Carissimi,
This is the 2nd installment of excerpts from a speech delivered by San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy at the 2018 assembly of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests on the three foundations of the pastoral theology of Pope Francis. They give me hope for our Church.
Mirror Christ:
The second foundation for the pastoral theology that Pope Francis is pointing to lies in the recognition that the church should mirror the pastoral action of the Lord himself. It is the pattern of Jesus Christ who walked the earth which we are to incorporate into every element of ecclesial life…the starting point is the drive to see and treat every human person as God sees them, an incredibly precious soul, individual in its nature and identity, yet equally treasured by the Lord…
Christ first reveals the overwhelmingly merciful and limitless love of God. Then he moves to heal the particular form of suffering that the person is experiencing. And only then does he call the person specifically to a change in their life.
This pattern must become ever more deeply the model for the church's proclamation of the faith and healing action in the world. This must be the
imitatio Christi
for a pastoral church in an age that rejects formalism, authority and tradition…
As a consequence, the pastoral church must be a non-judgmental church. There is no sin which Jesus mentions more frequently in the gospels than the sin of judgmentalism. For it is a sin so easy for all of us in our humanity to fall into. It is a mystery of the human soul why men and women feel better about themselves when they can point to the faults of others…
Thus, we must imitate Christ, who consistently spoke of the standards of the gospel without compromise but did not reject men and women for their inability to live the fullness of that gospel.
We must banish judgmentalism from the life of the church and replace it with the constantly affirming love of Jesus Christ. And in doing so, we will become the truly inclusive community that the church, both by its charter and its intrinsic mission, was always called to be.
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It's Advent -- The four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's a season of great expectation and frequently a review of what is truly important in life. We often draw closer into family and friends as the events of these weeks demand. For way too many of us the season screams stress rather than delight. Yet, this first week of Advent beckons us to quite the opposite. The theme of the first week of Advent is HOPE. It calls us to reflect on the Nativity story and enter in to the promise it provides us. Two thoughts arise that make this theme especially relevant.
The first thought is, if this God of the Universe came to earth and was born in such lowly circumstances, there is hope for us. The Lord showed His tremendous humility and love by how He chose to dwell among us. Because He shared in our common, unattractive circumstances, we get to share in His great glory. (See
Philippians 2:5-11
and
Romans 8:17
) This should encourage us all, knowing that we can joyfully anticipate something better ahead. We have the divine privilege of eagerly awaiting something beyond our wildest imagination. And each of us individually matters. We have tremendous value to the One who created us. He drew close to us personally, physically and at great cost to Himself. Wow!
The second thought is that our challenges today will not keep us in a pit that we can never climb out of. Advent not only holds out promise for eternity, but strength for today. If Jesus could remain obedient to death on a cross, surely we can get through whatever the next crisis the day will bring! He didn't remain in that smelly cave where he was born forever, and we won't remain in this stressful phase forever either.
Because Jesus came, we can lay our requests before God and wait with joyful expectation, and knowing with certainty that He hears us and cares. And focusing your thoughts on that makes Advent a remarkably significant time!
As we move into the first week of Advent we look at the three traditional themes:
We offer you the following Advent devotional video on the theme of Hope:
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Click on video to view: O Come O Come Immanuel
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Pastoral Council Election Begins This Weekend!
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Just a reminder that Pastoral Council Election will begin this Saturday, December 8th. We will send out an electronic ballot on December 8 at 12:01 AM. We will also have
paper ballots available again this year at weekend Masses on December 8, 9, 15 and 16. Election will close on Sunday, December 16 at 11:59 PM. You can vote either electronically or by paper ballot, but you can only vote once!
In the meantime:
Learn about the function of the Pastoral Council,
click here
.
Meet the candidates by reading their bios
here
.
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It's that time of year...
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Pick Up Your Gift Tags This Weekend
Our parish continues its tradition of supporting those in need during the holiday times. We have expanded the organizations we support, in addition to the ones we have supported for many years. We thought we would share a quick overview of how your generosity will be shared.
- My Sister’s Place: Supports homeless and impoverished women and their children in Baltimore City Services. An organization we continue to support through gift cards for food and other needs.
- Loaves and Fishes: Continuing our long tradition, we provide hats, gloves, undergarments, etc. to our street guests.
- Johns Hopkins Children Center: We provide gifts and activities to children who are in the hospital for extended treatments by supporting the Child Life Program—this will be our second year.
- Respect for Life: This will be our first year supporting this ministry at the holiday season. One of the key areas of focus for this ministry is to support expectant mothers referred by the Gabriel Project (our "Angel Moms") with a full complement of moral, faith, and other supports (transportation, clothes, supplies etc) so that they can bring their children into the world. We are presently supporting three Angel Moms, one of whom is expecting twins.
- Loyola Early Learning Center: We will be purchasing books for all the beautiful two and three year old children of the school. This will be our first year.
What to Do:
Please take an ornament from the tree in the narthex or from the gallery table and remember those who are less fortunate when you are doing your Christmas shopping. This year, none of the gifts should be wrapped. Please return all your gifts by Sunday, December 16 and place them under the tree. If you cannot make it to Mass, please feel free to drop them off at the Parish Office, 110 E. Madison Street.
We appreciate the amazing support you continue to provide.
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Donations Needed
On Dec. 16th, PREP Children will wrap PJ's for children of Loyola Early Learning Center and decorate classrooms. Any used holy family figurines/nativity sets, ornaments, lights, wrap, or other decor would be greatly appreciated. Used or unwanted items are more environmentally responsible. Thank you. Leave your donations in the narthex or gallery no later than December 16th before the 10:30 Mass, or drop them off at the parish office during the week.
