Happy 80th Anniversary St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This means we are approaching the end of our liturgical year and preparing to make the shift into the Advent Season… BUT… not yet! Our readings this weekend continue the themes of being prepared for the return of the Lord. Last weekend, we heard the parable of the Ten Virgins, where only five were wise enough to be prepared for the bridegroom’s delayed return. This weekend, we hear about the Master going away on a journey and entrusting talents to his servants: two of whom are successful in doubling the value of the talents and one who was afraid to do anything with his talent. If we think about it, we are continually in a state of waiting for the coming of the Lord and being prepared to welcome him when he comes again. While we wait, we have been entrusted with gifts and talents that are to be used for the benefit of all, and not just kept to ourselves. As children of light, we are not afraid of these days, because we are (or should be) always ready and prepared to welcome Jesus when he comes: not only at his second coming but every day as he comes among us in the faces of the stranger in our midst. Prepare by practicing the commandment to love!

This past week, our pastorate celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation for over 50 of our youth. Thank you for keeping them in your prayers as they prepared to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This weekend, our parish youth (8th through 12th grade) are on retreat. Many of you signed up to pray for them this weekend, so thank you! I have attended many retreats, and I know the teens appreciate being remembered and prayed for.

Next Sunday is the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of St. Jane Frances Parish, which happened on Nov. 22, 1946. Please join me in welcoming Msgr. Jay O’Connor to the parish to celebrate the 10:00am Mass. Fellowship Sunday will be celebrated on the 22nd as well, so please join us for coffee and donuts after all Masses that weekend. Happy 80th Anniversary St. Jane Frances de Chantal!

The organ rebuild project at St. Jane Frances has taken way longer than I had expected. It was supposed to be done at Pentecost back in May, but it is still dragging on. I am hopeful that most of the organ will be ready for the 80th Anniversary Mass, but the full organ rebuild won’t be completed until a later date. Thank you to everyone who donated money to the organ rebuild project.

OLC has to replace the culvert pipe on the driveway leading into the Church’s parking lot. The current pipe has collapsed and washed away the soil under the roadway. That is why part of the driveway is currently roped off. We are in the process of signing a contract for this project with an anticipated cost of $37,000. If you would like to make a restricted donation to help with the cost, please place your gift, along with a letter stating it is for the Culvert project in an envelope, and drop it off at Church or in the collection basket. Thank you for your assistance with this unplanned expense.

And as always, thank you for keeping our Pastorate of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake in your daily prayers.

God Bless,
Father Steve

Stay Awake And Be Ready

Dear Parishioners,

What a beautiful piece of poetry we have in Wisdom this weekend: “Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her and found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire; whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate.” (Wisdom 6:12). How beautiful it is to think that wisdom is regularly sitting there, quite literally at our door, just waiting for us to receive this great gift.

Our readings and the rituals this month help us to remember (All Saints and All Souls) and prepare for the end time and the end of our liturgical year—all leading to the celebration of Christ the King at the end of November. The verse of the gospel acclamation this weekend gives us that gentle but urgent reminder, “Stay awake and be ready” (Matthew 24:42a). Finally, the gospel is a lesson our scouts still teach to this day: the importance of being prepared. The weekend sums up the daily and yearly challenges of discipleship. Live each day to the fullest, while remaining vigilant to the presence of God and His many gifts. The loss of our loved ones who we honor this entire month reminds us that every day is a gift. It all starts with recognizing that the wisdom of God is right at our doorstep.

Thanks to everyone who brought pictures of their loved ones for the Altar of Remembrance at both parishes. You can add pictures all during the month. Please note, the pictures will be taken down after masses on November 22nd in anticipation of Advent 2026.

This Thursday, November 12th, a good number of our teens from both parishes will celebrate Confirmation with Bishop Parker. After a lengthy period of preparation, they will be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Special thanks to Tim, Carrie, the Confirmation team, catechists, and our older teens/young adults who have journeyed with our Confirmation candidates this year. As you may have read, the archdiocese is changing the age of Confirmation to the 4th grade over the next several years. We are still in a process of transitioning these next few years, ultimately moving to our new age. Congratulations to the Confirmation Class of 2026. We are grateful to Bishop Parker for celebrating with us again this year.

I am very sad that I will not be able to attend the confirmation this year. I leave right after Mass this morning to head to a Jesuit retreat house in Atlanta for my annual 8-day silent retreat. Yes, you read that correctly; I will be silent for 8 days! I promise to keep you in prayer and to give constant thanks for the gift of serving this pastorate.

Blessings on your week,
Fr. Kevin

All Saints and All Souls

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Since it falls on a Sunday this year, it takes precedence over the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Masses for both Saturday evening and Sunday will be for All Saints. This feast day recognizes and celebrates the victory of the saints, both known and unknown, who are now in the heavenly presence of God. Some are recognized by the Church, such as St. Mary, St. Joseph, or St. Jane Frances, but many more are not. We hope that our loved ones are already among the saints in heaven as well. But for those who have not yet achieved the victory of heaven, the church commemorates them on All Souls Day—November 2nd. This year, in addition to the regularly scheduled 8:30am Masses at both parish, we will have a special All Souls Day Mass of Remembrance on Monday, Nov. 2nd at 7:00pm at St Jane’s. We will read the list of those who have been buried from the Pastorate since last year and also pray for the souls of our faithful departed family members and friends. May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

This Sunday, November 1st, our Pastorate will be participating in the Caring & Sharing Harvest for the Hungry Pasadena Parade from 2pm to 4pm hosted by the Pasadena Business Association. The parade starts at Tick Neck Park and ends at Northeast High School. Please come out and join us and bring non-perishable donations with you. There will be people collecting your donations during the parade.

Some of our pastorate’s high school youth are in their final days of preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Adam Parker will be joining us on Thursday, Nov. 12th, for the 5:30pm Confirmation Mass at St. Jane Frances. Please keep our youth in your prayers as they prepare to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a few days.

November 22nd marks the 80th anniversary of our founding of St. Jane Frances Parish in 1946. The date actually falls on a Sunday so we have invited Msgr. Jay O’Connor, a son of the parish, to come and celebrate with us (Archbishop Lori will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of another parish that day.). Msgr. O’Connor will be the celebrant at the 10am Mass that day. Fellowship Sunday will be held that Sunday as well, so please plan to come and celebrate with us and join us in the school hall afterwards for coffee and donuts. Happy 80th Anniversary St. Jane Frances Parish!

Finally, election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Please make every effort to exercise your right to vote. The Maryland Catholic Conference offers resources for you to use to help make your decisions. They can be found at www.mdcatholic.org/elections. Please keep our nation, our state, and our community in your prayers during this time.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

 

Love Your Neighbor

Brothers and Sisters,

We all know we are called to love God unconditionally. But do we love our neighbor with that same unconditional love? When it comes to loving others as we love God, that’s when we tend to place conditions on who and how we love. We want to love someone when there are strong feelings of love. At times, some feelings are good. But when it comes to giving ourselves to others in love, we have to make decisions. No one can command you to have warm, fuzzy feelings toward another. Not even God commands that of us. We cannot even tell ourselves to have nice, warm, loving and intimate feelings toward another. Even if we could, would it matter? No. It’s what we do that matters, not how we feel. But Jesus is not speaking here of emotions and feelings in the Gospel this week. He knows how absolutely changeable and unreliable feelings really are. Feelings come and feelings go as they wish.

Jesus is telling us in the Gospel that love is something we do. Love is a choice, a decision, a commitment to do things. That is why Jesus is commanding us to love others. It’s what we do to others not how we feel toward them that matters.

Jesus is emphasizing that loving our neighbor is directly connected to our love of God. Love others as your heavenly Father loves them. Love them—the good and the bad alike—with the unconditional love with which your Father in heaven loves them. Love all of your neighbors in what you do to them, in what you do for them, and in how you act toward them. All of our complicated and complex feelings will eventually follow along. Jesus knows that it is only in totally giving of ourselves that we can truly be alive to the life God intends for us.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

What Doesn’t Belong To God?

