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

Walking With Jesus

Brothers and Sisters,

Have you ever been disappointed in God’s plan for you? Have you ever found yourself walking away from God? When you are confused and afraid, is your tendency to run toward God or away from Him?

The two disciples in the gospel this week are on a journey away from where Jesus was; full of grief, of dashed hopes, of disappointment (Luke 24:13-35). All of their ideals and dreams, defeated, collapsed, and gone. In a sense, these two sad, downcast, depressed men represent all of us without Jesus. In this way, all of humanity is in this same situation. And we come to realize, God is never absent from us, but we were absent from God. We haven’t really been seeking God in our life, although we like to imagine we were. In reality, we have been walking in the opposite direction, like the two disciples, going away from our fears and despair. But God in Christ is truly seeking us, and He will find us, and bring us home, and fill us with joy if we let Him.

God yearns to draw near to us. Even when we don’t yearn to draw nearer to Him, He’s constantly drawing nearer to us. Even when we are full of uncertainty, disappointment, frustration and fear, God comes to walk alongside us. God is with us. That is the message of this powerful story. God is with us. He’s there walking alongside us in the moments and circumstances of our day. He’s there in the scriptures, speaking to our hearts. And He’s there in the Eucharist, waiting to enter our souls. We just have to welcome Him to stay with us. Are we walking with Jesus or are we walking away?

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

Christus surréxit! - Surréxit vere, alleluia! 
Christ is risen! - Risen indeed, alleluia!

This Sunday, April 12, is the eighth day of Easter. This second Sunday of Easter is celebrated as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception at the thedivinemercy.org explain this special feast in their article entitled “What is Divine Mercy Sunday?” I share some of the article here:

“In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000…

“[Jesus says to St. Faustina] in her Diary entry #699: …Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”

I just want to highlight that strong, timely, sobering word of Jesus to Sister Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”

There are many and various situations and circumstances near and far, personally and globally that weigh on us. But the daily invitation of our Faith, especially in this Easter season, is to open our hearts to the truth that Jesus the Divine Mercy can bring about many triumphs of mercy—giving peace and new life to our situations. Big or small, the triumphs matter. They will bring peace to our hearts and slowly to the world around us.

These triumphs are brought about as we continually encounter Jesus the Divine Mercy in the Eucharist and in reconciliation and daily prayer.

Triumphs of mercy happen when we allow our attitudes, dispositions, and habits to be healed, elevated, and matured; when we welcome and live Divine Mercy in marriages and families and friendships; in how we love and serve one another. It all matters. As a pastorate, let’s generously welcome Divine Mercy, the Risen Jesus into our lives.

Hallelujah! God bless!
Fr. John

Christ is Risen!

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On behalf of all of us at our Pastorate of the Visitation, I would like to wish everyone a very Blessed and Joyous Easter! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Today is the most important day on the Christian calendar! For today, we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, offering to us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in the heavenly kingdom. Jesus’ Resurrection also ushers in a new era in human history, where we have been invited into a deeper union with God and sent forth into the world to share our witness and testimony concerning the saving power of Christ. So go forth today—and every day—to proclaim that Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

The celebration of Easter is so important that the Church celebrates it as an Octave, meaning eight days. We also celebrate on Easter the Sacraments of Initiation for those becoming members of the Church. These men and women of our pastorate have been preparing for the Easter Vigil by their participation in our O.C.I.A program (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). I especially would like to thank Fr. John and all of the volunteers from both parishes who have walked this journey with our catechumens and candidates. We congratulate all who were baptized and/or have been confirmed in the Church this Easter Season!

Our scripture readings for the Easter Season focus on the Acts of the Apostles, the book of the Bible that gives us a glimpse into the experiences of the early Church enflamed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that first Pentecost. Our Easter Season will conclude with the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost on May 24th.

Also during the Easter Season, our pastorate will be celebrating First Holy Communion for those who have been preparing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time. St. Jane’s celebration will be on Sunday, April 26th, and OLC will be celebrating the weekend of May 2nd–3rd.

There is still time for our 8th graders and high school youth to sign up for our Spring Retreat which is being held the weekend of April 24-26. The theme for the retreat is “I Believe.” Our retreats are awesome experiences for our youth, so I would highly recommend for you to encourage your 8th–12th graders to join us this year. Scholarships are available for those who may need the assistance to attend.

I would like to thank everyone who made our Lenten Journey and Easter celebrations so meaningful and spiritually uplifting. Special thanks to our Walking with Purpose leaders who spearheaded our Restore Lenten Journey. I have heard many testimonials from people who participated in the study of how the Holy Spirit moved them to deepen their faith and relationship with the Lord. Also, I would like to thank our music ministry from both parishes under the direction of Rob Henry (SJF) and Kevin Garner (OLC) who worked hard to prepare for our Holy Week and Easter liturgies. Thank you!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers! You are always remembered in our daily prayers as well!

God Bless,
Fr. Steve, Fr. John & the Pastorate Staff

Join Us For Holy Week!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend begins our journey through the holiest week of the year with the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Palm Sunday. Holy Week offers us many opportunities to experience Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper, to his Cross, and to his Resurrection. I encourage you to take some time this week to enter into these solemn days of prayer and fasting with a sense of reverence and reflection upon what our Savior Jesus Christ accomplished for us by his Passion. I invite you and encourage you to join us as we celebrate these liturgies together as one Pastorate Community. They are very powerful experiences of the Lord’s overwhelming love for us… a love that led him to freely take up His Cross.

Here are the Holy Week and Triduum schedules for the Pastorate:

• Tenebrae (@SJF), Tuesday, March 31st at 8:00pm – a sensory commemoration of Christ’s suffering
• Holy Thursday (@ SJF), April 2nd – 7:00pm Mass followed by Adoration until 9:00pm
• Good Friday, April 3rd – 
  
  • Stations of the Cross – 12:00pm at SJF; 3:00pm at OLC (youth led)
    (Communion is NOT distributed at these services.)
  • Passion of the Lord – 3:00pm at SJF
  • Passion of the Lord – 7:00pm at OLC 
    (Communion will be distributed at these services.)
• Blessing of the Easter Foods, Holy Saturday, April 4th – 9:00am at SJF, 12:00pm at OLC
• Pastorate Easter Vigil (@ OLC), April 4th – 
  8:00pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake
  (There will be no Confessions and no 4:00pm nor 5:00pm Masses on April 4th)
• Easter Sunday, April 5th – 
  SJF: 8:00am, 10am, 12:00pm (Note time change).
  OLC: 8:00am, 9:30am, 11am (Note time changes).

Fr. Steve and Fr. John will be at the Triduum liturgies as well as the Easter Vigil. Fr. Steve will celebrate Masses on Easter Sunday at OLC. Fr. John will be celebrating Easter Sunday Masses at St. Jane Frances. The 10:00am Mass at SJF and the 11:00am Mass at OLC will offer homilies geared toward the children of the pastorate.

In addition to the events listed above, the Archdiocesan Chrism Mass will take place on Monday, March 30th at 7:00pm at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. At this Mass, the Archbishop will bless the holy oils to be used for anointing of the sick and the catechumens, as well as consecrate the Sacred Chrism that will be used for Baptisms, Confirmations, and Holy Orders during the coming year. The priests of the Archdiocese will also renew the promises we made at our ordinations. This celebration is open to the public and all are invited to attend. As a priest, I know I am always thankful to see current (and former) parishioners in attendance. Please consider joining us.

The final opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter will be offered by Fr. Steve on Tuesday, March 31st from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at St. Jane Frances and on Wednesday, April 1st from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Our Lady of the Chesapeake.

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

Just Read It!

Dear Friends in Christ,

I invite you to prayerfully read again the moving and amazing story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead we’ve heard this Sunday. Read it again on your own, with your family, your spouse, with a friend – in person or over the phone. Just read it! I believe encountering Jesus in this passage will increase our faith, hope, and love for who He is for us.

