Deacon Jack Ames, Project Rachel volunteer and educator, dies at 74

Deacon John “Jack” Ames Jr., who helped the healing pathway of hundreds of people who have endured the post-abortion journey and who served in ministry at St. Agnes in Catonsville, died Feb. 8. He was 74.

Deacon Ames spent a decade of passionate dedication to Project Rachel, an effort that provides accompaniment and spiritual healing to those experiencing pain following abortion. He often served twice a year on retreats with mothers who ended their pregnancies.

“What he brought to Project Rachel was a presence of self, unique for him,” said Amy Erardi, coordinator of pastoral care in the Office of Life, Justice and Peace within the archdiocesan Institute for Evangelization. “He had a special heart for those who have suffered pregnancy loss or child loss due to miscarriage or due to abortion. He’s counseled so many that were struggling in the bereavement and grief of that.”

Father Michael Foppiano, a longtime friend who serves as pastor of St. Mark in Fallston and director of the diaconate, said Deacon Ames came from a large Catholic family. He grew up in St. Joseph Monastery Parish in Irvington before beginning a two-decade career with the Baltimore Police Department.

He pivoted to education, serving as a teacher at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore and eventually Loyola Blakefield in Towson. He was ordained to the diaconate in 2003.

“Deacon Jack was a very faithful man, and that was something that was very easy to see in him,” Father Foppiano said. “He was always someone who let his faith shine forth, and just when you were around him, you felt that.”

Father Foppiano, who met Deacon Ames when the priest was assigned to St. Agnes and St. William of York in Baltimore, said his friend had “an amazing relatability to people.”

“He had various different careers in his life, and he related to people in very different ways in each of those,” Father Foppiano said. “He preached from the heart, sharing with people his own experiences and reflections on the Scriptures. He was a guy who was always there for folks. He really poured himself into the community there.”

Father Foppiano said he personally witnessed Deacon Ames’ prayer life, one which centered around devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“He showed his love for Mary in his preaching,” Father Foppiano said.

As he wound down his teaching career, Deacon Ames grew his vocation in the pro-life arena, leading sidewalk ministry efforts. Yet he found a deep pastoral pro-life calling, offering his ears and spirit to Project Rachel’s retreats.

“He was a good catechizer,” said Chris Hintz, active in the archdiocese’s pro-life efforts. “He gave his heart and soul in the Project Rachel retreats, always teaching with what he shared at the retreats, bringing the retreatants to a knowledge of what the church teaches about God’s mercy, their woundedness and the work of the Holy Spirit.” 

Deacon Ames – husband to Christine, father of four, grandfather of nine and great-grandfather – spent his last seven  years in Ocean City, serving as a deacon at St. Luke Parish, but Project Rachel was never far from his mind or his spirit.

“I know he wanted to move to Ocean City, retired (there) to spend more time with his family. He loved his family very much,” Erardi said. “He shared that Project Rachel was in his daily prayer. It was quite special how he had such a heart for the ministry.”

A visitation will be held Feb. 13 at McNabb Funeral Home in Catonsville 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be offered Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Agnes.

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