Love One Another

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend, we have a very short second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (13:8-10). The reading may be short, but the message speaks volumes: Love one another. As we know, the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord our God, but Jesus also gave a second greatest commandment, and that is the Love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul tells that all the commandments of the law are summarized in this. The reading ends by saying “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” Sounds pretty simple, right?

Well, as we unfortunately know, it is not as simple as it sounds. One may question who is my neighbor? This question was asked of Jesus as well, and his response was the one who shows mercy to another. Our neighbor is not just the person who lives next door to us, or the people with whom we share the same beliefs, or opinions, or views. Our neighbors are every other human being, for they are the ones we show mercy toward, or as Paul says today, we demonstrate no evil toward. Quite bluntly, our world is lacking clear evidence of this understanding of neighbor, yet Christianity challenges us to love our neighbor, to show mercy to our neighbor, to do no evil to our neighbor. May we pray together for the grace to live out this commandment to love our neighbor, for ultimately, God is love.

Happy Labor Day to everyone as we celebrate the unofficial end to summer. We are thankful for the gift of human labor. This week, on Friday, is also the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks on our country. We will be celebrating a holy hour for peace at both churches following the 8:30am Masses on Sept. 11th. Please join us as we remember those who lost their lives as we pray for an end to war and terrorism, so that the peace of Christ may reign once again in our hearts and in our world.

Next Sunday our pastorate will celebrate Catechetical Sunday at the 10am Mass at St. Jane Frances and the 10:45am Mass at OLC. We will take these opportunities to bless our teachers (aka catechists) and aids and all who will assisting in our faith formation programs at our pastorate. If you would like to serve as a catechist this year, please let us know.

Remember to sign up your middle school (and high school) aged children for Confirmation preparation this year. Confirmation Family Team meetings are beginning this month (check the bulletin for dates and times.)

Our O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program kicked off last week, but there is still plenty of time to join us. If you would like to become Catholic (never been baptized or baptized in another Christian faith) or were never Confirmed in the Catholic Church, please reach out to Deacon Phil at phil.snyder@archbalt.org.

Finally, there is still time to sign up for Walking With Purpose this Fall. There are various times and programs being offered, and day care will be provided at some of the sessions. For more information, please reach out to Laurie at Pasadenawwp@gmail.com.

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

God Bless,
Fr. Steve

God’s Ways

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. What a change in Jesus’ response to Peter this week compared to last week. You may recall that Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. And in response to his proclamation of faith, Jesus proclaims Peter to be the rock on which His Church is to be built. Things are looking good for Peter! But now this week, Peter is rebuked by Jesus for stating that Jesus much not be allowed to suffer and die at the hands of the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes (Matthew 16:21-27). In reply, Jesus says “Get behind me Satan!” Quite the reversal of fortune for Peter.

But what Peter does not understand is that Jesus must do this in order to accomplish his mission. That is why he has come in the first place. Our human thinking naturally would be to rescue someone from having to suffer and die, but as we know, God’s ways are not like our ways. Jesus must take up His cross, and not only Jesus, but we too must be willing to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus as well. That can be difficult to do, for it sounds so alien to what our world tells us is the way we should be living our lives. But the world’s ways are not God’s ways, no matter how hard we want to believe it. The journey of a Christian disciple is to surrender oneself to the will of God and trust that God’s way will lead us to perfect happiness. There will be challenges and difficulties along the way (such as the crosses we bear), but there is no resurrection without the crucifixion.

This past week, we celebrated Gina Bujanowski’s retirement after many years of service at St. Jane Frances and within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We wish her well as she begins this new chapter in her life. Thank you Gina for all you have done for our pastorate!

As the new school year has begun for most of our young parishioners, we want to remind you to enroll your school aged kids in our Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs at the Pastorate. Classes will begin in September. Also this year, the 2027 cohort for Confirmation preparation will be all students in 6th to 8th grade (and older). Please be sure to sign up for Confirmation and plan to attend the 2027 Confirmation Family Team Meeting in September.

Finally, we are continuing to accept inquiries for our O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Deacon Phil is leading our Pastorate program this year, so if you would like to become Catholic (never been baptized or baptized in another Christian faith or never Confirmed), please reach out to Deacon Phil at phil.snyder@archbalt.org. The first meeting is this Monday, August 31st at 7:00pm in St. Jane Frances School, and will be held on subsequent Mondays throughout the year.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve 

The Rock

Dear Parishioners,

I have a friend who is in the process of becoming Catholic. Like many from other faith traditions, he had a number of concerns/questions about some of our teachings, including our beliefs about the pope. Fortunately, like many in non-denominational churches, he had a strong belief in scripture.

When we took some time to discuss this weekend's gospel (Matthew 16:13-20), things slowly began to make sense. It is Jesus himself who declares Peter the “rock” upon whom He will build His church One of countless instances of God at work in the most surprising ways throughout the history of salvation.

