Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,
This weekend, we celebrate the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel this weekend is the encounter that Jesus has with the ten lepers. You will recall that they ask Jesus to have pity on them for leprosy, a condition that forced people to leave the safety of community life and live in isolation or with others who suffered from the same ailment. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they go, they are cleansed. This miraculous healing is received by all of them, but only one of them, a Samaritan (meaning a foreigner or outsider), takes the time to come back and thank Jesus.
Two things come to mind with this encounter. First is our need to be thankful. As a nation, we celebrate this on Thanksgiving Day, but gratitude and thanksgiving ought to be our modus operandi every day of our lives. Each day we have is a gift from the Lord, who continues to bless us in so many ways, even during those times when we do not experience God’s blessings in our lives. Second is the reminder that Jesus’ message of healing and compassion is for all people, not just for people who believe what we believe, or live as we live, or act as we act. All people of the world are made in God’s image and therefore are worthy of our mercy and compassion, just as Jesus was merciful and compassionate to the Samaritan.
I would like to thank everyone who completed the Commitment Card for our Fall Stewardship campaign “Called to Serve.” Your ongoing financial support is crucial to our parishes in order for us to meet our budgetary needs and continue to invest in our facilities as well as our efforts to evangelize our local communities. If you still haven’t made a commitment, please consider doing so this fall. I have personally increased my giving to each parish by 8.7% this month so I invite you to prayerfully consider an increase in your monthly giving as well. Thanks!
Our Pastorate’s Trunk or Treat celebration is happening this Saturday, Oct. 18th following the 4:00pm Mass at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. We are still in need of “trunks,” so if you and your family would like to participate, please contact Michaela at mstanton@olchesapeake.org.
Don’t forget to fill your baby bottles with a donation to Women’s Care Mary’s Center, a pregnancy center located in Glen Burnie that assists women and families with pregnancy needs, including unintended pregnancies. We will be collecting the baby bottles through the month of October. Thank you for your support.
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
