May: The Month Of Mary

Dear Friends of Pastorate of the Visitation,

If you were not here last weekend, then you may have missed the BIG news. Fr. Jim has been asked by Archbishop Lori to become the Archbishop’s Priest-Secretary. This position is like the personal assistant to the Archbishop and is quite an honor. Fr. Jim has already begun his transition by meeting with the Archbishop’s current Priest-Secretary: Fr. Tyler Kline. His new position takes effect on July 1, 2024. I am very grateful for Fr. Jim’s dedication and service to our Pastorate over the past two years and wish him well at his new assignment. Please keep him in your prayers… he will certainly appreciate them. 

Fr. John Bilenki

Archbishop Lori also announced that Fr. John Bilenki will be coming to our Pastorate as our new Associate Pastor. Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood in 2023 and has been in Rome completing his theological studies. According to an article published in the Catholic Review last year, he is the youngest of four sons of Anthony and Mary Ellen Bilenki. He attended Mount St. Joseph High School and Mount St. Mary’s University. He will be returning to the Archdiocese in late June, so he will be starting with us sometime in early July, after he has time to get settled. Please keep him in your prayers as well, as he completes his studies and begins his priestly ministry with us.

This weekend, we are kicking off our Pastorate’s First Communion celebrations. This Sunday, April 28th, we will be celebrating 12 First Communions at St. Jane Frances at the 11:30am Mass. Next weekend, May 4–5, we will be celebrating 25 First Communions at OLC during the 4:00pm Mass on Saturday, and at the 10:45am (and a special 1:00pm) Masses on Sunday. Please keep our First Communicants in your prayers.

As we all know, May is the month of Mary. Both of our parishes celebrate and honor our Blessed Mother with May Crowning ceremonies. The crowning of the Mary statue in the grotto at St. Jane Frances will take place on Sunday, May 5th, immediately following the 10:00am Mass. The crowning of the Mary statue that will be set up in the vestibule of OLC will take place on Sunday, Mary 12th (Mother’s Day) immediately following the 10:45am Mass. Please plan to join us as we honor our Blessed Mother.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve