Ok, I know I told you that after Christmas you could slack off because you all came through with the elevator and the handicapped access project. Now, just when you think it is safe, it’s time for the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries.
This Appeal is one of the most important ways we have to put the words of the Gospel into action and to live up to our parish’s special commitment to the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginated of our city.
We join our gifts with our sister parishes all through the region to provide an umbrella of care and compassion.
Without the appeal many of our friends and neighbors would lack the spiritual and physical support they need.
Without the appeal many of the elderly in hospitals would go without the spiritual comfort of having a chaplain attend to them.
Without the appeal more than 400 urban students would no longer be able to attend a Catholic School.
Without the appeal more homeless would have no place but the streets…more of the hungry would go without food.
In the bulletin and ezine this week is more on the importance of the Appeal. Most of you have received a mailing from the Archdiocese—and
LARD knows I’ll be preachin’ on it this weekend
.
I know that you will prayerfully consider how you can support the ministries of our parish and of our Church
in Baltimore
.
I know this because of your commitment to our parish and our city.
I know this because of your constant generosity to one another, to me personally, and to the people we accompany and serve.
God Bless us. Every. One.
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A Note From Your Pastor...
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To Change You Have to Feel Both the Push of Discomfort and the Pull of Hope
by Christopher Alt, SJ
It was the first day of the academic year and I was downtown in Chicago, sitting in a social work class. There were about twenty-five students filling the small auditorium style classroom. Waiting. A few moments later, a stately-looking older gentleman walked in and introduced himself as the professor. After a terse jaunt through the syllabus, he looked up from the podium suddenly and posed the question:
Who here believes that a person can change?
Not a peep was uttered. Maybe it was first-day jitters, or as I thought, perhaps, a trick question.
He asked again:
Who here believes that a person can change?
Again, silence.
After a brief pause, the professor chuckled:
You’re social workers; I hope you believe people can change!
READ MORE
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Justice & Peace Follow-up
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St. Ignatius Justice & Peace Committee: Nonviolence Retreat
By:
Toni Moore-Duggan
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This past weekend, to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., more than 30 people braved the threat of ice and snow to attend the Nonviolence Retreat at St. Ignatius Catholic Community. Throughout the course of the day, participants heard from several community members, including Brendan Walsh of Viva House and Ralph Moore of the Peace Camp of St. Frances Academy. Delores Moore presented on the nonviolent efforts of the Ferguson community following the death of Michael Brown, and Len Heckwolf gave a stirring reflection of Dr. King’s
Principles of Nonviolence
. Everyone in attendance took part in silent reflection and meditation. The retreat was woven with prayers and Gospel reflections, and the work was grounded in hearing God’s words rise in each person as they work to dismantle the divisive violence that has plagued human life.
The retreat concluded with a Reconciliation Reflection by Fr. Casciotti and a candlelight service of self-commitment to the
Call to Nonviolence
in each participants individual life, their communities, their relationships, their communications and their actions.
It was a retreat that is necessary to do again and again. We are all called to this important way of proceeding in all we are and all we do. We are called to awaken our sacred conscience to those fleeting moments when we sense discomfort in the face of injustice and do nothing. We must pray without ceasing and ask God’s mercy and Divine intervention in our efforts to dismantle nonviolence and live peace for all humankind and the beautiful universe that is so much a part of us.
In Christ we live, we move and we have our being
.
Emmanuel.
If you weren't able to attend please click
here
to browse resources and outcomes from the Nonviolence Retreat.
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Voter Registration Volunteer Training
By: Anne Lilly
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On Sunday, January 12
th
, the St. Ignatius Justice and Peace Committee hosted nearly 50 prospective voter registration volunteers in Ignatian Hall. Two experienced trainers taught the volunteers how the voter registration application should be filled out, and how to address frequently asked questions about voter registration. There were almost 20 St. Ignatius parishioners in attendance, as well as parishioners from St. Vincent de Paul and St. Francis of Assisi. Volunteers from several local organizations, including the Baltimore Transit Equity Commission, the Franciscan Center, the League of Women Voters, and the Weinberg Housing Resources Center, were also in attendance.
As part of the parish’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, trained volunteers from St. Ignatius started voter registration efforts on January 19
th
. These volunteers tabled before and after Mass, addressing questions and helping people to complete voter registration applications. Our efforts will be ongoing this spring as we continue tabling, and explore other potential venues and collaborations for voter registration. If you would like to be involved in registering parishioners to vote, upcoming dates for tabling are 2/9, 3/22, and 3/29. Please contact Anne Lilly a
t
anne.lilly@gmail.com
for more information.
