Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 30 August 2026

“You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped.”

~ Jeremiah 20:7

God moves us in ways that we do not always understand. Growing up, I never once thought I would have a career in Catholic education, let alone serving as a Principal. When I was very young, I wanted to be a giraffe when I grew up (just a few feet short). Then, like most kids, I thought about how I’d like to be a professional athlete or an actor, but that didn’t pan out. Meanwhile, years of attending Catholic school were laying a foundation for what would become my vocation. Without even realizing it, God was duping me, and I let myself be duped.

I attended Mount St. Mary’s University to study Biology, but after a friend from the Seminary invited me to his ordination, I switched to Theology with a focus on Youth Ministry. I served as a Campus Minister, then a Youth Minister, then a high school Theology teacher, always working in each situation to bring young people into a deeper relationship with Christ. When an Assistant Principal position opened up where I was teaching, I thought, “Hey, might as well throw my hat in the ring.” The trajectory has continued, and now I am in my third year serving as OLPH School’s Principal. The work has remained the same, bringing young people into a deeper relationship with Christ.

That mission is reflected in this year’s theme for the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools: “Hearts of Faith, Hands of Hope.” Last week, as our teachers gathered to prepare for the school year, I asked them, “What do you believe?” What is our calling as educators? Is it to ensure our students achieve high test scores? Or are we meeting the social and emotional needs of our students? Is it training hard to be once again victorious in the 8th Grade vs Faculty volleyball game? The answer to all of these is yes, but none of those questions fully capture what we strive to do every day. Through our preparation, lessons, assessments, activities, field trips, playtime, and even lunch, we are given many opportunities to help our students believe more deeply in the love of God. Indeed, we use our “hands of hope” each and every day to enliven the “hearts of faith” in all our students.

The school year begins for us tomorrow, and we are thrilled to have 240 students coming through our doors. We are continuing to build and foster a community of faith by celebrating the Sacraments, gathering for various moments of prayer, and keeping Jesus and his mother Mary at the center of our day. We provide hope as we encourage and empower our students to work towards the future and strive to achieve as much as they can. Most importantly, we are sharing the gift of love. We are providing an environment where each and every student, teacher, and family member knows that they are loved by us and loved by God.

God duped me and led me down this path to be a small part of the life and legacy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, and I am so glad I let myself be duped.

Best of luck in the school year to ALL of the students in our Parish!

Going on in the Community:

FUNDRAISING BANQUET – Join us for our Annual Fundraising Banquet “Anointed with Love” on Thursday, September 17th, at 6:30 p.m. at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Cockeysville. We are excited to welcome the Sisters of Life as our speakers and Pro-Life Award recipients. You can sign up to attend at pcnministry.org/fall-fundraising-banquet. RSVPs are due by September 1st. Questions? Contact our Development Director, Amy Fuchsluger, at amyf@pcnorth.org or 410-377-2872.

BLUE MASS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS – Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate a special Blue Mass at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 13, to recognize first responders from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Monastery Parish, 3801 Old Frederick Road in Baltimore.

BIRDIES FOR BRAIN TUMOR GOLF TOURNAMENT – Please join us on Saturday, September 12th, at Fairway Hills Golf Club for a fun golf day as we tee up and raise money for the National Brain Tumor Society. The Stavely Family is hosting this event. Please visit the link to sign up. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Ann at 443-538-6736. events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-birdies-for-brain-tumors

INDIVIDUAL UNBOUND MINISTRY PRAYER – Would you like to experience greater freedom in your spiritual and emotional life? Unbound prayer ministry uses five scriptural keys to help you overcome the fears, anxieties, and negative thoughts that hinder your relationship with God and with others. On Saturday, September 12th, 2026, trained teams will be available to provide Individual Prayer using the Unbound model in Ellicott City, MD. Please read at least the first seven chapters of Unbound by Neal Lozano before your appointment. To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact Dan or Peggy Gahagan by Monday, September 7th, 2026, at UnboundMinistryMaryland@gmail.com.