement is building for the return of the St. Patrick’s Day Bazaar at St. Jane Frances. It has been four years since the last big event as Covid shut things down in 2020. I am hoping that our pastorate parishes will work together to make the bazaar as successful as it has been in the past. Volunteers and donations are needed in order to do this. If you would like to volunteer, please call the parish office at St. Jane Frances (410-255-4646).
I would also like to thank everyone who assisted with Shelter Week at Our Lady of the Chesapeake earlier this month. We hosted about 25 gentlemen and the week went well. Thanks to Mary Cooley, Lisa Wolfe, and all of the numerous volunteers from both parishes who volunteered so much of their time to make this event run smoothly. Thank you all very much!
The start of Lent is only one month away. Ash Wednesday is February 22nd, exactly one month from this Sunday! For your planning purposes, our Mass schedule for Ash Wednesday will be as follows:
- St Jane – 8:30am, 12:00pm, 7:00pm
- OLC – 8:30am and 7:00pm.
Thank you for keeping St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake in your daily prayers!
God Bless,
Father Steve
