Dear Friends of our Pastorate,
This weekend, we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel this weekend, we hear of Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray by giving them the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is, of course, is the most perfect prayer of our faith, for it teaches us how to come to the Father in our times of need. We begin by acknowledging the greatness and holiness of God and our desire to do His will in our lives. Then we ask the Father to nourish us, to forgive us, and to guide us in our earthly journey of faith. Jesus goes on to encourage us to be persistent in our prayers and trust that God will always give us what we need when we ask for His will to be done in our lives. So turn to God in faith and trust. Our Father is ready to lovingly give us what we need, which ultimately is forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in His presence.
I would like to thank Marie Griffiths and her volunteers who hosted an awesome Vacation Bible School at St. Jane Frances during the week of July 14–18. Check out St. Jane’s Facebook page for pictures of the great time had by so many volunteers and participants. This week is OLC’s turn to host VBS. Michaela Stanton and her volunteers have been preparing the Gathering Place to welcome the participants to the True North. Please keep our Pastorate’s youth and volunteers in your prayers as they continue to come to know God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.
Summer Mission – Part 2 will be taking place August 5–6 at St. Jane Frances. This middle school outreach and service program is open to all middle schooler and high school chaperones. Registration is required. Please contact Carrie Hilmer or Tim Janiszewski for more information or to participate.
Enrollment for Religious Education, Middle School, and High School Youth Ministry has begun. Please go to our websites (stjane.org or olchesapeake.org) to register your kids for our programs, which begin in September. This year, we will begin our three year process of moving the age of Confirmation as instructed by Archbishop Lori. All incoming 8th graders and 9th graders should be enrolling in our standalone Confirmation program (including all students in Catholic Schools. Sacramental preparation is done at the parish, not at the schools.) If you have a child entering 8th or 9th grade this fall, please be sure to enroll them in our Confirmation preparation program in addition to Middle School and High School Youth Ministry programs.
Mark your calendars for the Solemnity of the Assumption, a Holy Day of Obligation (think Opportunity) which is Friday, August 15th. Masses will be offered on Thursday, August 14th at 7:00pm at St. Jane, and Friday, August 15th at 8:30am (St Jane), 12:00pm (OLC), and 7:00pm (OLC).
Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances—in your daily prayers!
God Bless,
Father Steve
