July 1, 2022 – Pastorate of St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake Pastorate begins
From Fr. Steve
Rev. Stephen Hook
Pastor
410-255-3677 x-103
shook@olchesapeake.org
I am very excited to be here at the Pastorate of St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. I am committed to maintaining an active presence at both communities as we begin this journey together as a Pastorate.
I grew up in Lutherville, MD and went to school at Immaculate Conception in Towson. I went to Towson High School and then Towson University, eventually graduating with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing. For eleven years, I worked for Citibank, both in Towson and in Long Island City, NY, first in Information Services and then in Risk Management. I entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in the Fall of 1997 and was ordained a priest in May, 2003.
My first assignment as a priest was as associate pastor of the three parishes of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore (Holy Cross, St. Mary, Star of the Sea, and Our Lady of Good Counsel). After three years, I was appointed Administrator (and eventually Pastor) of St. Augustine in Williamsport, MD and St. James in Boonsboro, MD. In January, 2011, I began my assignment as Pastor of St. Ursula in Parkville, MD and was there until I arrived at Our Lady of the Chesapeake on January 1, 2018. As of July 1, 2022, I also became Pastor of St. Jane Frances. As you can see, I have a couple experiences working with multiple parish communities.
I am the “middle child” of Walter and Betty Hook. My mom passed away in 2017 but my dad is still alive and currently living with my younger sister in Havre de Grace. I also have an older brother who lives in Parkville. I also have two nieces and just became a great-uncle in 2021.
I enjoy being in the outdoors, especially on the water, which is another reason why I feel blessed to be in the “Dena.” In my spare time, I enjoy working on genealogy and trying to fill in my family tree. I have discovered many distance relatives this way, including some that live in the Pasadena area.
Please pray for me as I always remember our parishes in my daily prayers. May the Holy Spirit watch over us and guide us on this journey of faith as we continue the work of becoming missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.
About Fr. Jim
Rev. James Bors
Associate Pastor
410-255-4646
james.bors@archbalt.org
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
You don’t know how happy I am to be here at St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake! You are God’s answer to my prayer: “Lord, send me to the pastor and to the parish whom You want me to serve.” I look forward to being with you, my new family in Christ.
Our new pastorate of OLC and SJF brings change, and every change—no matter how difficult or challenging—brings opportunity to cooperate with the Holy Spirit who brings about good (Romans 8:28), because God never goes backwards.
One of six children, I was raised in New Carrollton, MD by parents who were faithful Catholics and active in the parish and who sent us to Catholic grade school and public high school. As a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, my faith in Christ was deepened and became much more personal, thanks to the positive influence of evangelical Protestants who loved Jesus and the Scriptures. Although for a short time I stopped practicing the Catholic faith because I didn’t understand it, I returned to the Church and came to know, over time, and love the biblical and historical roots the Catholic Church’s teachings, which changed my life.
I was married for 25 years before my wife Shirley died almost 12 years ago. I have two sons and a daughter-in-law: Michael and Jeff & Julia who live near Washington DC. I was very active in a variety of ministries for many years in my home parish, St. Andrew by the Bay just across the Magothy River. After I graduated from the Naval Academy, I served on a fast attack submarine during the Cold War and as an instructor at the Naval Academy. After 7 years, I left the Navy and served in manufacturing, business, and consulting for 25 years before entering Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg MD in 2015 for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. I’ll share more about my faith and my calling to the priesthood in person during my Introduction at my first Sunday Masses.
In summary, my entire life is a gift. Every good thing I have God has given to me, because He loves me as He loves everyone He has created. I’ve experienced firsthand how God works out all things and all change for the good—no matter how difficult or challenging—and that is why I know that being assigned to St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake is His next gift for me. I can’t wait to encounter Christ more deeply through you and with you and in you all, my new friends in the Lord. God never goes backwards.
Peace in Christ,
Father Jim Bors