Along with hearing this gospel passage, we celebrate the third and final Scrutiny (10am at St. Jane). As I mentioned last week, the scrutinies prepare our catechumens for baptism (and all of us for renewing our baptismal promises at Easter.) The Scrutinies instruct catechumens and the Church to ask the Lord for a spirit of repentance, a deeper sense of sin, and for the true freedom given to God’s children through the waters of baptism.

The raising of Lazarus not only gives us hope for eternal life and the resurrection of our bodies, but it also directs us to adore a more immediate and marvelous miracle. We have been given a new and supernatural life through baptism. That’s a big deal, a game-changer, a life-changer.

The good teachers at the St. Paul Center write, “when Jesus commands Lazarus to be ‘loosed’ and ‘let go,’ he employs the Greek verbs luô—elsewhere used of being loosed from Satan’s power (Luke 13:16; 1 John 3:8), from sin (Rev 1:5), and death (Acts 2:24)—and aphiêmi, which usually means ‘forgiven of sin’ in the Gospels. This resurrection, then, is also a ‘release’ and ‘remission’ of sin, death, and Satan, a further typification of Baptism.”

While we marvel at the physical miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead, we should also ask the Lord to help us experience in a new way the joy of being like Lazarus – raised to new life in Christ, untied and let go.

Lord, help me to be thankful for my baptism that makes me your child. Help me to avoid anything that would lessen or rob me of this supernatural life. Give me childlike trust and humble confidence in your presence and your love for me wherever I am, whatever I’m doing. 

This Wednesday March 25, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel declared unto Mary and she conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Celebrate this important day! There are traditions that also mark this day as the date of the crucifixion of Jesus. While claiming these are the same date are small ‘t’ traditions, it benefits us to think about the important connections between these things. 03/25 is also the feast of the good thief St. Dismas and, for Lord of the Rings fans, it is the date of the destruction of the One Ring.

May Mary intercede for our Pastorate that we always have hearts always open to the will of God, especially as we draw closer to Holy Week and as we carry our crosses daily.

In Christ,
Father John

Where We’re At

Dear Friends in Christ,

On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent, we celebrate the Scrutinies. The first Scrutiny was held last Saturday at Our Lady of the Chesapeake at 4pm. The second Scrutiny is this Sunday at OLC at 10:45. The Third is next Sunday at SJF at 10am.

The Scrutinies prepare our catechumens (those not yet baptized) for baptism as they ask for graces of purification and detachment from sin. For those of us who are already baptized, the scrutinies ready us to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. The gospel passage of each Sunday harmonizes with each scrutiny. In each gospel we encounter Christ’s power and desire to restore us to wholeness and communion with God, ourselves, and others.

Last week, we heard the mystery of the Samaritan Woman from John 4. Placing ourselves in the Samaritan Woman’s shoes, we come to realize that Jesus thirsts for us. He meets us “where we’re at.” But, He loves us too much to leave us there – in our sins and our woundedness. His truth purifies us. Lord, I thirst for you!

Today on the fourth Sunday, we hear the story of the man born blind from John 9. Jesus gives vision to the blind. More importantly, Jesus is able to give new sight to those blinded by sin. But those who do not admit their sin and need of the Savior remain blind. Lord, I want to see!

Next week we will hear the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, has come to raise the dead to new life in the Spirit. Lord, I believe you can heal and restore me, that you can elevate me to a new life. Lord, raise me to new life!

Thank you so much to Teresa Sparklin, Melissa Boyle, volunteers, Knights—all who contributed to make the St. Patrick’s Day Bazaar a success!

We look forward to a good turnout this week for our parish mission! Please join us Monday at 7pm at St. Jane Frances for a talk on Reconciliation along with Eucharistic adoration and opportunities for Confession; Tuesday evening, 7pm at OLC for a talk on Anointing of the Sick with Adoration and Confessions; and Wednesday evening at 7pm at OLC for a Mass of Healing and opportunity to receive the Anointing of the Sick. Please invite friends and family to these powerful nights of prayer for our spiritual family of our Pastorate.

May St. Patrick and St. Joseph defend and intercede for us on his their feast days this week (Tuesday and Thursday)!

God bless!
Fr. John