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Gifts and Sales for the Holidays
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Advent Wreath Candles
Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas. During these four weeks, an Advent Wreath is traditionally used to represent aspects of spiritual preparation leading up to the birth or coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
The wreath, typically a circular garland of evergreen branches, is a symbol of eternity and unending love. Four candles are arranged on the wreath, and one is lit each Sunday and at dinnertime at the family table each night. We are making Advent candles available to you while the supply lasts. You can either get one from an usher at weekend Masses or pick a pack up from the Parish offices. A set of candles is priced at $5.00.
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St. Ignatius Quartet CD
Here's a perfect gift or stocking stuffer - A beautiful CD of our St. Ignatius quartet in an album called "Christ Is Born Today." This favorite presents the anthems and music of Christmas and the Advent Season.
You can pick up a CD either from an usher at weekend Masses or from the Parish offices during the week. The price is $5.00.
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Saturday, December 8 - 1 PM
Adel Reidy Funeral Service
In the Church
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Sunday, December 9 - 9:30 AM
Young Family Ministry: Advent Service Project
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Sunday, December 9 - 2 PM
Ignatian Volunteer Corp Advent Concert
See box below for complete information
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Monday December 10 - 25:30 PM PM
Prayer Walk with Bishop Madden
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Wednesday, December 12 - 7:30 PM
Taizé Advent Prayer Service
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Thursday, December 13 - 6:30 PM
Justice & Peace Committee Meeting
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Saturday, December 15 - 9 AM
Saturday Retreat in Ignatian Spirituality
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Sunday December 16 - 2 PM
Charm City Baroque: Christmas Concert
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Sunday December 16 - 7 PM
Rejoice! A Gaudete Sunday Party
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Wednesday, December 19 - 7:30 PM
Advent Penance Prayer Service
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Sunday, December 23
Confession in the Chapel of Grace
Confessions will be heard in the Chapel of Grace from 4:30 to 5:30
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Monday, December 24
Christmas Eve Mass Schedule
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Tuesday, December 25
Christmas Day Mass Schedule
There will be two Masses on Christmas Day: 8 AM in the Chapel of Grace, and 10:30 in the Church.
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Monday, December 31 - 8 PM
26th Annual New Year's Eve Interfaith Prayer Celebration
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The Ignatian Volunteer Corps of Baltimore
Cordially invites you and your guests to attend their
Sixth Annual Advent Concert.
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Loyola Blakefield Choir
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Concert in the Church at 3 PM
St. Ignatius Church
740 North Calvert Street., Baltimore MD 21202
Join us before the concert in the Chapel of Grace for Sunday Mass at 2 PM,
and join us after the concert for a light reception.
RSVP by December 6.
To RSVP and donate online, visit:
Or call 410-752-4686
This event is free; a free-will offering of $30 is suggested to keep IVC Baltimore growing .
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Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
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POOR BOX
Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause.
This week's support goes to our Loaves & Fishes Ministry.
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MASS MUSIC
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
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PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is
happening with your
brothers and sisters!
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Ikea Insight for Catholics: When Home Doesn't Feel Like Home
With romanticized nostalgia, the holiday troubadours tell us, "There's no place like home for the holidays." With blunt but slick marketing, the international furniture store Ikea tells us, "For a third of us, home doesn't even feel like home anymore."
According to Ikea's surprisingly existential annual Life at Home Report:
- 29 percent of people don't feel at home where they live;
- 45 percent of Americans go to their car – not their home – to have a private moment;
- 53 percent of young families don't get a sense of belonging from their residential space;
- 33 percent of respondents don't feel their residence provides a sense of security;
- The five core needs identified for feeling at home are privacy, security, comfort, ownership and belonging.
And so, as I hold this information, I wonder: What if, instead of Ikea, it said the Catholic Church? What if, instead of a residential space and a sense of belonging, it was the parish church and a sense of belonging? I suspect that it's not just a growing number of Americans who don't feel at home in their home, but a growing number of Catholics who don't feel at home in their church; after all,
we
continue to bleed more adherents annually
than any other Christian denomination. With these results, I also wonder if Ikea should sell some Dante inspired merchandise. A circular "All hope abandon, ye who enter here," door mat seems appropriate.
READ MORE
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Ascension Health commits structural sins of income inequality, capitalist excess
Anthony Tersigni needs to resign. What? Let me explain.
The CEO of Ascension Health and his team are egregiously violating Catholic social teaching, and therefore the Catholic identity of the hospitals they now manage, by paying themselves exorbitant salaries. Instead of seeking to combat the inequality that Pope Francis has called "the root of all social evil," Tersigni and his team have become its avatars.
READ MORE
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“Boy Erased,” Conversion Therapy, and the Catholic Church
Boy Erased
is a film based on the true story of Garrard Conley, as told in his autobiographical book by the same name. In the movie, Conley is portrayed as “Jared” by the brilliant Lucas Hedges, while his mother and father are played by the equally gifted Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.
Jared is a 19-year-old teenage son of a preacher from Arkansas. Early in the movie, he is painfully outed as gay to his parents by another student who had raped him at college. Jared is too ashamed to admit to his parents that he was raped, but feels forced to tell his parents he is gay.
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READER NOTIFICATION:
"Parish: the thought" is a publication of St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Baltimore. Each edition contains articles and news feeds that are included for awareness of current topics in our world today. The positions expressed by outside authors and news feeds are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of St. Ignatius Catholic Community or its staff.
- This e-zine was compiled by John C. Odean
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