The papal conclave to select a new pope is still filled with mystery and intrigue, so much so that even Hollywood has taken an interest. For we who are believers are very aware that while the College of Cardinals chooses the new pope, it is the Holy Spirit at work through them. The Holy Spirit gives the Church what is necessary at particular times in history. In my brief lifetime, I have seen the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

John XXIII, who was supposed to be an interim pope, convened the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI had the courage to continue the work of the Council, seeing it to completion. John Paul I, pope for 33 days, sought to distance himself from some of the trappings of the papacy. His humanity and gentle spirit had a deep impact even in his short pontificate. John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope, bringing the presence of Peter to the People of God rather than the other way around. Benedict XVI possessed a wise intellect and the ability to clarify complicated teachings in an understandable way, all at the time he was ready to retire. Francis, the first Jesuit pope, brought a fresh face to the humanity of the papacy and the importance of care for all, most especially the poor and those with no voice. And now Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, something everyone thought to be impossible, is fearlessly embracing his role as rock in this digital age. Thank goodness, the Holy Spirit provides whatever we need at all times in history.

As summer comes to an end over the next few weeks, I want to offer prayers and Blessings to our students and teachers, of all ages, as they begin a new school year. I will be on vacation for the next two weekends. I look forward to seeing you in September.

Blessings on your week!
Fr. Kevin

Lord, Help Me

Dear Pastorate Family and Friends,

It is hard to believe that Summer is rapidly coming to an end. Pretty soon, our kids will be back in school (and traffic will be back on Fort Smallwood and Mountain Roads!) I hope everyone has had a good Summer and have taken time to relax and enjoy this beautiful life that the Lord has given us. As we begin gearing up for Fall at the pastorate, I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the exciting things that will be happening soon.

First, I would invite you to commit to attend Mass regularly at OLC and St. Jane Frances. This one hour a week commitment is essential to you and your family’s spiritual life! Please plan to prioritize weekend Mass when planning your family schedules.

Second is registration is open for our Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs. Please be sure to enroll your children and teens, especially if they attend public schools. Allow us to help you continue to teach your children about our Catholic Faith so that they can continue to grow in their love for Jesus and His Church. Our faith journey is lifelong. It doesn’t end with Confirmation and we never graduate from being a Christian, so please help us help you!

Third, our registration for Confirmation is open! As we continue to implement Archbishop Lori’s plans for lowering the age of Confirmation, this year we will be preparing all Middle Schoolers to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Fall of 2027. If you have Middle School aged kids (or high schoolers who have not been Confirmed yet), please sign them up for our Confirmation preparation program.

The ladies of our Pastorate are continuing our Walking With Purpose (WWP) program. This is an excellent way for you to learn more about the Lord and His plans for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to move your heart to signing up for WWP this year. If you would like to hear more about our WWP program, please plan to join our planning team at a WWP information session being held on Tuesday, September 15th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Gathering Place at OLC. No commitment required… other than attending this information session. WWP can and will change your life, if you allow it!!!

Our annual back to school Backpack Blessing will be taking place the weekend of Aug 22-23 at all
Masses at both Churches. All kids are invited to bring their backpacks to Mass for a special prayer of
blessing as they begin the new school year.

The Little Sisters of the Poor will be blessing our parishes with their presence in the coming weeks.
They will be at OLC the weekend of Aug. 22–23 and at St. Jane Frances the weekend of Sept 26–27.

Finally, our Pastorate’s Pastoral Plan for Evangelization has been approved by Archbishop Lori.
We are having copies of the plan printed up in order to distribute to our congregations. This plan was developed over the past couple of years with the help of several members from both parishes and will be our guidepost for our evangelization efforts over the next few years. I am very thankful to everyone who assisted in its development (their names will be listed on the back of the plan).

As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support of our Pastorate of the Visitation. Please
know that Fr. Kevin and I appreciate them very much!

God Bless,
Father Steve 

 

A Letter from Our Deacon

Brothers and Sisters,

How easy is it for us to become discouraged and uncertain when it seems like our prayers are not being heard, much less answered? The Canaanite woman in the Gospel reading this weekend gives us a reminder and a repeated lesson that perseverance pays off. She teaches us not to get discouraged when difficulties arise in life and to persevere in prayer, even when it seems that God is not listening. Her persistence is an effect of her faith, and because of her faith, Jesus cures her child. Her inner strength and faith enabled her to overcome every obstacle. She was considered an “outsider” by the Jewish people and the disciples, but she addresses Jesus with a Messianic title, reverence, trust, and humility knowing he had the power to heal. Are we doing the same in our own prayer life or are we giving up when we don’t see our answer right away? Are we willing to put our faith into action and pray without ceasing?

With the stubbornness of the Canaanite woman, we should be going down on our knees as she did, adoring Jesus and pleading to Him, “Lord, help me.” Doing so with a faith that is not easily deterred. Our Lord wants us to rely on him for everything. It should be so glaringly evident to us that without him we can do nothing, whereas with him we can do all things. Is that kind of faith and trust deeply rooted in our own souls? Jesus’ concluding words to the Canaanite woman challenge us as followers to recognize the gifts of goodness and grace that Jesus offers to those who truly and deeply trust in him. May we be bold in prayer always!