Dear Parishioners,

As I was looking at the readings for this weekend to put together a few words for the bulletin, I realized I quoted the wrong New Testament reading the weekend of October 3–4th. The second reading from Thessalonians is actually from this weekend, no wonder it looked so familiar. Sorry about that. It lets me give thanks for each of you, multiple times!

While we are reading from Matthew’s gospel this weekend, the liturgical calendar also honors St. Luke, whose Feast Day is today. St. Luke is not only the author of the Gospel of Luke, but also the author of the Acts of the Apostles [and a disciple of St. Paul]. Acts chronicles the life of the early Church in the days and years after Christ’s Resurrection. The overarching theme of Luke’s gospel is the universal salvation for all, not just a select few. There is no longer a single chosen person—an important reminder for each of us, even to this day. If salvation is open to among others, Gentiles, tax collectors, and prostitutes, imagine what God has in store for each of us. Matthew in the gospel reminds us, “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belong to God” (Matthew 22:22). Perhaps it’s a good time to ask, “What doesn't belong to God?” As we move into the beauty of Fall, I hope we can continue to be reminded of God’s universal love for each of us. 

This week I will join Fr. Steve, our brother priests, and Archbishop Lori for our Biannual Priest Convocation. Every two years, we gather in prayer and fraternity for several days. We will have a Convocation speaker with multiple talks, communal mass and prayer, and time for friendship and priestly fraternity. For many of us, this is the only time we come together as one large group. We will also honor our brothers who have significant priesthood anniversaries. Our absence will create some disruption to the daily mass schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Finally, as we prepare to enter the month of All Souls in November, I would like to draw your attention to two ways we can remember those who have gone before us in this sacred month. At both parishes in our pastorate there will be an Altar of Remembrance. You are invited to bring in framed pictures of your loved ones (no larger than 8x10) between now and November 1st. Please place a label with your name and phone number on the back of the framed picture in case you forget to pick it up at the end of November. In addition, there will be a Book of the Dead in close proximity to the Altar of Remembrance where you can inscribe names of deceased family and friends. You may include as many names as you wish. There is no stipend required as this is not a Mass intention.

Blessing on your week!
Fr. Kevin

All Are Invited

 Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our readings this
weekend are offering us glimpses of the kingdom of God. The first reading offers us a beautiful
image of the kingdom as a holy mountain where the Lord will provide for all of our needs.
The Gospel offers us an image of the kingdom as a wedding feast where all are invited. In the
parable, the king extends an invitation to everyone but many people are not interested and/or put
to death the messengers sent by the king. Ultimately, people are gathered off of the streets to
come to the feast, but one person who comes is not properly dressed, so he is removed. It seems
strange on the surface, but the parable explains that God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ
is offered to everyone: some are not interested, and some are not prepared, but all are invited and
will be welcomed if only they believe in Jesus and are united to him through baptism.

You are invited to continue your preparation for the wedding feast by signing up for our free Formed.org account. Formed contains a wealth of programs, movies, bible studies, etc. that you can access from home. Go to www.formed.org and click on “Find your parish subscription” at the top of the screen. The account is under “Our Lady of the Chesapeake” but also includes St. Jane Frances.

This Friday (10/16) our middle school youth ministry is going bowling at Severna Park lanes. Permission forms are available from Carrie or Tim, and the activity is open to all middle schoolers from the pastorate.

This Saturday (10/17) is our annual Trunk or Treat at OLC starting at 5:15pm (following the 4pm Mass) until 7:30pm. This is a great activity for you and your family. You can still sign up to host a trunk, so please consider doing so. To Host a Trunk, help with planning, or support the event, reach out to Michaela at mstanton@olchesapeake.org or visit https://olchesapeake.flocknote.com/signup/269821.

Our Pastorate’s Pastoral Plan for Evangelization has been approved by Archbishop Lori and will be our guidebook for the next couple of years for our Pastorate of the Visitation. I have established a Pastorate Pastoral Council made up of four members from each parish to assist with the implementation and oversight of our pastoral plan. Soon we will have copies of the plan available for distribution to our pastorate members, so stay tuned for more information.

