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Congratulations Fr. John & Welcome Fr. James!
Dear Friends in Christ,
While it is our loss, it is St. Mary’s gain, as Archbishop Lori has named Fr. John as Administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption in Pylesville, effective February 15th, 2023. Since Fr. John’s arrival in November of 2020, he has served us through his priestly heart and ministry with a zeal and passion for the sake of the Kingdom of God and conversion of souls. Over the past year, Fr. John has assumed the responsibilities of directing our Confirmation program, which included leading our adult and peer ministers in preparing our candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which was celebrated this Saturday by Bishop Parker. In addition, Fr. John has worked with our school Principal, Mrs. Ashby, in offering regular faith-based workshops for our teachers. This year Fr. John also initiated a Liturgy Club in our school, which boasts of seventy students, divided into seven teams. In collaboration with several of our teachers, these students now assist at our weekly school Mass. Fr. John has also stepped in this year to serve as a 7th Grade Religion teacher.
In addition to supporting our school, Fr. John has also supported our Wednesday night Faith Formation program, in collaboration with our Director of Faith Formation, Mrs. Teresa Stitz. New this year, is a once per month entire family formation night for the children and parents enrolled in Faith Formation. These evenings consist of games, some jokes from Fr. John, prayer, and a catechetical element, all geared at realizing our parish mission of strengthening marriage and the family through the sacramental life of the Church. Fr. John has also served as supervisor for two seminarians from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg as well as two seminarians from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. These seminarians have been a great help in support of our Wednesday night Faith Formation as well as our Confirmation program. Yes, Fr. John has poured out his priestly heart in service to all of this, and for this I am most grateful. The parishioners at St. Mary’s are blessed to be receiving Fr. John as their shepherd. Please pray for Fr. John as he prepares to begin this new assignment.
I am happy to report that Archbishop Lori has also assigned Fr. James Boric to serve here as Associate Pastor, effective February 15th, 2023. Fr. James had been the Rector of the Basilica in Baltimore prior to his discernment to live the eremitical life as a Carmelite in Minnesota. During his time living this very hidden life in seclusion from the outside world, so as to pray for the world, he discerned that the Lord was calling him back to parish life, to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We are blessed to have Fr. James back in the Archdiocese and serving here at St. Joseph Church & School. Thank you for praying for Fr. James as he prepares to embark on this new assignment as well.
In Christ,
Called to Communion, called to become what we receive.
Talitha Qum Program Origin - Archdiocese of Cartagena was born in 2014 in response to the social problems to which children and adolescents of the San Francisco neighborhood are exposed (abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, early pregnancies, domestic and neighborhood violence...).
The goal is to empower the girls and adolescents of the Talitha Qum Program of the Archdiocese of Cartagena in prevention of abuse, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, through a comprehensive training process, having as a fundamental basis the strengthening of human-Christian values and the evangelization with an impact on the family and society.
The International Outreach Committee is working on raising funds to assist the Talitha Qum program. The project’s current priority is to complete construction of the headquarters which will serve as a location for education. Our goal is to raise $25,000. With the outpour of generosity, we have been able to raise $21,741! We ask for your continued support as we work towards our goal amount.
Check out these recent photos taken at the Talitha Qum Center in Cartagena, Columbia, by the Chair of our International Outreach Committee, Mrs Glenda Habeych-Randall and her husband Mitch. The funds we have sent are being used to finish work on the center and strengthen the security fencing around the center.
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