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

 

“O woman, great is your faith! 
Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Take Courage

Dear Parishioners,

In my brief time back in Pasadena, we have already experienced a few really strong storms. I heard a number of parishioners telling tales of getting caught, out on the water, during that first storm where the peninsula suffered so much damage. Being on the water in the midst of severe storms can only be described as terrifying. The storms that we face in our day-to-day lives sometimes feel no less frightening. It is always to be reminded of Jesus’s words to his disciples caught in the turbulent waves, “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Mt 14:27)

As we wind down these last few weeks of summer, surely there will be some challenges in the months to come. I hope we can face them together, filled with courage and the resolve of those disciples in the boat. “Truly, this is the Son of God.” (Mt 14:33)

The Little Sisters of the Poor are coming to OLC the weekend of Aug 22–23 (they will visit SJF in September), asking for our assistance in caring for their residents at St. Martin Home for the Aged in Catonsville. The Little Sisters have the spiritual practice of “begging” in conjunction with their vow of hospitality. They ask for the generosity of God’s people and local businesses in caring for the needs of their elderly residents, all of whom have limited financial resources. Both of my grandparents were residents of St. Martin’s Home. I will always be eternally grateful to the Little Sisters of the Poor for their care of both of my grandparents. Please be as generous as you are able.

That same weekend, we will have a Blessing of Backpacks and—by extension—our young people who will be carrying those backpacks for the upcoming school year. Students of all ages, beginning school in September, are invited to bring their backpacks to weekend masses.

The refurbishment and reinstallation of our renovated organ at St. Jane is nearing completion. We look forward to the beautiful music this magnificent instrument will provide for generations to come. Special thanks to those who have already contributed to this campaign. Fr. Steve asked me to remind you we are able to accept tax-free pledges and contributions to this campaign through the end of August.

Blessings on your week!
Fr. Kevin

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

Fr. Steve is away on a well-deserved vacation this weekend. Please pray this will be a time of rest
and renewal. I want to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks for your incredible
welcome over the last 3 weeks. I don’t think I have ever settled in so quickly. I look forward to all
that God has in store for us.

In 1970, the country singer Lynee Anderson recorded the song, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. The lyrics reminded us that life is often difficult and filled with unexpected challenges. Our readings this weekend remind us, powerfully, that nothing can separate us from the love of God. It is important to remember that since the Garden of Eden, we have not been promised a life without difficulty and challenge. At the same time, if Jesus could feed over 5,000 with only five fish and two loaves of bread, imagine what he can do for us. Even in times of despair and suffering. In these remaining weeks of Summer, I hope you are able to find strength from the supportive and loving hands of the Lord.

On behalf of Fr. Steve, I would like to thank all the staff, parent volunteers, and teens who assisted in both weeks of Vacation Bible School. I have never experienced an evening option like we have at St. Jane’s. How nice to have both options between the two parishes. I was so happy to see some of your youngest disciples so on fire with their faith.

There are a number of events coming up in the next month that we would like to bring to you attention this weekend (with a few additional next weekends as well):

Our Woman’s Bible Study, Walking with Purpose, will have speakers at all the masses this weekend. They will share the Fall activities schedule. This is a wonderful opportunity for the women of our pastorate to gather in prayer and Christ-centered friendship.

The Feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal is August 12th. If you don’t normally attend daily mass, perhaps you might consider joining Fr. Steve for 8:30 Mass at St. Jane that morning to celebrate the feast day of our patroness.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Saturday August 15, 2026. Because it falls on a Saturday, it is not a holy day of obligation this year. For those who would like to attend, there will a vigil mass at OLC Friday August 14th at 7:00 PM. The morning of August 15th we will have the normal 8:30 Mass at St. Jane.

Become Catholic! 

We are beginning a new session of OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) at the end of August. This new group will meet on Monday evenings with Deacon Phil, Fr. Kevin and the OCIA Team. If you are interested in becoming Catholic, or know someone who is, please contact the parish office as soon as possible.

Blessings on your week!
Fr. Kevin

Great Value

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our first reading this weekend is from 1st Kings. The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and asks him to make a request for something, and the Lord will give it to him. Solomon doesn’t ask for wealth or power or prestige. Instead he asks for an understanding heart—he asks for wisdom in order to judge the people fairly and justly. To this day, the wisdom of Solomon is known and recognized as a great gift given to him by the Lord.

Wisdom is active in Jesus’ parables this weekend as well. When we discover something of great value or worth, we desire to possess it. But the “great value or worth” is not monetary, it is eternal, for it is the Lord, Jesus Christ. We have received a priceless gift from the Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – forgiveness of our sins and new life in the kingdom of God. As beautiful as this world is, it cannot compare to the eternal beauty that awaits us in the heavenly realm. Therefore, keep your focus on the Lord God. Continue to seek and to search for God’s presence in your lives and in the world around us, and always be ready “to sell what you own” one you find this precious gift from God.

Our Pastorate has now completed our VBS programs at both parishes. “Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God” has been a rousing success! Over 300 youth and adult volunteers have participated in learning that God is our creator, God knows everything, God is our safe place, God is forever, and God is love. I would like our Pastorate’s awesome pastoral staff – Marie Griffiths and Michaela Stanton – and our youth ministry team – Tim Janiszewski and Carrie Hilmer – for leading and supporting our VBS efforts this year. I would also like to thank all of our adult volunteers and teen peer leaders who donated so much time to preparing and leading our VBS programs. We cannot do this without you all, so THANK YOU!!!!

