archbishop Lori

Final Vows of Fr. Dennis Baker, S.J.

Final Vows of Fr. Dennis Baker, S.J.
Loyola Blakefield
September 13, 2024

A Word of Congratulations and Thanks

First let me offer a word of deepest thanks, to you Fr. O’Keefe, and to your collaborators in the Province, for making Fr. Dennis Baker available to lead Loyola-Blakefield. Recognizing the personnel challenges all of us are facing, I am doubly grateful that you have missioned to this great school such a wonderful priest, a true son of Ignatius of Loyola, an experienced educator, a missionary, and a pastor of souls.

And Fr. Dennis, let me offer you a word of congratulations and thanks! First, warmest and heartfelt congratulations on making your final vows. As all of us know, in the Society of Jesus, it’s a long journey to final vows, with its share of consolations and desolations, with exquisite discernment, and with perseverance made possible only by the grace of God. Thank you for saying “yes”, again and again, to the call of God.

And warmest congratulations as you begin your leadership of Loyola Blakefield. You have discovered, no doubt, that few schools have more devoted alumni, few have a prouder tradition, few can boast of greater attainments, and indeed, few have a more beautiful campus than what surrounds us. But at the heart of such attainments and such beauty is a mission, the very mission and charism that the Holy Spirit planted so long ago in the heart of St. Ignatius of Loyola and his companions – the mission to bear witness to Christ, to proclaim his Name, to make disciples, to teach the faith, and to build up the Church, united under the leadership of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. It is this mission for which this great school was founded and it is this charism and mission that imparts to it its excellence! Thank you for saying “yes” and thank you for all you are already doing together with your board and school leadership to further the challenging and awe-inspiring mission of Loyola-Blakefield.

Still another word of thanks is in order. Since you came to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Fr. Baker, you have been most generous in reaching out to surrounding parishes to offer Holy Mass on Sundays and at other times when help is needed. No doubt, these are occasions to hold up the Loyola-Blakefield flag – but they also demonstrate the pastoral heart that you bring both to this school and to this local church. Together with my brother priests in the Archdiocese, I say, “thank you!”

Vocation

And finally, a word to you, the students, the reason why we’re here. As you witnessed Fr. Baker’s first vows and listened to what is being said about his life as a Jesuit, I hope the Spirit of the Lord will move your hearts to consider the possibility that God may be calling you to the priesthood, and if the Lord is calling you, as he called Fr. Baker, I hope you respond generously, just as Fr. Baker has responded. . . And if the Jesuits are full up . . . I have openings!

All vocations are from the Lord and all of them are good and necessary, and the priesthood is at the service of them all. What a joy it is to proclaim the Lord’s teaching far and wide, what a joy to renew the sacrifice that brings salvation, what a joy to bring peace and reconciliation. If God is calling I hope you, like Ignatius of Loyola, will say “yes”. And finally I hope and pray that this will turn out to be the best year ever in the long and storied history of Loyola-Blakefield. Oh, and by the way, on this occasion, with Fr. Baker’s approval, I am happy to grant you a day off, on a day of Fr. Baker’s choosing! Ad maiorem Dei gloriam! Roll on, dons, roll on!

Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012.

Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977.

In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the former chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

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