Have You Read My Book?

Dear Parishioners,

Congratulations to our young people who are being confirmed by Bishop Adam Parker this weekend at the 11:30 Mass. They have worked hard attending weekly classes, a day of recollection, and an interview by me, their pastor. We look forward to their increased involvement in the life of the parish.

We are now in the Lenten season and find Jesus in the desert for 40 days being put to the test by Satan (Mk 1:12-15). It is now that yearly time for us to join Jesus by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One of the best ways to make this Lent special is to participate in a podcast that a number of parishioners have recommended. It’s entitled “The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz.” Each podcast is 15–20 minutes long, and you can start at Day 1 (January 1) or jump in on the current day if you are familiar with the bible. I just started today and found it very well done. I started with Day 1 and will listen to several a day until I catch up with Fr. Mike. You might remember that Pope Francis has designated the Third Sunday of the Year as Bible Sunday as an encouragement for all Catholics to become more familiar with the Bible. For as St. Jerome used to say, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” I don’t know exactly how our interviews for entrance into heaven will go, but what if God asks us, “Have you read my book?” It’s the best seller of all time, and Lent is the perfect time to start; and if you’ve read it once, read it again. The prolific author Louis L’Amour wrote “If you’ve only read a great book once, you haven’t read it at all.”

Fr. Carl

Go To The Next Level

Dear Parishioners,

Our faith is a wonderful gift from God. From the beauty of the Mass to the cleansing power of Reconciliation, our faith gives us a way of life that is life giving and filled with goodness. For me, the actions of the Church, its liturgy and beliefs, the community it sustains, and the giving charity it supports, help me to keep focused on the reality that is bigger than myself. I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t have a loving God to draw me out of my selfishness. I think it is easy to see many examples of others who are self-focused and whose life begins and ends with what they can get for themselves. This is natural and ordinary and a function of our need to survive, feed our hunger, and need for safety. 

But Christ calls us to an extraordinary life! We are to love our enemies, forgive 7 times 70, and turn the other cheek. Christ is asking us to go beyond our genetic need to protect ourselves and what is ours. He is asking us to go to the next level, to join with others in a deep, personal, and supportive manner. We are to love one another as He loves us. We are to see others as having dignity and value. We are to share with others a piece of our bread, some of our clothing, some of our time. 

In a very small way, wearing a mask is for others. I live in a basement apartment that has a family of 5 upstairs. For me, being other-centered is what happens in a typical day. We watch the little one, we pick someone up, we eat together at times. I guess you could say that my lifestyle is communal! And so I find God in these little actions. Really, while I need some quiet alone time, I thank God for all my life includes: the kids, the noise and commotion, the church and the community!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Remain Faithful To God

Dear Parishioners,

After serving many years at St. Jane Frances as Youth Minister and then as Administrator of Religious Education, Claire Horvath, after prayerful consideration, is stepping away from these ministries to spend more time with her family. She has given countless hours above and beyond her contracted responsibilities. We are very grateful for her dedicated service. However, as a good steward, she will continue sharing her talents as a volunteer in different ways e.g, Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, etc. In the meantime, Melissa Boyle will be in charge of religious education, sacrament preparation, and Youth Ministry.

Whenever you have a really bad time in your life and a number of problems, difficulties, or even tragedies happen to you, read the Book of Job. He had it all—oxen, camels, sheep, and children. Then he lost it all—one trial after another, after another, after another. Still he remained faithful to God. Even after he became covered in boils, he remained faithful. Even worse, he had to listen to several friends explaining why these things happened to him. Still, while he curses the day he was born, he remains faithful to God. And because he does, God restores all the blessings Job had at the beginning. Hardships and even tragedies may come our way, but if we remain faithful to God, we will be rewarded—maybe not in this life, but in the life to come.

Fr. Carl

Year of St. Joseph

Dear Parishioners,

I got my first shot for the Covid 19 virus last week. After registering online and getting an appointment, I drove down to Anne Arundel Community College to the Cade Building, went in, and received my shot five minutes later. All was well organized, and I spent the majority of my time sitting for the required 15 minutes afterwards to make sure there were no side effects. If you haven’t registered yet, I encourage you to do so soon.

