Called

Father John Bilenki ’13 looked out at a packed church, touched by the many familiar faces in the congregation who came to celebrate his first Mass. After an inspiring homily from Fr. Erik Arnold ’88, Fr. John held up the Eucharist for the first time—a moment he will forever cherish.

Fr. John was ordained on June 24, 2023, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. From the calling of the candidates to the fraternal embrace of brother priests, there are many rituals that make up the Rite of Ordination. “All I could say at each movement in the liturgy was simply, ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ knowing how unworthy I am, yet called,” Fr. John shares.

Since discerning his calling, Fr. John has experienced more moments of the Lord’s confirmation of his priestly vocation than he can count. He recalls many instances during his pastoral year at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park—like bringing the Eucharist to the elderly and homebound, giving reflections at Mass, visiting and teaching school students, talking to and praying with the less fortunate who would come seeking assistance, and helping lead worship at Eucharistic adoration.

“While all those ‘works’ were good, edifying, priestly things, they pointed to a deeper peace and joy that flowed from being available to the Lord and allowing Him to work through me,” he says. “I felt confident and trusting that the Lord was grounding me in my role in the Family of Christ, the Church.”

Fr. John is currently studying Spiritual Theology at the Angelicum in Italy and ministering to students at The Catholic University of America Rome campus. He does not yet know where he will be assigned when he returns to Baltimore in June. “We will see what the Lord has in store!” he says.