Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,
This weekend, we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Gospel this weekend gives us another example of the seven “I AM” statements that Jesus makes in John’s Gospel. This weekend, Jesus tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Just as last weekend, Jesus told his we was the Gate for the Sheep, today he reminds us once again that we must pass through Jesus in order to enter into eternal life. The Lord desires for us to be with Him in heaven for all eternity so much so that He has prepared a place for us there. We only need to hear His voice and follow Him. How have you heard the voice of the Lord in your life? Are you able to still hear Him call you by name? May the Lord bless us with the grace to know and love and serve Him in this life so that we may dwell with Him in His heavenly kingdom.
Congratulations to everyone who received First Communion last weekend at St. Jane Frances. This weekend, we are celebrating First Communions at the 4:00pm and 10:45am Masses at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Please continue to pray for all of our young disciples receiving Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist at our Pastorate.
This Sunday, May 3rd after the 10:00am Mass at St. Jane Frances, we will honoring our Blessed Mother with our annual May Crowning. At OLC, our May crowning will take place next Sunday, Mother’s Day, following the 10:45am Mass. The Knights of Columbus at OLC will be hosting a Mother’s Day breakfast following the 8:30am and 10:45am Masses for a nominal fee.
Our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner is scheduled for Friday, June 5th from 5:30pm until 8:00pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Volunteers and their spouses are welcome to join us; however, we are asking for an RSVP so that we can plan accordingly. To RSVP, please contact Tracey at St Jane’s at 410-255-4646. Thank you to all of our volunteers who assist us at our Pastorate.
Phil Snyder, who was with us during his Deacon Pastoral Formation year, will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate this Saturday, May 9th, at 10:00am at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Our Archdiocesan Transitional Deacon Ordination (for men studying to become priests) will be Saturday, May 16th at 10am at the Cathedral. Both Masses should be livestreamed on the Cathedral website if you would like to watch. (You are also invited to attend in person as well.) Please keep all of these men in your prayers as they prepare for ordination over the next couple of weeks.
Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers!
God Bless,
Fr. Steve