This weekend marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. This system of schools has done so much to prepare her students academically and spiritually to take their rightful place in society and the church. Sadly, we had to close our school last year due to a lack of students and financial resources. In its place, we opened up a preschool (PK2–PK4) in the hopes that our school can rise again. Please be generous in your support of our pre-school.

Several months ago, Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church. He did so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” 

The Church will grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who recite any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph especially on March 19th, the saint’s solemnity, and May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The indulgence will also be offered on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, a day dedicated to St. Joseph.

The three conditions necessary for receiving a plenary indulgence are sacramental confession, the reception of Holy Communion, and a prayer for the pope’s intentions.

Fr. Carl

Taking Chances

Dear Parishioners,

Today we have the incredible story of Christ’s call to the first disciples (Mk 1:14-20). It is extraordinary, because he asks them to follow, and they drop what they are doing, leave their jobs and family, and begin to follow him. This certainly says something about the power of Christ to have an impact on people. Whether it was his persuasive ability or the power of the Holy Spirit, the event is hard to take in. What would it take for you to leave all that you know and follow some person who makes an offer to you? What would you be willing to give up, and what would that offer have to be to give it up?

We don’t make such moves very often. I have moved to a different state for a job. I have packed all I owned in my little car to go to graduate school, moving several states west. My risk was so much less than the disciples. And the payoff so much less as well. They said “yes” to years of divine instruction in the wisdom and example of Jesus Christ. Little did they know that they were on a journey to change the world with the greatest teacher who ever existed. Little did they know that they were embarking on a path that would lead them to live with, eat with, sleep with, walk with the living God of Christ.

The impact they would have and the significance they would exert were probably beyond any of their imaginations. The dimensions of the life they acceded to, miracles they would witness, tragedy they would encounter, were but shadows in their awareness. Yet they took the chance. They said “yes.” And my, how the world has benefited from that yes. So let us say “yes,” let us impact the lives of others with Christ’s love and care as our guides. Let us exhibit even some small part of that yes, and allow Christ to impact our lives and those around us.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Prayer for Government

Dear Parishioners,

What a week! Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse in our country there was the turmoil at the Capitol Building in Washington. I understand from one of our parishioners who was there that it was mostly peaceful with a number of the demonstrators praying for our country and some even down on their knees. Unfortunately, a number of others protested in a violent way, and five people died. Archbishop Lori has asked us to pray for our country—the Prayer of St. Francis or the Rosary. Furthermore, the Archbishop has asked us to perform some act of penance on Friday the 15th. Since this day has come and gone, we could do it on the following Friday. Finally, the Archbishop suggests, on the eve of the Inauguration, January 19th, we pray Archbishop John Carroll’s Prayer for the government of the United States composed in 1791.

As we rebound from the unfortunate events in Washington, we might look to the example of Rev. Martin Luther King who called for some much needed change in our country. His method was one of non-violence and prayer. His way did so much good and helped improve conditions for so many of our African American brothers and sisters. While not all problems were solved, many were. Let us hope that dialogue will replace diatribe (bitter and abusive speech), for what we are doing now isn’t working. May the Lord help us make the sacrifices necessary to bring healing to our country.

 Fr. Carl

Happier New Year

Dear Parishioners,

One of the things I often say at a Baptism is that the baptism signifies a new beginning for the infant being baptized. We Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit enters the heart of the infant who undergoes this beautiful Sacrament of initiation. In scripture, this is represented by the dove who appears when Jesus comes out of the water after his baptism by St. John the Baptist. As we contemplate scripture and think about our own baptisms, let us open up our lives to those new things that God has in store for us. 

The past year has been very difficult, and the new will not be without struggle, but God is inviting us to a new awakening in the Spirit. How can your life be changed by God’s invitation? What areas are in need of repair, what parts of your life need renewal, where is God needed to fix some brokenness? We all have New Year’s resolutions, but this is a deeper, truer, and more profound change that we are being called to experience. I know that my life is not perfect and that I need God’s presence in order to live up to the holiness, reverence, and love that He calls me to. Can we trust the Holy Spirit to energize us to be more faithful followers of Christ? Can we let go of our control enough to give over to God the power of my being so that I may be a person in whom God’s Spirit resides? Where in my relationships is God’s peace and charity needed? How can my loving energy impact my family, work, community or church? 

Baptism brings light to the world, renews the world, through the presence of the Holy Spirit. At this beginning of the new year, let us seek to spread this light of joy and peace.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve