As Father Carl F. Cummings prepares to take on a new role as pastor of St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Pasadena, the 65-year-old Baltimorean is focused on getting to know the people of the parish.
“I want to get a lay of the land and find out what the needs of the parish are,” said Father Cummings, who begins his new assignment Aug. 1, after serving seven years as pastor of St. Agnes in Catonsville.
“I really want to talk to the people and find out what their perceived needs are,” he said.
Describing himself as “very committed” to Catholic education, Father Cummings said he will do all he can to support the parish school.
While at St. Agnes, he led a project to build a $4 million parish center that includes a gymnasium. He often visited St. Agnes School to discuss the Catholic faith with students – a practice he intends to continue at St. Jane Frances.
“I find that very energizing,” he said.
Father Cummings will lead a parish made up of 3,000 registered families – about twice the size of his former faith community.
Father Cummings grew up attending several Baltimore-area parishes: St. Agnes, St. Thomas Aquinas in Hampden, Ss. Philip and James in Charles Village, St. Mary in Govans and Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Mount Washington. He completed his seminary studies at Theological College in Washington and was ordained in 1975.
A former associate pastor of St. Philip Neri in Linthicum, Father Cummings served 17 years as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy.