Father Jendrek named pastor of Ijamsville parish

After five years as pastor of St. Paul in Ellicott City, Father Michael Jendrek is taking on a new role as the pastor of St. Ignatius in Ijamsville. Archbishop Edwin O’Brien made the appointment, which is effective April 5.

Father Jendrek, a 49-year-old priest whose home parish was St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, said he leaves St. Paul with “mixed emotions.”

“I’m sad about leaving the people who I’ve grown to love over these last few years,” he said. “But I’m excited about new challenges at St. Ignatius. I’ll have to learn new names.”

While pastor of St. Paul, Father Jendrek helped expand the parish’s social outreach ministry by becoming involved in the Howard County Cold Weather Shelter.

Father Jendrek said he recently attended a Mass at his new parish to get a sense of the community, finding it to be “a very friendly congregation.”

“I’m not coming with any preconceived ideas,” said Father Jendrek. “I’m going to spend a lot of time listening and watching and learning.”

The new pastor said he tries to invite parishioners to get involved in the life of their faith community.

“I always remember that the parish is theirs, not mine,” he said. “They are going to be here long after I’m gone.”

Ordained in 1987 after studying at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, Father Jendrek served as an associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park; Sacred Heart, Glyndon; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Baynesville and St. Ann, Hagerstown, before his first pastorate.

St. Ignatius is a steadily growing faith community in Frederick County made up of 1,250 registered families – about 300 more families than are registered at St. Paul.