Fast. Pray. Give.

Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope your Lent is off to a good start! If it snuck up on you, then let’s engage! The readings this Sunday plunge us into the heart of Lent’s drama. In the gospel, we hear of how Jesus goes to battle for us in the desert. He will do just the same in His Passion. Lent draws us into the desert with Christ to be won over by Him, won over to His open Heart of love.

The Catechism #539 explains the temptations in the desert: “Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation. Jesus fulfills Israel’s vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: he ‘binds the strong man’ to take back his plunder. Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.”

In Lent, we are in the desert with Christ. When we humbly and sincerely call upon Jesus, He is actively working to restore us. He is healing us, bringing us to encounter God’s love and truth which brings us into communion and wholeness.

In the desert with Christ, we come to understand the truth of who God is: merciful and trustworthy; the truth of who we are: a beloved son/daughter, loved more than we can imagine; the truth of who our neighbor is: a gift! In this Lenten season, with the timeless means of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we let go of distractions, fast from pleasures and entertainments, and say yes to deeper communion with God and more sincere, generous service of our neighbor. Lord, help us persevere!

Thank you to all those who helped organize as well as those who supported our various youth ministries with dinner at the Rumor Meal and/or the Pancake Dinner.

Please see our Lenten schedule for the many good things we have going on to enrich our community and deepen our faith this Lent. There are the Friday Lenten Fish Frys at St. Jane. (You may see me serenading/busking once again.) The weekly Stations of the Cross; the Catholic Men’s Fellowship Conference March 14th; the Lent Mission March 16-18.

In addition to your prayers for our Pastorate family, please say a special prayer for the participants in OCIA as they journey to the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to participate in the Rite of Enrollment/Call to Continued Conversion, presided by Archbishop Lori.

God bless you!
Fr. John

Mardi Gras & Ash Wednesday This Week!

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we celebrate the final Sunday in Ordinary Time before we begin our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday. In our Gospel this weekend, Jesus reminds us that he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The law and the prophets were given to the people as a sign of their covenantal relationship with God as well as to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. They gave guidance on how the people were called to live with one another. Those who follow the teachings are drawn into a deeper relationship with the Lord, while those who break them are distancing themselves from the Lord. Jesus goes on to interpret the law by stating: “you have heard that it was said… but I say to you…” This is not a change in the law but instead a deepening of its meaning, which includes a call to us for a change in heart so that we are not just living up to the “letter of the law,” but allowing it to change us and conform us more closely to Christ. As we prepare this week for the season of Lent, may the message from this weekend’s scripture readings begin this process of conversion within each one of us.

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Masses will be offered at the following times: 

• St. Jane Frances: 8:30am, 12:00pm and 7:00pm
• Our Lady of the Chesapeake: 8:30am and 7:00pm

Please come and join us for Mass as you begin your Lenten journey. Stations of the Cross will be offered on Fridays during Lent: 12:00pm at OLC and 7:00pm at St. Jane. We are also beginning our Lenten group study based on the book Restore: A Guided Journal for Prayer and Meditation. Please keep our pastorate in your prayers as we take these early steps toward preparing ourselves for the celebration of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection at Easter (which is April 5th).

On Mardi Gras, Tuesday, Feb. 17th, we will be offering two opportunities to celebrate before the start of Lent. One is our annual Mardi Gras celebration at the Rumor Meal (Mountain Road). Dine in or Carry Out (no delivery) and tell them you are with OLC and we will receive a portion of your proceeds for our Youth Ministry Program. Fr. Steve will again be guest bartending from 6:00pm to 8:00pm that evening. We also have our Pancake Dinner in the St. Jane Parish Hall from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. Tickets are $10/ adults, $8 for kids 3–12, or $30 for the entire family. This will also support Youth Ministry. We hope you can join us!

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the 2026 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. The theme for this year’s appeal is “Lift Up Your Hearts.” This theme calls us to “Lift Up Our Hearts to God, Unite in Hope as a faith community, and embrace our shared mission of Service.” There is still time for you to make your donation to the Appeal which supports many social ministries programs throughout the Archdiocese. The Catholic Church is the largest private provider of services to people in need in the state of Maryland. Please offer what you can to assist our Church in this corporal work of mercy by making a gift to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. Thanks! 

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

Nothing Ordinary About It

Dear Friends in Christ!

This Sunday the Church celebrates another epiphany (manifestation/appearance) with the baptism of Jesus. The Dicastery for Clergy and Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) speak of this epiphany in this way:

“The same Spirit that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’”

Monday, January 12, we commence the season of Ordinary Time. Back to green! Ordinary Time puts us back on our day to day walk towards Heaven. Jesus leads us and walks with us. The “task of the whole of our earthly existence is to bring about what baptism inaugurates,” Blessed Columba Marmion (1858–1923) says. We do this by saying “yes” to God who is always inviting us to deeper friendship—union—with Him through daily prayer, the sacraments, and concrete acts of Christ-like love and witness in our pastorate, communities, and workplaces. Say yes to the invitations!! A couple invitations are as follows!

All are encouraged to participate in Shelter Week/Winter Relief at OLC from January 26 to February 2. There are many ways to help. Please see the advertisement in the bulletin and sign up!

Throughout the season of Lent (which starts February 18) leaders of the Walking With Purpose are sponsoring a Lenten study entitled RESTORE. It will be available to the whole pastorate—women and men. There will be many ways to participate in this study: in person at the parishes, at host-homes, and virtually. Please see the bulletin, websites, and tables after Masses in the coming weeks for opportunities to sign-up. You won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to spend time with other parishioners, growing in faith, friendship, and mission.

God bless you and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John

Christian Love And Friendship

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,

This time last year, a wonderful couple reached out inquiring about Catholicism and the possibility of becoming Catholic. I scheduled to meet with them on Saturday, February 1 (a year ago Sunday). In the course of finishing a chore before meeting them, I accidentally locked my keys in the SJF office. Of course! But, the church was still open, so we had our meeting there. My sense is that their hearts were very open as I introduced them to Catholicism by giving them a tour of the church. It was moving and delightful to see things anew through their eyes and their questions. 

I am thankful for the profound and humbling experience of ministering to this couple and to so many others through our OCIA program. We have twenty-some people at various stages of preparation who will enter or complete their initiation into the Catholic Church through holy Baptism, Confirmation, and/or first Holy Communion this Easter! That is amazing! I am asking you to please pray for them and offer some sort of sacrifice/fasting for them as they continue their preparation. Please do not be afraid to invite people to Mass, Bible Study, or to any event we have happening. The Holy Spirit is moving in peoples’ hearts!

Monday, February 2, is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On this day we celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life. Please pray that God will raise up women and men from our Pastorate to respond generously to the invitation to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Pray also for all consecrated religious sisters and brothers and priests as they live out their vows and who through so many charisms make present the heart, person, and mission of Jesus Christ. We especially thank God for Brother Joseph Krondon OFM Conv., Sister Liz Sjoberg DC, Sister Sally Russell SSJ, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and all those who have loved ones in religious life. I apologize if I have missed anyone!

Thank you to everyone for your generosity of time, talent, and treasure in welcoming and serving our friends from Arundel House of Hope during Shelter Week. It is such a beautiful and profound display of Christian love and friendship!

Men of the Pastorate are invited to participate in the Catholic Men’s Conference on March 14, 2026 at St. Louis in Clarksville. This is always an inspiring event for brothers in Christ, married, single, young and old to share in together. Register here: https://www.catholicmensfellowship.com/

We have had a wonderful response so far in anticipation of our Lent program RESTORE. Sign-up is still open. It is a study for all women and men of the Pastorate. There are options for in-person and virtual participation. You can sign-up via the bulletin or online or by contacting pasadenawwp@gmail.com

There will be an introduction to the RESTORE study, distribution of books and a time of prayer in Eucharistic Adoration. All are encouraged to attend one or both of these gatherings: February 7 at OLC at 10am. February 14 at SJF at 10am.

May God bless you and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

In Jesus and Mary,
Father John

Christian Unity

Dear Friends in Christ,

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus proclaims His gospel or good news that the Kingdom of God is at hand! May we hear this as if it were the first time and respond accordingly!

Centuries before the Incarnate Lord Jesus of Nazareth, there were other “gospels” around, for example in Greek and Roman cultures – announcements of the good news of victories and of kings and caesars. (Some proved to be far from good news!)

The good news of Jesus Christ is the triumph of Love over sin and death; it is a Kingdom not of this world. His Gospel summons us to repentance and to a new way of life. Jesus first preaches in Galilee of the Gentiles. Galilee was seen by many to be forsaken, a region of darkness. With repentant and hope-full hearts let us welcome Jesus into the Galilees of our lives. With expectant faith, may his Eucharistic presence enliven us to follow Him and make Him known and loved in all of the Galilees we enter this week.

Every year during the week of January 25 (the feast of the conversion of St. Paul), the Catholic Church throughout the world prays for Christian unity. Let us pray for this intention this week. Lord Jesus Christ, you show us how to be patient with one another in humility and gentleness. May the light you have shined on our path lead us towards unity and help us heal the wounds of division and indifference that often break communities apart. Prayer taken from Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Registration is still open for our pastorate Lent study RESTORE. It is a five week journey for men and women to have a healing and fruitful Lent. There are many ways to gather and participate! Please see this page to register. Please contact pasadenawwp@gmail.com if you have any questions.

There will be two morning sessions to ready our hearts for this Lent program: February 7 at OLC and February 14 at SJF. Both at 10am-12pm. At this event, we will introduce and distribute the RESTORE book and show you how to access reflection videos online. Then we will have a time of prayer. Whether you participate in RESTORE or not, all are welcome to these mornings of prayer and preparation!

Our Lent mission will be held March 16-18 in the evening – 03/16 talk on Reconciliation, 03/17 confessions and adoration at OLC, 03/18 confessions and adoration at SJF. More information forthcoming! Thank you to all for your preparations for this Winter Relief week. Let us pray for and warmly welcome those we are serving!

God bless you and thank you for keeping the pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John 

Here Am I, Lord

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we return to Ordinary time with the celebration of the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme for this weekend continues to build upon the baptism of the Lord that we celebrated last Sunday. The responsorial Psalm this weekend proclaims: “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Jesus comes to accomplish the will of the Father. As his brothers and sisters through baptism, we ought to have the same desire with our lives – to do the will of God. Although we are not always successful at it, we are nevertheless encouraged to continue trying to surrender our wills to the will of God. Never give up or lose hope that you can do the Father’s will, for we know all things are possible for one who has faith.

The 2026 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries has kicked off! The theme for this year’s appeal is “Lift Up Your Hearts.” This theme calls us to “Lift Up Our Hearts to God, Unite in Hope as a faith community, and embrace our shared mission of Service.” Many of you should have received information about the Appeal in the mail. At the parishes, next weekend is our Announcement Weekend and the weekend of January 31–February 1 will be the Weekend of Giving. Our 2026 parish goals are as follows: St. Jane Frances $61,040; and OLC $62,618. I ask you to prayerfully consider your gift to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries with open hearts and generous hands. Thanks.

Shelter Week is rapidly approaching. We will be hosting our guests the week of January 26–February 2 at OLC. We are still in need of volunteers to assist us throughout the week. Shelter Week information and volunteer sign ups can be found on our parishes’ websites. When you have the opportunity, please sign up to help us live out the corporal works of mercy.

This year, our Pastorate is sponsoring a seven-week group study for men and women (and couples) during the Lenten Season. Using Sr. Miriam James Heidland’s new book Restore: A Guided Journal for Prayer and Meditation and its accompanying videos, join fellow parishioners in a group study that will help you turn away from what wounds you and toward God who heals and makes you whole. Two of the weeks are completed individually; the other five weeks in a small group: in-person at one of our churches; in-person at a sponsor-home; or virtually. Additional information can be found on our websites. If you are interested in hosting a small group of your friends in your home, please email PasadenaWWP@gmail.com. Follow the Lord into the depths of your heart this Lent and you will never be the same! Sign up today!

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

Say Yes To Invitations!

From the Associate Pastor’s Desk…

Dear Friends in Christ!

This Sunday the Church celebrates another epiphany (manifestation/appearance) with the baptism of Jesus. The Dicastery for Clergy and Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) speak of this epiphany in this way:

“The same Spirit that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’”

Monday, January 12, we commence the season of Ordinary Time. Back to green! Ordinary Time puts us back on our day to day walk towards Heaven. Jesus leads us and walks with us. The “task of the whole of our earthly existence is to bring about what baptism inaugurates,” Blessed Columba Marmion (1858–1923) says. We do this by saying “yes” to God who is always inviting us to deeper friendship—union—with Him through daily prayer, the sacraments, and concrete acts of Christ-like love and witness in our pastorate, communities, and workplaces. Say yes to the invitations!! A couple invitations are as follows!

All are encouraged to participate in Shelter Week/Winter Relief at Our Lady of the Chesapeake from January 26 to February 2. There are many ways to help. Please see the advertisement in the bulletin and sign up!

Throughout the season of Lent (which starts February 18), leaders of the Walking With Purpose are sponsoring a Lenten study entitled RESTORE. It will be available to the whole pastorate—women and men. There will be many ways to participate in this study: in person at the parishes, at host-homes, and virtually. Please see the bulletin, websites, and tables after Masses in the coming weeks for opportunities to sign-up. You won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to spend time with other parishioners, growing in faith, friendship, and mission.

God bless you and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John