Friday, June 5, 2026

Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv. -- About Me and My Blog . . .

Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv. (Baltimore, Maryland, United States).

On September 3, 1962, I was born at Mercy Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland; I’m the second of seven children: I have an older brother and four younger sisters; they each married terrific spouses and now have families of their own; one sibling, a younger brother who my mother named Joseph, died at birth.  In all, I have fourteen wonderful nieces and nephews, as well as a grand-niece and a grand-nephew, both of whom are absolutely beautiful.  My mom, +Carolyn Marie Winterling (d. 09-13-18), was born and raised in Locust Point, South Baltimore, and was of pure German descent; during her professional life she was a Registered Nurse; my father, +Eugene Anthony “Gene” Dore (d. 07-21-24), was born and raised in Irvington, West Baltimore, and was of Irish/Swedish descent; he spent much of his professional career as a salesman within the heavy construction industry. My immediate and extended family members have always been very dear to me!

I spent my earliest school days as a student in both public and parochial schools: first at Beechfield Elementary, P.S.#246, Irvington (grades K-2), then at St. Joseph's Monastery, Irvington, (grades 3-5) and finally at the Catholic Community School of South Baltimore, (grades 6-8). For high school I attended Baltimore's great Calvert Hall College (a Christian Brothers' school locally known as “the Hall).  

As a child, my family and I were always very active in our parishes (both at St. Joseph's Monastery, in West Baltimore where I lived until the age of eleven, and in later years at Our Lady of Good Counsel, South Baltimore).  I was a member of the boy scouts, an altar server, choir member, youth groups, church cleaner and part time youth parish office receptionist.  As a child, my Catholic faith and my parish identity were always very important aspects of my personal and family experiences!  

After graduating from Mount Saint Mary's College (now “University”), Emmitsburg, Maryland in May of 1984, I entered religious life in August of that year as a novice with Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.). I completed my Theological studies at the Washington Theological Union in Silver Spring, Maryland in May of 1992. After a six month period as a transitional deacon, on October 17, 1992 I was ordained to the priesthood at St. Casimir Church, in my home-town of Baltimore, Maryland, by Baltimore's then Auxiliary Bishop +William C. Newman.

For seventeen years of my priesthood (in two non-consecutive terms between ‘92 and ‘14), I was assigned to Most Holy Trinity--St. Mary in Brooklyn, New York. Both my Franciscan and my priestly identities were greatly “formed” during my years in Brooklyn!

In addition to 
Brooklyn, I served as a parochial-vicar at St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro, Georgia, and at St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, Massachusetts. In August of ‘14, I began a year-long assignment at Pastor at Assumption Church in Syracuse, New York. Years earlier in ministry, I also spent time teaching young people in schools at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York (‘87-‘88), at St. Francis Primary School, San Jose, Costa Rica (‘98-‘01), and at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland (‘01-‘03). Later, and in the Archdiocese of Baltimore (‘15-‘18), I was Pastor of two wonderful Parishes of St. Ann and St. Wenceslaus, in Baltimore City, Maryland.  Then I was Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, a three parish “Pastorate” in Baltimore County, Maryland (‘18-‘22). 

I’ve always had an “itch” to be a missionary friar.  Although I have never really pursued such a calling, I did have several opportunities in my life to travel and to live abroad in countries where people live in poverty and in great need.  While still a seminarian in 1991, I did a “missionary internship” for three months in Ghana, West Africa where I lived and worked with our friars who ministered to people with leprosy.  Later, after my ordination to the priesthood, I spent three months in Honduras, Central America, where I studied Spanish and further discerned a “missionary calling.”  I’ve returned to Honduras for shorter visits at least ten times over the years, and I still wonder if someday I should return there for a longer commitment.  In 1998, I began a two-and-a-half year assignment in Costa Rica where I taught English to children in our friars’ St. Francis Primary School in San Jose and also to adults in an evening language institute there called the Instituto Interamericano de Idiomas (Intensa).  My experience in Costa Rica was wonderful!

Most of my ministerial experiences have been as a parish priest.  Parish work has always been at the core of my priestly ministry, and over many years I feel I've been greatly blessed by the wonderful people of the parishes I've met along the way!  See a short reflection I wrote about the life of a parish priest here on my blog entitled This is the Life of a Parish Priest(https://www.frayteo.us/2014/04/this-is-life-of-parish-priest.html).

