April 30, 2019
Carissimi:
This Sunday at the 10:30 Mass, Ivy Dziedzic, Kipling Dziedzic, Patrick Evermann, Jude Hopkins, Brian Mills, Nadia Mishra, Annie Molino, Daniel O’Doherty, Alice Oliver, Charles Oliver, August Sappington, Magda Steinbacher, and Mae Stevens will receive Holy Communion for the first time.

Their parents and our wonderful catechists, Ted and, Katherine Engelke, have lovingly prepared them for this step in their journey of faith, this step in their pilgrimage of life.

Children are a blessing for our parish. They bring out the best in us. Children engage us in handing on faith and protecting and nourishing life and all that is humane .

I see this in the way we welcome young parents and their toddlers, even with the occasional melt-down. I see our elders funding education for disadvantaged kids of all kinds. I see heaps of school supplies collected. I see people who advocate for the end of child hunger, for immigration reform that protects children. I see Fr. Watters, aided by the expertise and generosity of so many parishioners, planning to expand the Early Learning Center to include more grades.

Let us continue to deepen our own love for the Eucharist. Let us commit ourselves to be examples of faith and compassion to inspire the children of our parish and all those given into our care.

God bless us. Every One.

On another note...
Revised Mass Schedule

As you know, in early April we finished a parish survey on our Mass schedule. We need to make some changes because of the number and the age of your clergy. When I came here four years ago, there were four priests fully engaged in the parish and one or two who could fill in on occasion. Now there is Fr. Watters, age 85, Deacon Weber, age 80, and me, age 71. Several other Jesuits are able to assist only on occasion.

Last year I was away from the parish only two weekends. Fr. Watters—that slacker—was away one weekend. This is neither healthy nor sustainable.

After consulting with the Pastoral Council, I have decided to discontinue the Saturday 12:10 Mass and the Sunday 8:00 Mass and to move the Sunday 6:00 PM Mass to 5:00 PM, effective 18 May.

Why the 12:10? Having one Mass at 4:30 on Saturday allows those who wish to attend Mass daily to do so and still gives us the “bandwidth” for the Saturday celebration of weddings, baptisms, and funerals. The monthly communal anointing of the sick can take place at the 4:30 Mass.

Why the 8:00? It is the least attended and its suppression inconveniences the least number of people in the least disruptive way. It is the same length and style as the 4:30. There is another Mass at 9:00 on Sunday.

Why move the 6:00 to 5:00? We hope the change will encourage more parishioners to attend fellowship after the Mass and get to know one another.

Our whole lives are marked by change and transitions from one stage of life to another. Happily, we have one another and all those who have gone before us to see us through.

Much affection,

Fr. Jim
A great way to help transform our community...
this Saturday!
FLO's 3rd Annual
Pre-Mother's Day Brunch

Here's a phenomenal outreach opportunity. This Saturday we are partnering with FLO ( Friendly Loving Opportunities), an organization that provides food, clothing, and supplies for people experiencing hardship. Through its weekly outreach and planned special events, FLO works to inspire men, women and children in need. FLO strives to instill hope and help those in need of transformation in their lives.

FLO and St. Ignatius Church will be partnering with the Baltimore City Police Department, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Chase Brexton, Maryland Public Defender, United Way of Central Maryland and a host of several businesses, agencies and organizations to put on the 3rd Annual Pre-Mother's Day Brunch at St. Ignatius Church from 11 AM to 2:30 PM on Saturday, May 4. During this time the intent is to connect the most vulnerable mothers (or mother figures) in our community living in shelters, public housing, recovery centers, and the streets to vital resources at our one-stop shop event. FLO connects the participants to services that include medical, dental, HIV screening, employment assistance and so much more.

During this 'brunch' we will be able to mobilize city, community agencies, as well as many of our volunteers, in order to ensure that our participants receive holistic care in a dignified setting by inspiring, instilling hope and letting the women know they are appreciated and recognized. Just thought you'd like to know how are Parish is helping. To view the event flyer, click here .
This Sunday after the 10:30 Mass...
Please join us to hear Jaqueline Sofia speak about her experiences at the Jerash Gaza Refugee Camp and helping to build Sitti Soap as an enterprise committed to educating, employing, and empowering women and girls. For complete information, click here .
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, April 30 - 5:30 PM
Bishop Madden's Prayer Walk for Peace in the City
Click here for complete information.

Saturday, May 4 - 10:30 AM - Noon
Young Family Outing at Sherwood Gardens
Click here for complete information.


Saturday, May 4 - 11 AM
Flo's 3rd Annual Pre-Mother's Day Brunch
See box above for complete information.
Sunday, May 5 - after 10:30 AM Mass
Speaker - Jaqueline Sofia on Jerash Refugee Camp
See box above for complete information.



Thursday, May 9 - 6:30 PM
Justice & Peace Committee Meeting
Click here for complete information.
Saturday, May 11 - 9 AM
Saturday Retreat in Ignatian Spirituality
Click here for complete information.




Tuesday, May 14 - 6:30 PM
St. Ignatius Reading and Discussion Group
Click here for complete information.

Saturday, May 18 - 1 PM
Embracing God's Gifts Writing Workshop
Click here for complete information.




Tuesday, May 21 - 6:45 PM
Women of the New Testament
Click here for complete information.



Sunday, May 26 - 9:45 AM
Respect for Life
Click here for complete information.
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
This week's Poor Box support goes to support our
Loaves & Fishes ministry.

MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
 
PRAYERS OF PETITION
Attached are the Prayers of
Petition for this week.

In the Media
One Extraordinary Man, One Extraordinary Life: Hesburgh

Amidst some of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history, one unlikely figure finds himself in the eye of the storm as he works to advance the causes of peace and equal rights for all people. He is Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C, long-time president of the University of Notre Dame.

Hesburgh offers a unique glimpse at more than fifty years of American history. Educator, civil rights champion, advisor to presidents, envoy to popes, theologian and activist, Hesburgh was called on by countless world leaders to tackle the most challenging issues of the day. He built a reputation as a savvy political operator with a penchant for bridging the divide between bitter enemies. Through it all, he remained a man armed with a fierce intelligence, a quick wit and an unyielding moral compass -- a timeless example of bipartisan leadership that would serve us in today’s increasingly polarized times. To learn more or to purchase tickets, click here .
The West’s Debt to Notre Dame
The shock was palpable; the grief was profound; the  sense of loss , universal. In the way few other tragedies have done, the fire that consumed part of Notre-Dame de Paris last Monday evening stunned the world into a state of  collective introspection . The fire in the cathedral drove home the impermanence of things and the fragility of even humanity’s finest achievements.

Commentators noted the cathedral’s polyvalent symbolism as church, national monument, theater of French history and architectural and artistic masterpiece. Much of the commentary focused on its place as a treasury of civilization.

In  The New York Times , Stephen Erlanger wrote, “France, a fundamentally Roman Catholic country whose citizens rarely attend Mass, understands the story and the meaning of Easter.” READ MORE