The annual Baby Bottle Campaign is off to a great start. Baby bottles are available at both parishes for you to use to make a donation of coins, or bills, or checks to support the good works of Women’s Care Mary’s Center in Glen Burnie. Mary’s Center assists women in the community in need of support for their babies and toddlers. Please return the baby bottles with your donations to either parish by the end of October. Thanks! You can also use the Mary’s Center Donation link for Pastorate of the Visitation: 

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLPXAE6ZKC9Q7/checkout/AUTA7NJPTBX6TFLGDQP7ADZH?src=webqr

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

Faith Renewed, Mission Sustained

Dear Friends of Pastorate of the Visitation,

We have concluded the formal portion of our annual stewardship program. This year, as you are likely now aware, the title of our campaign says it all, “Faith Renewed, Mission Sustained.” As we renew our faith, individually and collectively, we sustain the mission of the pastorate. The words from Paul to the people of Thessalonica seem particularly appropriate: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). Please pray for our renewal efforts to sustain and support our parishes. We hope your renewal cards will serve as a reminder of how you can help, beginning with prayer for our continued success. If we can be of any assistance in setting up online giving, please feel free to contact the parish office. Thank you very much for your ongoing generosity.

In the next month, we will begin to see the beauty of Fall with the changing of the leaves. This month, we will also begin a program entitled “In Full Color.” It is primarily designed for families with young children to assist in more fully understanding the parts of the Mass. What works for kids often is equally helpful for adults. We hope you enjoy the brief explanations throughout the coming months, explaining the parts of our liturgy.

Speaking of the month of October, the archdiocesan-approved campaign for the renovation of the organ at St. Jane comes to a close at the end of this month. If you would like to make a tax-free donation toward the renovation of the organ (which is almost complete), please do so by the end of this month.

Blessings on your week and your Fall!
Fr. Kevin

Working In The Vineyard

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time and have another parable about a vineyard. This one is about a father with two sons. He asked one son to go work in the vineyard, and the son says in reply, “I will not” but later changed his mind and went to work. He asks the other son to go work in the vineyard, and he replies, “Yes, sir” but doesn’t go. Jesus asks who did the father’s will? Ultimately, it was the first son, because he eventually went to work in the vineyard. He goes on to chastise the chief priests and the scribes, because they did not believe the teaching of John the Baptist, yet tax collectors and prostitutes did. They initially were saying “no” by the example of their lives, but ultimately came to believe; while the others were “saying: ‘yes’” but never actually believed John.

This weekend is the Renewal weekend for our “Faith Renewed – Mission Sustained” Fall stewardship program. Last weekend, you were asked to reflect upon the ways that faith has sustained you and our parishes while beginning to recall how grateful you are for God’s grace and blessings in your life. This weekend, we will be asking you to help our parishes sustain our mission by making a commitment to support our parishes by praying, increasing your offertory gift (and consider moving to online giving), and volunteering of your time. We have many needs that would benefit by your financial gifts and gifts of time. For example, at St. Jane’s, we have had a difficult time with the trees around the campus. Some were damaged over the summer by storms (as some of you had to deal with at home), and others have succumbed to pine beetles. At OLC, we had to replace part of the entrance road due to a wash out of the soil beneath the asphalt. Both have been unexpected (and therefore unbudgeted) expenses. And we are always in need of additional volunteers to serve at Mass including lectors at SJF and EMs, and altar servers at both Churches. Consider this the Lord’s invitation to come and work in His vineyard at our Pastorate!

We continue to announce that our Pastorate now has a Formed.org account that is available to all of our
parishioners! Formed is an online tool offered by the Augustine Institute that contains a wealth of programs, movies, bible studies, etc. that you can access from home. Create a FORMED account by going to www.formed.org and click on “Find your parish subscription” at the top of the screen. The account is under Our Lady of the Chesapeake but also includes St. Jane Frances.

Wednesday Night Group (WNG) for our Pastorate high schoolers occurs every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm–8:30pm and rotates between OLC and SJF. Both Tim (OLC) and Carrie (SJF) co-sponsor this weekly activity. The schedule for the high school WNG can be found at https://www.olchesapeake.org/grow.