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Maryland 2020 Legislative Session
St. Ignatius Catholic Church - Respect for Life Committee
(Article 2)
Next weekend, the
Respect for Life Committee
at St. Ignatius Church will be hosting a drive to show our state elected leaders that we as Catholics stand up for and believe that the right to Life is a fundamental human right. We need your help!
In early January, the 2020 Maryland General Assembly convened in Annapolis. Among the bills expected to be considered again this year is one to amend the Maryland constitution to effectively enshrine the so-called “right to abortion” in our state constitution.
Our Catholic faith teaches that every life has value, both born and unborn, and that every human has inherent rights. That is why the
Respect for Life Committee
here at St. Ignatius, together with the Maryland Catholic Conference and other pro-life partners across Maryland, are asking that you please join us in standing up for Life by signing a postcard that will be mailed to your elected state representative.
***After each Mass next weekend (February 8 and 9), volunteers will be at a table outside of Mass with bright pink postcards. The postcard asks your elected state representative to vote NO on any effort to put abortion into the state constitution.
We encourage each of you to please take the time and sign a postcard (including your mailing address, with zip code). These postcards will demonstrate to the elected leaders in Annapolis that there are thousands of constituents across Maryland who stand for Life in a way they cannot ignore.
We at St. Ignatius stand for human rights for all and encourage you to stand with us.
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Black History Month - A Mosaic
Black History Month: a mosaic of our history opened on February 2nd and will be up until March 9th.
This wonderful survey of photos includes a woven design which celebrates accomplishments of African Americans throughout our faith, culture, and political spectrum. Curated by Toni- Moore Duggan, Michael Duggan and David Cunningham.
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Worship with Offerings, Liturgy, and Prayers for Others
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POOR BOX
This weekend's Poor Box support goes to support
Vulnerable Families in Crisis
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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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DAILY EXAMEN
Reflections for your
spiritual growth.
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Come and join the St. Ignatius Young Families on Sunday, February 9, between the 9 AM and 10:30 AM Masses for a fun St. Valentine activity appropriate for young ages. They'll be in Ignatian Hall with snacks and conversation.
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Sunday, February 9 (9:30 AM)
Young Family St. Valentine Event
See box above for complete information
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Tuesday, February 11 (6:30 PM)
St. Ignatius Reading & Discussion Group
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Thursday, February 13 (6:30 PM)
Justice & Peace Committee
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Saturday, February 15 (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM)
LGBTQ+ Writing Workshop
For complete information, see listing in box below.
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Sunday, February 16 (Noon)
Dying to Live: Stories from Refugees on the Road to Freedom
For complete information, see listing below.
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Thursday, February 20 (6:30 PM)
Interfaith Committee
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Sunday, February 23 (6:45 PM)
Respect for Life
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Tuesday, February 25 (6:45 PM)
Women of the New Testament
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Pro-life advocates walk up Constitution Avenue en route to the U.S. Supreme Court during the 47th annual March for Life in Washington on January 24, 2020 (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic).
Not a Trump Rally: Why Catholics March for Life
by Connor Smith, SJ
What does it mean to be Catholic and attend the March for Life? It is not a question many had to ask until recently. The right to life has always been at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). It is integral to what is called the “
Consistent Ethic of Life
,” including the dignity of all humans (babies, immigrants, refugees, the elderly, etc.). Thus, the March has a
strong Catholic history
and Catholics continue to comprise a large portion of the tens of thousands of protesters in Washington and in local marches every year.
But in recent years, Catholics in good conscience have started to question their role in the March. President Trump has been vocal about his support for the pro-life movement, and he addressed the marchers personally at this year’s March. But
many have raised concerns
about his treatment of women and stance on other life issues. Despite what many media outlets are broadcasting, to
equate the March for Life with a Trump rally
would be unfair and inaccurate. Most images from the March show President Trump addressing the crowd while thousands of pro-life advocates watch on jumbotrons, but they didn’t come from across the country to see him. They came to advocate for justice for the unborn.
READ MORE
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by Joseph Riggs
If getting in shape was easy, then everyone would do it. That’s the thing about health. No matter what type you’re talking about—mental, emotional, physical or, yes, spiritual—it takes effort.
For the most part, we know this. Nobody expects to be in six-pack summer shape without a healthy diet and rigorous workout routine. And more and more people are waking up to the fact that getting into a mentally and emotionally healthy place means finding a counselor who has the resources to help you sort through your personal issues. Even solid financial health takes some real work: getting a budget, sorting through your expenses and making some changes.
But for some reason, people forget the importance of work when it comes to spiritual health. There is a popular idea in the American mindset that being spiritually healthy just means doing whatever comes naturally, along with some vaguely good intentions sprinkled on top, as if the key to lowering your cholesterol was just eating whatever you want.
READ MORE
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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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