The Great Commission

Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this Sunday, we are invited to listen intently at the last verbal direction given to the Apostles by our Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20). This final direction is commonly called “the Great Commission.” The words are spoken to the Apostles but they are also spoken to us.

Before Jesus ascends in the presence of his followers, he passes on and entrusts them with the responsibility of carrying on his mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and of establishing the kingdom of God. This ordinary group of men and women are the ones who were chosen by God to be the heralds and witnesses of the resurrection. Through their words and actions, the world will know that Jesus is truly alive and more alive and present to us than he ever was. As Jesus’ earthly life ends, theirs and our mission and ministry begins.

Today, that responsibility now belongs to us. The first friends and followers of Jesus are our foundation of faith, and we are their descendants. It is now up to each of us in our own way to carry on the mission and ministry of Jesus. Through us today, the world will know that Jesus is alive, present and active in our world. As Pope Francis says to each of us, “every Christian is a missionary to the extent that they have experienced the love of God in Jesus.”

Even though we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus, he has not left us, deserted us, or abandoned us. He is with us when we gather to break bread with each other. He is with us when we reach out to help and support each other. These are the signs that Jesus is in us and with us, today and forever. May we go out into our world and make disciples.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

God Is Love

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! Our Easter season continues this weekend with the celebration of the
Sixth Sunday of Easter. Our readings this weekend begin to make the turn toward the coming of the Advocate: the Holy Spirit. John’s Gospel tells us the Spirit will remain with us and be in us so that we are never abandoned or left as orphans. The Spirit of God is the bond of love between Father and Son that is now shared with each and every one of us as well. Whenever we experience love in our lives, we are experiencing God. (Just a reminder—the celebration of the Ascension will occur next weekend, May 20-21, and not on Thursday, May 18th.)

I would also like to wish a Blessed and Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and the women in our lives who have been like mothers to us. I pray this day will fill you with love and surround you with the blessings of many loving family members and friends. May our Blessed Mother continue to watch over you and guide you on your faith journey as she leads you to a deeper love for her Son. May is the month of our Blessed Mother. We had beautiful weather for the May Crowning at St Jane’s last weekend. This weekend at OLC, we will be celebrating the crowing of Mary after the 10:45am Mass. You are invited to bring bouquets of flowers to place before the Blessed Mother throughout the month of May.

This week, please keep in your prayers our OLC 10th graders who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday, May 17th. After this Confirmation, our pastorate youth will be celebrating the Sacrament together in the fall of 10th grade. The next pastorate Confirmation is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th at 5:30pm at OLC and will include teens from both parishes.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has given me birthday cards and ordination anniversary cards. I celebrated my 60th birthday on May 10th and will be celebrating my 20th ordination anniversary on May 24th. I would like to thank everyone who has been working on parish celebrations for me (it is very generous and I am most grateful!) There is a celebratory gathering on Saturday evening, May 13th, after the vigil Mass at SJF Hall and on Sunday, May 21st after both Masses in the Gathering Place at OLC.

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

The Priesthood Of The Baptized

Dear Parishioners,

“As a priest, what sacrifice do you offer at Mass?” This question is not for me, but for you. Did you know that every baptized Catholic is a priest? Not an ordained priest of Jesus Christ, but a priest of the priesthood of the baptized, as Peter states in today’s First Reading: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own.” (1 Peter 2:9).

The priesthood of the baptized is a fascinating New Covenant reality with an Old Covenant parallel. In the book of Exodus, God establishes “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6) in the context of the liturgical establishment of the Mosaic covenant (Ex 19:5-8) where Moses consecrated the people of Israel with priests who at that time were the first born son-priests (Ex 19:22) before the Levitical priesthood was established. The acceptance of the covenant brought about Israel’s communal liturgy which included Moses and the elders’ eating and drinking a covenantal meal in the presence of Yahweh himself on Mt. Sinai (Ex 24:11). Immediately following this extraordinary liturgical meal, God commands Moses to make Him a sanctuary “that I may dwell in their midst.” (Ex 25:1,7). What does this—a liturgical meal with a kingdom of priests in the presence of God—sound like? The Catholic Mass!

One of the predominant themes of the Book of Revelation is the priesthood of the baptized, which, according to Cardinal Vanhoye, establishes a very strong connection between worship and life, between the heavenly liturgy and earthly history. With respect to Revelation’s three priestly texts (Rev 1:6, 5:9-10, 20:6), the theme of royal and priestly dignity (along with today’s Second Reading) is presented in a glorious context.

In answering the question—“As a priest, what sacrifice do you offer at Mass?”—from the perspective of the baptized Catholic’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Peter answers: “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices [a notion referred to 16 times in Scripture] acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2:5).” That is, to offer under the action of the Holy Spirit one’s entire life to God in one’s day-to-day activities, in imitation of Christ. In our hearts which we “lift up to the Lord” in the Offertory, and our offering of the Eucharistic Prayer and the bread and wine as the symbols of our human life, we surrender everything to God in Christ who, “after consecrating our offering in his Eucharist, will give it back to us in holy communion, the crowning moment of the Eucharistic sacrifice (Louis Bouyer).” In other words, as priests we offer the sacrifice of ourselves united with Christ at Mass and receive the greatest union possible: where “the two (Christ and the Church) shall become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31-32).” May this insight lead us all to a “full, conscious, and active participation” at Mass as priests (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1141) in the greatest and most important work of the Church.

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter!

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and OLC,

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! Our Easter season continues this weekend with the celebration of the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday as the readings this weekend are from passages where Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd to his people. As a good shepherd watches over and protects his sheep, Jesus is our Good Shepherd who watches over us, protects us, nurtures us, and leads us to the green pastures of our heavenly home.

We are approaching the half-way point of our Easter season, but we are continuing to celebrate in many different ways over the coming weeks. This weekend at the 11:30am Mass at St. Jane, we will be celebrating 1st Communions for 20+ young members of our parish community. Congratulations to all who will be receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. Next weekend (May 6–7), we will be celebrating 1st Communions at OLC at the 5:00pm Mass on Saturday, and on Sunday at the 10:45am Mass and a special 1:00pm Mass. Also next weekend, our high school youth will be on retreat so I ask you to keep them in your prayers. Confirmation for OLC’s high schoolers in 10th grade and higher will be celebrated on May 17th at 5:30pm with Bishop Parker. After that, Confirmations for both parishes will be celebrated together starting in November.

May is also the month of our Blessed Mother. Our May crowning at St Jane will take place on Sunday, May 7th following the 10:00am Mass. At OLC, we will celebrate the crowing of Mary on Mother’s Day, May 14th. You are invited to bring bouquets of flowers to place before the Blessed Mother at both events. Mother’s Day Spiritual Bouquet cards are available at both Churches as well. This is a wonderful way to remember your mothers, grandmothers, godmothers and any women in your life that have had a motherly influence on you. If you are still blessed to have these women in your life, there are Mother’s Day cards you can send them or give to them on Mother’s Day.

Finally, I would like to give you an update on the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. St Jane has received pledges for $31,795 (goal: $65,048) from 127 families. OLC has received pledges for $39,861 (goal: $57,481) from 199 families. If you would like to make a donation, go to www.archbalt.org/giving. Thank you for your generosity to our pastorate parishes!

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

God Bless,
Father Steve

God’s “Far Greater Plan”

 

God’s “far greater plan” on the road to Emmaus.

About 10 years ago, I purchased as the central piece of art for my remodeled living room, a print of Robert Zund’s painting “The Road to Emmaus,” the subject of today’s Gospel. It’s one of my favorite paintings, depicting one of my favorite bible passages.

This beautiful work of art stunningly portrays Jesus with two of his disciples on the day rose He from the dead. The disciples were downcast, “hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel,” i.e, free the Jews from the Roman occupation… something inferior to God’s “far greater plan” to free them from sin and death in the New Creation.

Sometimes we can unknowingly take on the “Old Creation” perspective of the two disciples when, after persistent prayer, we become downcast because God has not relieved our suffering or the suffering of a loved one. Sometimes God does answer prayers miraculously. But He answers prayers in one of three ways: 1. Yes. 2. Not yet. or 3. I have a far greater plan.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus reveals his Father’s “far greater plan”: God brings good from evil and suffering. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things AND (emphasis added) enter into his glory?” It’s not “either-or” (either suffering or glory), but “both-and” (both suffering and glory). Confidence in God’s love for us in the midst of our suffering is how Jesus interpreted the entire Old Testament: “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:26-27). After this Liturgy of the Word, Jesus proceeded to the Liturgy of the Eucharist: “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:30-31).

What does all this mean for you and me? YOU AND I ARE THE TWO DISCIPLES on the road to Emmaus! Today’s Resurrection gospel is the story of you and me: Jesus’ disciples at the Catholic Mass. Jesus comes along side us (particularly when we ask Him to). He opens our hearts to hear his Word and our eyes to His Real Presence in the breaking of the bread, even in our suffering.

At the Offertory during Mass, when we offer to God our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, let us take confidence in knowing that God loves us and that He will bring good from evil and suffering. And at the Dismissal, let us, like the two disciples, “Go forth” and share this good news—the Gospel—to those we know and love: “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:35).

Peace in Christ,
Father Jim

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Brothers and Sisters,

Remember a time in your life when you were fearful and sad, and felt lost and alone. Perhaps you experienced a significant loss or change in your life or were struggling with a painful situation. At that time, it would have been a great gift if Jesus had suddenly appeared and said: “Peace be with you.”

When we feel lost and alone, we may not always have a clear sense that Jesus is with us. Typically, we do not physically see Jesus appear to us. However, at that point in your life, was there any sense of Jesus’ presence with you? Did you experience the gift of strength from your faith in Jesus? Perhaps your faith and your belief enabled you to keep on going.

We know that Jesus is always with us, gifting us and gracing us with His presence; even if we may not realize it at that moment. Jesus walks with us daily through all of life’s circumstances. Do we believe and trust that reality? As the case of Thomas illustrates from this week’s Gospel (Jn 20:19-31), even the disciples who walked with Jesus sometimes had doubts. Jesus meets us wherever we are on life’s journey and removes our doubts. Even if we do have a sense of Jesus’ presence, we may desire evidence that Jesus is with us, just as Thomas did. Thomas wanted to know if the resurrected Jesus was real. Isn’t that what we all seek and need at times? We need to live in the reality that Jesus is alive. How do we encounter him without physically seeing Him with our eyes? Jesus says that we do not have to see Him to believe in Him. We are invited by Jesus himself to believe by trusting the first-hand accounts given to us by the Apostles in Sacred Scripture. By encountering Him through prayer and the sacraments and through our neighbor. Today, if we doubt Jesus is near us and with us, may we reach out in faith and ask Him to come and be present and real in our current circumstance. Jesus will come to us and bring us His peace as we proclaim, “my Lord and my God!”

Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
Deacon Howard

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Sunday, April 16th, the Second Sunday of Easter, is also Divine Mercy Sunday when the faithful may receive an indulgence by devoutly participating in certain pious practices, including: receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation within a week of Divine Mercy Sunday, receiving Holy Communion at Sunday Mass, praying the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father, a prayer for the intention of the Pope, and a devout prayer such as, “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you.” Confessions are heard weekly on Saturdays 3:30–4:30 pm and Thursdays 7:45–8:15 am, or by appointment by calling the parish office. For more information on Divine Mercy, please visit: https://www.stjane.org/divine-mercy-novena/

Happy Easter!

Dear Friends of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake,

On behalf of all of us at the Pastorate of St Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake, 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 in the Christian year, even more important than Christmas. For today, we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, offering to us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. 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 offer our witness and testimony as to what Christ has done for us and desires to do for all people. So go forth today, and every day to proclaim that Christ is Risen! Jesus is Alive! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The celebration of Easter is so important that the Church celebrates it as an Octave, meaning eight days. The Octave of Easter concludes next Sunday with the Sunday of Divine Mercy. This feast was added to the Church calendar by St. John Paul II in the year 2000. Also during the Easter Season, we will read through the Acts of the Apostles, which documents the growth of the early Church, empowered by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Easter Season concludes with the Solemnity of Pentecost, which we will celebrate on May 28th. We also celebrate on Easter the Sacraments of Initiation for those entering into the Church at the Easter Vigil. We congratulate all who have joined the Church this year.

I would like to thank everyone who has made a commitment to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. Your financial support assists the Church in helping those in need throughout our Archdiocese. As of March 23, 2023, OLC has raised $27,375 from 85 gifts and St Jane Frances has raised $19, 125 from 71 gifts. If you haven’t made your pledge yet, please go to www.archbalt.org/giving. All proceeds go to support the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

There are many great events and celebrations planned for the coming weeks and months for our
Pastorate. Many of them are included in this weekend’s bulletin. Please take a moment to review them
and mark your calendars so that you can join us.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake in your
daily prayers! As we approach the first anniversary of the launch of our Pastorate, we are
contemplating a way to identify our Pastorate under a common name while still maintaining our parish
names and identities. Stay tuned for more details as all members of the Pastorate will be invited to
participate in this endeavor!

God Bless,
Father Steve