We are in the midst of a Jubilee Year in honor of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The Blessing of Animals in honor of St. Francis will take place at St. Jane Frances on Sunday, October 4th at 5:00pm and at OLC on Monday, October 5th at 6:00pm.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

Fair Or Just?

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

There is nothing more confusing and at times frustrating for a child than when something seems unfair. It’s a phrase that they learn early and pronounce with vigor: “But that’s not fair!” Of course, with the benefit of time and life experience, we learn to evaluate fairness a bit more broadly. That is, until something doesn’t go our way.

Our gospel this weekend reminds us that God does not always look at what is fair but rather what is just and often what is necessary (Mt 20:1-16a). In the parable in Matthew’s gospel, all of the laborers are paid the same amount regardless of the hours worked. God’s generosity knows no limits—and certainly not the limits of human fairness. It is good to regularly remind ourselves of God’s abundant generosity for each of us.

This weekend, we celebrate the Rite of Enrollment at the 10:00 Mass at St. Jane for our Confirmation students preparing to be confirmed by Bishop Parker in November. The liturgical ritual allows the candidates to declare their personal commitment to complete their formation in preparation for full initiation in the Catholic Church. It allows them to speak with their own voice rather than that of their parents or godparents. Please keep all of our candidates in your prayers in these remaining weeks.

Our gospel reminder about the generosity of God is a good reminder that our Fall stewardship program entitle “Faith Renewed, Mission Sustained” begins this weekend. The good work of both parishes in our pastorate is only possible thanks to your generous sacrificial giving, whether by cash, check, parish envelopes, or electronic giving. In these difficult economic times, many of you are giving from your poverty and not from your surplus. In the name of Fr. Steve and the pastorate staff, thank you in advance for your ongoing financial and spiritual support.

Blessings on your week!
Fr. Kevin

Forgiveness

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel speaks to us about the need to forgive others in the same way that the Lord God forgives us. God’s forgiveness is endless. Our merciful God is always ready to welcome us back and forgive us of our sins. Based on today’s parable, the Lord asks us to practice the same level of forgiveness with one another… to forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times, meaning endlessly. The debtor in today’s Gospel was forgiven by the king of a huge debt after he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Although the king forgave him, the debtor did not forgive his fellow servant who owed him a far smaller amount. Obviously, as Jesus is trying to demonstrate by this parable, this is not the way we are supposed to treat each other.

We are reminded of this as well every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Every time we say these words, we are asking the Father to hold us to the same level of forgiveness that we practice with each other. If I forgive generously, I pray the Lord forgives me generously. If I do not forgive, then I am acknowledging that the Lord should not forgive me. Of course, this is not what we want the Father to do to us. We are always hoping and trusting in the Lord’s forgiveness, but we in turn must forgive each other from our hearts (as Jesus says at the end of the Gospel.)

This Sunday, our pastorate is celebrating 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 be assisting this year in our faith formation programs at our pastorate. If you would like to serve as a catechists this year, please let us know. We can always put your gifts to use at our parishes.

If you would like to broaden your own understanding of the faith, the pastorate—through a generous benefactor—is now offering Formed for your personal use. Formed is an online tool offered by the Augustine Institute that contains a wealth of programs, movies, bible studies, etc that you can access from home at your leisure. To create an account, go to www.formed.org and click on “Find your parish subscription” at the top of the screen. The account is under Our Lady of the Chesapeake but also includes St. Jane Frances. Additional information is included in the bulletin.

Our next O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) session is this Monday, September 14th at 7:00pm in the school. If you would like to become Catholic (never been baptized or were baptized in another Christian faith) or are Catholic but were never Confirmed in the Catholic Church, please reach out to Deacon Phil at phil.snyder@archbalt.org.

Finally, Fellowship Sunday is being held at St. Jane Frances next Sunday, September 20th in the parish hall. Donut Sunday at OLC is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th. Please plan to spend a few minutes after Mass for fellowship.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

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