I think one of my most passionate desires within ministry has always been to enthusiastically serve and to work with Christian outreach efforts done for the poor, the marginalized, and to those who are different.”  I believe this desire is fundamentally rooted in my identity as one who hopes to live in accord with the teachings and example of the Lord Jesus, and as a Franciscan Friar, a follower of Il Poverello,St. Francis of Assisi.

Currently, I am stationed at the Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, Maryland, and there I am one of the friars in the community of the Friary of St. Joseph Cupertino. These days, I divide my time as a friar-chaplain at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, as well as at the Shrine of St. Anthony.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope the posts you find on it are both thought provoking and spiritually uplifting!   Peace, Timothy

Praised be Jesus Christ!
Now and Forever!  Amen!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Friar Timothy Patrick Dore, OFM Conv.

My Curriculum Vitae:

EDUCATION

12/99 - 12/00:  The Mesoamerica Spanish Language Program (at the Institute for Central American Studies-"ICAS"),
Intensive Spanish Program and Tutoring.  Guadalupe, San Jose, Costa Rica, Completed: December 2000.

Fall 1998:  Centro Lingüistico Latinoamericano, San Antonio de Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica, Certificate, Intensive Spanish Program. Completed: November 1998.

Summer 1992:  The Diocese of Brooklyn Language Institute, Intensive Spanish Program. Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, Queens, New York, Completed: August 1992. 

1988-1992: Washington Theological Union, Silver Spring, Maryland, Master of Divinity, Graduated: May 1992.

1985-1987:  Saint Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, Massachusetts, Pre-Theology Certificate in Philosophy, Completed: May 1987

1984-1985:  Saint Joseph Cupertino Friary, Ellicott City, Maryland, Novitiate Program, Completed: August 1985.

1980-1984:  Mount Saint Mary's College (now University), Emmitsburg, Maryland, Bachelor of Arts  (Majors: History and Theology), Graduated: May 1984.

1976-1980:  Calvert Hall College, Towson, Maryland, High School Diploma, Graduated: May 1980.

WORK & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES

06/22-Present:  Pastoral Associate, (chaplaincy at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, and pastoral ministry at the Shrine of St. Anthony, Folly Quarter), St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, Ellicott City, Maryland.

08/18-06/22:  Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, & St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Churches, Baltimore County, Maryland.

08/15-08/18:  Pastor, St. Ann & St, Wenceslaus Churches, Baltimore City, Maryland.

08/14-08/15:  Pastor, Assumption Church, Syracuse, New York.

06/04-08/14:  Parochial Vicar, Most Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, New York.

06/03-06/04:  Parochial Vicar, St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee, Massachusetts.

08/01-06/03:  Secondary School Teacher (Intro to Spanish I & Intro to Spanish II), Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, Maryland.

06/02-08/02:  Mission Volunteer, Helping Hands for Honduras, La Paz, Honduras, Central America. 

01/01-08/01:  Parochial Vicar, Saint Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Jonesboro, Georgia.

03/00-12/00:  English as a Second Language Teacher (Conversational–for adults), Instituto Interamericano de Idiomas (Intensa), San José, Costa Rica.

12/98-12/00:  Primary School Teacher (Middle School Religion, Second Grade English), Saint Francis Primary School, Moravia, San José, Costa Rica.

01/94-04/94:  Mission Internship, Conventual Franciscan Friars, Campamento, Honduras, Central America.

06/92-09/98:  Parochial Vicar, Most Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, New York.

06/91-08/91:  Mission Internship, Franciscan Community Services, Ankaful Leprosy Camp and the Ahotokurom Village, Ghana, West Africa.

09/90-05/91:  Supervised Ministry in Pro-Life Advocacy, Human Life International (H.L.I.), Gaithersburg, Maryland.

09/88-05/92:  Supervised Ministry in a Parish Setting, Saint Mark Church, Catonsville, Maryland.

09/87-05/88:  Secondary School Teacher, (Freshman Social Studies, Sophomore Religion), Saint Francis High School, Athol Springs, New York

 

end


Thursday, June 4, 2026

The Shepherd Is Not the Center of the Story


The Shepherd Is Not the Center of the Story

Many recall the challenging words Pope Francis offered during the Chrism Mass in March 2013, when he told priests that the shepherds of God's people should “smell like the sheep.” Nearly a decade later, while addressing bishops and cardinals gathered in Rome in August of 2022, he warned them not to become Pharisaical—rigid, self-righteous, and overly focused on rules while losing sight of the people entrusted to their care. He reminded them that the heart of the Gospel is mercy.

In this, Pope Francis was echoing the words of Christ Himself

Jesus quoted the prophet Hosea when he declared, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He did so on more than one occasion: when the Pharisees criticized him for eating with tax collectors and sinners, and again when they condemned his disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath. In both cases, Jesus challenged a religious mentality that elevated legal observance above compassion and human need.

Both Jesus and Pope Francis reminded the religious leaders of their respective times that God values mercy, love, and care for others more than a rigid adherence to religious regulations. The purpose of the law is not to burden people but to lead them more deeply into love of God and love of neighbor.

Can there be any doubt that this same truth lies at the heart of Jesus' great commandment, found in both Matthew 22 and Mark 12?  Jesus says, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Of these commandments Jesus says, “There is no other commandment greater than these.

As I reflected on these themes, I found myself creating and contemplating an image of the Church (see above). The image became, for me, another way of praying with the Gospel.

In the foreground stand people of every age, race, culture, and circumstance: children and elders, the healthy and the infirm, the strong and the vulnerable. Beside them stand shepherds—bishops, priests, and religious—yet they appear only in silhouette.

Perhaps that is precisely the point.

The shepherd is not the center of the story. The flock is.

The shepherd's vocation is not to draw attention to himself, but to make Christ more visible and to help God's people flourish. A shepherd who truly “smells like the sheep” lives so closely among the people entrusted to his care that he shares their joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, struggles and triumphs.

Surrounding the image are scenes of shepherds tending their flocks. Before there were bishops, priests, deacons, and religious, there was Christ the Good Shepherd. Every ministry in the Church finds its meaning in him. The shepherd does not exist for himself; he exists for the sheep.

Perhaps that is why Jesus insisted that love of God and love of neighbor are greater than all sacrifices and offerings. Religious authority, religious observance, and even the structures of the Church are not ends in themselves. Their purpose is to lead people into a deeper encounter with God's mercy and love.

Whenever shepherds place themselves at the center, the Gospel is obscured. Whenever religious observance becomes detached from mercy, compassion, and love, we risk becoming like the very Pharisees whom Jesus so often challenged.

But when shepherds stand humbly among the flock—sharing its burdens, listening to its cries, rejoicing in its blessings, and leading with compassion—the face of Christ becomes visible once again.

And when that happens, the Church becomes what she was always meant to be: not a monument to herself, but a living sign of God's mercy in the world.

 ________________________________________________________________

About the Image I created to accompany this blog:


The Church exists not for herself, but for the people entrusted to her care.

Shepherds are called to stand among the flock, not above it; to lead with mercy rather than privilege; and to remember that love of God and love of neighbor are greater than all sacrifices and offerings.

Looking at this image in light of the reflection above, I do not see it as a critique of bishops, clergy, or religious men and women. Rather, I see it as a call to conversion for all of us who exercise any form of authority, leadership, or ministry in the Church.

The clergy and religious are present in the image, but they are not its focal point. The people are.

That strikes me as profoundly Franciscan. It is deeply consistent with Pope Francis' call for shepherds to “smell like the sheep,” and it echoes Christ's own insistence that mercy is greater than sacrifice.

The longer I contemplate the image, the more I am drawn to one subtle but profound detail:

The shepherds are depicted in silhouette, while the people are depicted in full color.

Perhaps that is exactly what a good shepherd does.

He does not draw attention to himself. He helps others become visible.

The shepherd's task is not to stand at the center of the story, but to accompany the flock, to reveal the presence of Christ, and to help God's people flourish.

In that sense, the image is not primarily about shepherds at all.

It is about the people whom God loves and whom the Church is called to serve.


Friar Timothy P. Dore, OFM Conv.

Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, Maryland

 

June 4, 2026