With the impending retirement of Gina Bujanowski at St. Jane Frances, I am pleased to announce that we have hired a new administrative assistant for the office. Please join me in welcoming Carolina Saah to our Pastorate. We had many good applicants, so it was a difficult decision, but I am grateful that Carolina accepted our offer of employment. She will be working Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 1:30pm in the office at St. Jane Frances. Tracey Laber will be assuming the role of Office Manager and will still be working Monday to Thursday, from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Gina’s final day in the office will be Thursday, August 27th. I would personally like to thank Gina for her many years of faithful service to the Church and to St. Jane Frances. She will be missed!

Finally, we are continuing to accept inquiries for our O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Deacon Phil will be leading our program this year so if you would like to become Catholic (never been baptized or baptized in another Christian faith or never Confirmed) please reach out to Deacon Phil at phil.snyder@archbalt.org. Classes will formally begin in September and will be held on Mondays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the school. Stay tuned for more details. 

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,
Father Steve

Weeds Among The Wheat

Brothers and Sisters,

In this week’s Gospel reading, we hear from Jesus how the enemy is at work for our hearts. But it is in this same parable that we must not forget the good seed God sows in each believer’s heart and the patient mercy He uses to cultivate his divine plan within each of us. We are called to be rich soil for this good seed. As rich soil, we are called to allow the seed to take deep root in us and in our lives.

If God’s seed has not sunk deeply in our heart, if our heart is not rich soil and is instead rocky and hardened ground, then we are at risk of being overcome by the world, and the Word of God getting choked off in our lives. What are the weeds that are choking out the wheat God has planted in our hearts? Is it the weeds of doubt and fear, or maybe the weeds of pridefulness or self-centeredness? Are we allowing the truth of God’s Word to penetrate our heart against the lies of our present society? Goodness overcomes evil. Are we striving to live virtuously and bearing fruits of love, kindness, and compassion? This parable serves as a reminder that our actions and choices influence not only the richness of the soil in our own heart but also the world in which we live.

May we find strength and guidance in this parable as we navigate the challenges of the world we live in, remaining steadfast in our faith and allowing God’s grace to transform us into instruments of His love and mercy. We want to be followers that are patient and confident that the Lord is at work in us. May the offering of our lives be an abundantly rich harvest of wheat for the Lord.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Seeds

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. One of the themes for this weekend is seeds: how they are sowed, what is needed for them to grow, and how successful they can be depending upon where they are sowed. Jesus outlines this in the Parable of the Sower. All seeds start out with the same potential to grow and thrive and produce an abundant harvest; however, whether or not they actually do is dependent upon what happens after they are planted and whether or not they receive the proper amount of sunlight and rain.

Jesus uses different planting locations to demonstrate this. Seed that is planted on the pathway is eaten by the birds, so it doesn’t even have a chance to sprout. Seed planted on rocky ground can sprout but will eventually wither and die. Seed planted among the thorns will get choked by the vines, but seed planted in good soil will produce an abundant harvest. Jesus asks us to become rich soil so that when his word is planted within us, it will produce an abundant harvest for the Lord. He will provide the sun and the rains but nurturing us with his Body and Blood. We have only to trust that when we receive his Word and understand his will, it will be enough for us to grow and thrive as his disciples.

Our Pastorate is preparing for two action packed weeks of VBS! We are offering “Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God” at both churches. Participants will be learning that God is our creator, God knows everything, God is our safe place, God is forever, and God is love. VBS at St. Jane Frances begins this Monday evening, July 13th, and runs through Friday, July 17th. Then the following week, OLC will have VBS in the mornings beginning on Monday, July 20th through Friday, July 24th. I would like “pre-thank” Marie and Michaela and the many volunteers who have assisted us in preparing for VBS this year.

We are anticipating the project to reinstall the rebuilt organ at St. Jane Frances will begin this week and take the next couple of weeks to complete. I would like to thank everyone who has donated to the organ rebuild project. So far, we have raised over $86,000 toward our goal of $106,000. All monies donated to this project are “tax free” meaning every dollar you donate will stay at St. Jane’s to cover the cost of the project. If you’d like to make a donation, please go to www.stjane.org. Thanks!

Our new associate pastor, Fr. Kevin Farmer, will be introducing himself at OLC this weekend and at St. Jane Frances the weekend of July 18–19. Many of you who were parishioners at St. Jane’s in the early 1990s remember him when we was at St. Jane’s finishing up his formation and preparing for his priestly ordination. Welcome Fr. Kevin!

Finally, we are continuing to accept inquiries for our O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Deacon Phil will be leading our program this year so if you would like to become Catholic (never been baptized or baptized in another Christian faith or never Confirmed) please reach out to Deacon Phil at phil.snyder@archbalt.org.

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,
Father Steve

Happy 250th Anniversary, America!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

Happy Semiquincentennial (or 250th) Anniversary to our country! I am old enough to remember the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, which just reminds me that time continues it march forward, even when we don’t feel as old as we are. This occasion reminds us of our country’s founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In Christian-speak, happiness is the same as blessedness, when we acknowledge the blessings that the Lord God has poured out upon us through His Son, Jesus Christ. May we always be a people and a nation that gives thanks to God for all of the many blessings we have received. May God Bless America!

Our Gospel reading this weekend (Matthew 11:25-30) reminds us to come to the Lord whenever we are weakened or tired by the burdens of life, for the Lord is always ready to help us to carry these burdens. Matthew mentions a yoke, which in this context is the wooden beam that is used to strap two animals together, such as a yoke of oxen. When they are yoked to each other, the burden of pulling the plow is easier because they are working together to do it. Jesus offers to yoke Himself to us so that the burden we are tasked with can and will be shared with Him, who will ease and lighten it for us. Don’t be afraid to yoke yourself to Jesus by inviting him into the busyness and messiness of life, for He is here to offer us His rest and His peace.

Please join me in welcoming Fr. Peter Igwilo and Fr. Frank Iacona from Cross Catholic Outreach to the Pastorate on the weekend of July 4-5. They will be speaking at all the Masses about the great works accomplished by Cross Catholic Outreach (www.crosscatholic.org). There is no collection taken up but there will be brochures and envelopes available if you would like to make a donation to the organization. The pastorate will also be forwarding the proceeds from the Missionary Coop collection in July to them as well. Thank you for your generosity.

Fr. Kevin Farmer

Our youth ministry has been participating in Summer Mission last week and this week. They gather for prayer in the morning, before heading out to a ministry site for service in the community. After breaking for lunch, they will participate in a fun afternoon activity (I hear they may be touring Ravens Stadium this week.) Please keep them in your prayers. Vacation Bible School/Camp is rapidly approaching as well. VBS begins next Monday, July 13th at St Jane Frances and July 20th at OLC. Thanks to everyone who has been helping us prepare for VBS at our Pastorate.

Please continue to keep Fr. John in your prayers as he transitions to his new assignment as the full time chaplain at Mount St. Joseph High School. Our new associate pastor, Fr. Kevin Farmer, will be introducing himself at OLC the weekend of July 11–12 and at St. Jane Frances the weekend of July 18–19.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your prayers as we go through these changes over the next several weeks!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Farewell For Now

Dear Friends in Christ,

Thank you for your love and encouragement, for your gracious words, thank you gifts and cards, your presence at farewells, and all the rest as I conclude my assignment. Here is my farewell for now!

Being assigned to our Pastorate of the Visitation has been the Father’s gift to me (cf. John 17). I have LOVED being your associate pastor. Thank you for becoming a home and family to me. For any of the ways that I have been a help in bringing you closer to the Lord your God who created you, who rescues and heals you, and whose love for you is beyond compare—thanks be to God. For the times when I was a hindrance, as well as for the times when I did not make a full and sincere gift of myself in service to you, please forgive me.

It has been an inestimable gift to serve here… to bring babies and adults into the family of God through the waters of Baptism and other sacraments of initiation, to enter Heaven with you worshipping the Lamb of God in the Mass, to reconcile you to the Father of mercies in Confession, to celebrate marriages, to share in your sorrows, to find hope during times of grief, sickness, and loss, to adore Jesus in the Eucharist together, to gather in fellowship, to celebrate and sing and so much more. All is gift (St. Therese).

“Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him,” Pope Benedict XVI once said. It is my prayer that every parishioner and every family has the joy every day of discovering what Benedict is talking about.

This joy will be yours by praying daily individually and together as families and friends; by sharing Christ with others through your words, actions, gestures, and intentionality; by drawing near to Jesus through Holy Mass weekly (daily if you can) and through adoring Christ in the Eucharist outside of Mass; by reading daily the words of life in Sacred Scripture; by cultivating friendships in faith and cultivating and sharing your gifts TOGETHER!

Each of us is part of the great commission: to be a witness to Christ and to make disciples. We all share the sacred purpose: to inspire disciples, build community, and serve Christ. Don’t over complicate it. With all of your personalities, talents, words, gestures, and desires anointed by Christ—be the saint God made you to be and you will set the world ablaze (Catherine of Siena).

As Mary teaches us at the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56), let us always be filled with Jesus and go in haste to declare, “the Lord has done great things for me and holy is Name!” Please pray for me that I go in this same haste, filled with Christ to my ministry at Mount St. Joseph High School. Thanks be to God!

See you in the Eucharist!
Fr. John Bilenki

Farewell To Fr. John

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is also Father’s Day, so we would like to wish all of our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and the father figures of our lives a very happy and blessed Father’s Day. There will be a special Father’s Day blessing at all Masses this weekend.

Our readings today remind us of our need to trust in the Lord, even when things seem too difficult or impossible to resolve. This can be challenging when we cannot see our way through a situation or a problem, but if we lose hope in the Lord, what else do we have to lean upon? Jesus reminds us to turn to the Father and rely on His mercy and compassion. Even in the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah says to always sing praise to the Lord, for the Lord rescues “the life of the poor from the power of the wicked.” The grace of God will always lead us through the difficulties of life, so turn to the Lord in Eucharistic adoration, in your prayers, and in the loving support of family and friends to get through the difficult days, because for every Good Friday, there is an Easter Sunday waiting to dawn upon us!

As Fr. John’s time with us comes to a close, we have a couple of Farewell and Thank You celebrations planned over the next two weekends. This Sunday, June 21st, there will be a Farewell and Thank You gathering in the St. Jane Frances Parish Hall following the 11:30am Mass. The following Sunday, June 28th, there will be a Farewell and Thank You celebration at OLC in the Gathering Place following the 8:30am and 10:45am Masses. Please stop by at either event to thank Fr. John and wish him well at his new full time assignment at Mount St. Joe’s. A special thanks to all of the volunteers who are helping to organize both events!

We will be welcoming priests from Cross Catholic Outreach to the Pastorate on the weekend of July 4–5. According to their website, Cross Catholic Outreach is “a Catholic Ministry that partners with bishops, priests, religious and lay workers to provide food, water, housing, education, orphan support, medical care, microenterprise and disaster relief—and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ—to the poorest of the poor in over 30 countries around the world.” They will be speaking about the great works accomplished by the missionaries at Cross Catholic Outreach. There is no collection taken up, but there will be brochures and envelopes available if you would like to make a donation to the organization. The pastorate will also be forwarding the proceeds from the Missionary Coop collection in July to them as well. Thank you for your generosity.

There is still time to sign up for Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer at both St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Vacation Bible Camp at SJF runs from July 13–17 in the evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and at OLC from July 20–24 in the mornings from 9:00am to 12:00pm. I hope your children will be able to join us for either (or both!) this summer. Registration information is included in the bulletin.

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,
Father Steve

The Great Commission

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we finally return to the celebration of Sundays in Ordinary Time as we celebrate the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel this weekend is the commissioning of the twelve apostles to go out and minister to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They are to proclaim the kingdom of God is at hand and bring God’s message of healing and freedom and peace to all they encounter. The Church today continues this mission as well by our service to the people of God throughout the world, but especially in our local community. We, too, are called forth and sent out to proclaim healing and freedom to our neighbors and invite them into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Deacon Phil will be taking over the O.C.I.A. process from Fr. John. O.C.I.A. stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, and it is open to anyone who would like to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus by becoming a member of the Catholic Church. This would include anyone who has never been baptized, was baptized in a non-Catholic Church, or was even baptized Catholic but never completed the Sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and/or Confirmation). Classes will begin in September, but if you would to begin the inquiry process now, please contact Deacon Phil at Phil.Synder@archbalt.org.

Please keep our pastorate youth and chaperones in your prayers this week as they head out for Catholic Heart Work Camp in Dover, DE. They will be working in the Dover area on service projects during the day and then spending time in prayer and reflection in the evenings. This has been a very successful program over the past few years, so thanks to Carrie and to all who have helped to organize and lead our participation in CHWC.

This Sunday is Flag Day. It was on June 14, 1777 that the Continental Congress authorized the design of the US flag. It was this “star spangled banner” that flew over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem. Last week, the U.S. Bishops consecrated our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in preparation for the semiquincentennial of our independence. As we prepare as a nation to celebrate our 250th Anniversary on the Fourth of July, let us pray for our country, that we may continue to live in peace and freedom.

There is still time to sign up for VBS this summer at both St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Vacation Bible Camp at SJF runs from July 13–17 in the evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and at OLC from July 20–24 in the mornings from 9:00am to 12:00pm. I hope your children will be able to join us for either (or both!) this summer. Registration information is included in the bulletin.

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,
Father Steve

“Encore! Encore!”

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Encore! Encore!”

Last Sunday’s Feast of the Holy Trinity and this Sunday’s Feast of Corpus Christi the great “encore” after the big show of the Easter season—two additional Sundays of special jubilation. The Catechism #221 teaches about the Trinity: “God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange.”

Where is this innermost secret more broadcast than in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus? What greater access do we have to this love than in every Mass and in every tabernacle where we encounter Christ who has opened His heart to us (literally having his heart pierced) that we might enter in and find life, rest, hope, peace, and joy? The Eucharist is how we share in God’s innermost secret.

The spiritual writer Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene beautifully unites the two encores of the Trinity and the Eucharist when he says, “Jesus came to us from the bosom of the Father to bring us to the Trinity; this was the purpose of the Incarnation and it is also that of the Eucharist, which prolongs the mystery of the Incarnation in time.”

Receiving, sharing in, and witnessing to this love is what we are made for. I hope that this Corpus Christi Sunday inspires in us greater love of Jesus in the Eucharist, that our hearts are open to spending more time with Him in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and that the many effects of Holy Communion and Adoration bear fruit in our lives of discipleship. Become WHO you receive!

June 7 – All are invited to the Eucharistic Procession Sunday 06/07 after the 11:30 Mass at SJF. There will be adoration after the procession until 6pm. Songs of worship at 5pm, Evening Prayer at 5:30pm, Benediction at 6pm.

June 12 – Join us for 6pm evening Mass at St. Jane Frances followed immediately by a cookout in honor of the Sacred Heart. There will be simple grilled foods and lawn games. Bring a friend!

Thank you to all our volunteers for your presence with us at Friday’s volunteer dinner. We wouldn’t be here without you! We will always take more help! And thank you to our generous staff for taking the lead making this event happen.

As has been announced, I have been assigned by our Archbishop Lori to serve as the full-time chaplain at Mount St. Joe. I am grateful to the Archbishop’s confidence in me with such an important ministry. It is also terrifying. I am eager to see what the Lord will be doing there as I serve there full-time. I am equally sorrowful to conclude my time at the Pastorate. What a gift it has been! Thank you for your prayers and support for me, for the new associate Fr. Kevin Farmer, and for our staff as we navigate this transition. No farewells yet! Know of my prayers and gratitude for you.

In Christ,
Fr. John

Most Holy Trinity

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 234, “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the “hierarchy of the truths of faith.” As we say in the Creed, we believe in one God, but our one God has revealed himself to us in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By the Father’s plan, in Jesus Christ his son, through the Holy Spirit, we are invited to participate in this divine mystery and offered the opportunity “to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity” (Roman Missal). Just remember, ‘mystery’ doesn’t mean unknowable, but infinitely knowable. One can never fully “know” the Trinity, but we can every day come to know more personally the Trinitarian love God has for each and every one of us.

Our Pastorate Volunteer dinner is this Friday, June 5th, at 5:30pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. We look forward to welcoming you and thanking you for all that you do for our Pastorate. If you are unable to attend, please know of our gratitude for you and your service to our pastorate community.

There may still be some tickets available to join us on our bus trip to Sight and Sound Theater to see Joshua. We will be meeting at St Jane Frances at 9:00am and departing soon after for a buffet lunch at Miller’s Smorgasbord before attending the 3:00pm performance. Our plan is arrive back to St. Jane’s by 8:30pm. Tickets are $165 each and include transportation, lunch, and the show. Please contact Tracey at St. Jane’s if you have any questions or would like to check on availability of tickets.

We will be welcoming two seminarians to our pastorate this summer: Alex Sohm and Andrew Cogswell. Alex is studying at the Saint John Paul II College Seminary in Washington, DC and Andrew has just completed his Propaedeutic year at the Blessed Father Michael McGivney House of Propaedeutic Formation in Baltimore. Alex will be joining us this coming weekend and Andrew will begin next weekend. Both will be here until July and will be assisting with our Summer Mission and VBS programs as their schedules allow. Welcome Alex and Andrew!

Finally, after many years of faithful service to St. Jane Frances, Gina Bujanowski has informed me of her plans to retire. Her final day of work will be August 27th. I would like to thank Gina for her many years of serving our parish, and more recently to our pastorate. She will be missed! Thank you Gina and God bless you in retirement!

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

You Have Your Mission

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost and the conclusion of the Easter Season. As we have journeyed through the Easter Season, we have been reading through the Acts of the Apostles, which recalls all of the miraculous events that occurred in the early days of the Church following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was received on that first Pentecost. This was not just a one-time event. The Holy Spirit continues to be poured out upon us, constantly renewing the face of the earth and drawing us deeper into the divine life of the Trinity (which we will celebrate next Sunday). The Holy Spirit is in us right now, prompting us to take on the apostolic mission that has been given to all of us who make up the Body of Christ. Today and every day, may we say ‘Yes’ to the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit of God to guide our words and actions so that we too may continue the mission entrusted to the disciples on that first Pentecost… to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

I would like to congratulate all of our parishioners who are graduating from school this year. From kindergarten to college, may the Lord bless our youth and young adults as they prepare for the next stages in their lives. This Sunday at the 10:45am Mass at OLC, we will be honoring our high school graduates who have blessed the parish with their service.

I am happy to announce that newly ordained Deacon Phil Snyder has been assigned to our pastorate! His official start date is June 1st. Please join me in officially welcoming Deacon Phil and his wife, Cathy, to our pastorate.

Attention all pastorate volunteers!!! Please take a moment and RSVP to our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner being held on Friday, June 5th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake in the Gathering Place. All volunteers and spouses are invited to attend. To RSVP, please call Tracey at St. Jane’s (410-255-4646). Thank you all for your service to our pastorate!

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has submitted to the court a proposed plan of Chapter 11 reorganization. As part of this proposal, our parishes may choose to enter into a simplified Chapter 11 for a short period of time later in the process. This would be a legal step intended to help bring about a just and unified resolution… and bring an end to this Chapter 11 process. This will not affect what we do. Our parish/pastorate life continues. Our Masses, ministries, staff, and service to our community remain unchanged. This is just a proposal. Mediation and conversations are ongoing, and the plan will continue to develop. We will keep you informed as we are able. Please continue to pray for all survivors and for the healing and unity of our Church.

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

The Great Commission

Brothers and Sisters,

This week, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord which is when Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after Easter. It is a celebration that I think sometimes we tend to downplay or think as less significant. But it is at the Ascension when Jesus gives His final words to His disciples. So, if these are His parting words, they must have significant importance for us, right? They should form how we act and give purpose to our life. Jesus said, “go and make disciples.” This was a command from Jesus not a suggestion. This is called “The Great Commission”, not “The Great Suggestion.” It’s not an option for us. It is the very reason for the Church’s existence.

And those words were not only said to His first disciples but to each of us too. These words are the mission statement for the Church and for every disciple. This should be what we are about as a Church which is trying to create an environment of kindness and welcome and compassion and challenge in which people can meet with Jesus and make a decision to follow him. Knowing that they will be loved and supported and not judged as we all walk forward on our spiritual journey together. We have been given the responsibility of caring for one another, encouraging one another, and nurturing one another as we journey towards God as disciples. But we must be taking this responsibility seriously, so ask yourself as I ask myself often, what are we doing to encourage other people in their Catholic faith? What role are we initiating to support discipleship? Are we being that willing open vessel for the Lord to work through? People will be attracted by how we genuinely love and care for each other. Are we prepared to step out in faith and trust God to do the work through us? After all, He is the one who converts hearts, not us.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

The Secret Of Sanctity

Dear Parishioners,

Greetings in Christ! He is truly risen, truly alive! Alleluia!

Happy Mother’s Day to Mary and to our mothers, grandmothers, mother-figures and spiritual mothers!

This Sunday marks a turning point in our Easter season. We set our faces toward the great climax of the Easter Season, Pentecost, which is on May 24. Please put Pentecost on your calendar; write it in red for the Holy Spirit. It’s a big deal; it’s the birthday of the Church! Celebrate birthdays! (And speaking of which, happy birthday, Fr Steve! Thank you for all you do for us!!!)

In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the first reading, we see the Holy Spirit given by God through the prayer and the laying on of hands by our first pope, St. Peter, and by his fellow bishop, St. John. In your own heart and daily prayer, I encourage you to begin to prepare yourself for Pentecost. You might find this work of spiritual guidance of Désiré Félicien François Joseph Cardinal Mercier helpful. The 20th century bishop writes: “I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will.

Mercier goes on: “If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.”

Holy Mass in honor of St. Dymphna, the patroness of mental health and those who care for the afflicted, will be celebrated on Friday May 15 at 8:30am at St. Jane Frances. Our St. Dymphna Mental Health Ministry extends a special invitation to parishioners of the pastorate to participate in Mass, especially during May which is Mental Health Awareness Month.

June 7 we will celebrate Corpus Christi with a Eucharistic Procession after the 11:30am Mass at St. Jane followed by an afternoon of adoration and evening benediction. All are encouraged to come!

June 12 we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart with evening Mass at St. Jane followed by a cookout and games.

We are thankful to God for the gift of Holy Orders in these weeks, especially of the ordination of Deacon Phil! Congrats to you and to your wife, Cathy. We are proud of you and thankful for you!

May Mary our Mother intercede for our Pastorate in this, her month, and as we approach the Feast of the Visitation on May 31! Like her may we have joyful haste in our love of God and neighbor!

In Christ,
Father John

I AM

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

Good Shepherd Sunday

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This weekend is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because the theme for the readings each year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter is based on our understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus refers to himself as “the Gate,” one of the seven I AM statements Jesus uses about himself in John’s Gospel. As the Gate for the sheep, Jesus proclaims that it is through Him that we attain eternal life. There is no other way to come to be saved and to be nourished on our earthly journey that ultimately leads us to heavenly life.

Speaking of nourishment, our pastorate has entered First Communion season! We are excited to be celebrating First Communions this weekend at the 11:30am Mass at St. Jane Frances. Next weekend, we will celebrate First Communions at the 4:00pm and 10:45am Masses at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Please join me in praying for all of our first communicants as they begin to be nourished by the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ who is truly present to us in the Eucharist.

We are also approaching the month of May when we will be honoring our Blessed Mother with our annual May Crowning celebrations. Please join us on Sunday, May 3rd after the 10:00am Mass at St. Jane’s when we will be crowning the Blessed Mother statue on the lawn next to the Church. At OLC, our May crowning will take place on May 10th, following the 10:45am Mass.

Mother’s Day Spiritual Bouquets are available at both churches as we prepare for Mother’s Day on May 10th. There is a card you can give to your mother as well as a way to have your mom remembered at Masses during the Month of May. At OLC, the Knights of Columbus are hosting a Mother’s Day breakfast on May 10th following the 8:30am and 10:45am Masses for a nominal fee.

There are many other great events happening at our Pastorate this Spring including our Sight and Sound Bus trip to see Joshua, our “How to be His” Book Study, a 33-Day Dedication to the Eucharist, our OLC 2026 Spring Raffle, the Mother’s Day Basket of Love Raffle run by the Sodality at SJF, and the Co-ed Church Softball League. Information on these and many other activities are in the bulletin. I hope you will be able to join us for some, or all of them!

Many events are happening for our youth as well. Our high school youth are on their spring retreat this weekend, so please keep them in your prayers. We are also still accepting reservations for the Middle School Summer Mission service weeks taking place this summer and Vacation Bible Camp (School) registrations are open for both parishes. VBS is scheduled for July 13-17 at SJF (evening), and July 20-24 at OLC (daytime).

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