November 13, 2018
The Highest Honor

Carissimi,
Here are a few quotes from the 28 June homily of Pope Francis during the Mass at which he created 14 new cardinals. He reminds us all what it means to be a disciple, regardless of whatever office or ministry one exercises in the Church!

“Whoever would be first among you must be the servant of all” ( Mk  10:43.44). This is …the Lord’s invitation not to forget that the Church’s authority grows with this ability to defend the dignity of others, to anoint them and to heal their wounds and their frequently dashed hopes. It means remembering that we are here because we have been asked “to preach good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” ( Lk  4:18-19) .

…Dear brother Cardinals and new Cardinals!...the only credible form of authority is born of sitting at the feet of others in order to serve Christ. It is the authority that comes from never forgetting that Jesus, before bowing his head on the cross, did not hesitate to bow down and wash the feet of the disciples. This is the highest honor that we can receive, the greatest promotion that can be awarded us: to serve Christ in God’s faithful people. In those who are hungry, neglected, imprisoned, sick, suffering, addicted to drugs, cast aside. In real people, each with his or her own life story and experiences, hopes and disappointments, hurts and wounds. Only in this way, can the authority of the Shepherd have the flavor of Gospel and not appear as “a noisy gong or a clanging symbol” ( 1 Cor  13:1). None of us must feel “superior” to anyone. None of us should look down at others from above. The only time we can look at a person in this way is when we are helping them to stand up.
This Week In Baltimore
Members of the St. Ignatius Women of the New Testament ministry at the USCCB conference in Baltimore yesterday.

Women at Bishops' Meeting

By Anne Haddad

Members of the Women of the New Testament (WNT) ministry at St. Ignatius have been keeping vigil and participating in events surrounding the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) annual meeting in Baltimore Nov. 12-14. In addition to obtaining press credentials for one member, the WNT have been approaching individual bishops to urge them to support reform that includes:

  • A scholarly review of the possibility of women deacons
  • A thorough study of the reasons given by the Church to exclude women from ordination
  • Coeducational programs to form lay leaders and clergy for collaborative ministry
  • Non-doctrinal changes such as permitting marriage for priests, including lay men and women as cardinal electors
  • Including qualified men and women, lay and religious, as full voting members in synods and other deliberative bodies in the Catholic Church

WNT members also joined local members of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in a demonstration and vigil outside the meeting at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel on Monday, the first day of the meeting.

The day before, WNT members participated in a rosary walk with men and women who came to Baltimore from parishes in the Washington, DC, area. The group of about 40 walked from St. Vincent de Paul Church to the Basilica of the Assumption, where they read aloud the 5theses drafted by the Washington-area Catholics, then respectfully posted them with painter's tape on the door. ( See Photos ) The group had contacted the Basilica earlier in the week, and the staff and priests welcomed them when they arrived.

The 5theses are similar to reform measures that the WNT have urged the bishops to undertake, and delineated in a letter shared with the parish.
NOTE: Anyone may watch public sessions of the USCCB meeting via livestream on the conference website. Also, five bishops will host Facebook Live events at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tuesday event will include Bishop Adam Parker of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Watch them at www.Facebook.com/usccb/
A Prayer Vigil to Demonstrate Solidarity
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16TH, 2018
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM 
at the ICE Baltimore Office
31 Hopkins Plaza

“Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and men who leave or are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more.”
Pope Francis (Message for the 2014 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 24, 2013)

Join parishioners of St. Ignatius (Baltimore) and Holy Trinity (Washington) for a prayer vigil to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters seeking asylum from unimaginable situations. Led by laity from both parishes, the vigil will raise Catholic voices on behalf of some of our most vulnerable men, women, children and families. Raise your voice in prayer with us – a prayer that reminds us all lives are worthy of dignity.

For Details & to RSVP:  immigration@st-ignatius.net (Baltimore)
mjlegowski@gmail.com (Washington)
Bring Your Collected Groceries This Weekend
When doing your Thanksgiving grocery shopping, please remember those who are less fortunate so they can be thankful too. Once again this year at Thanksgiving time we will be collecting groceries for the neighbors of Viva House, the Catholic Worker community in southwest Baltimore. Each month Viva House distributes bags of groceries to those in need; three times each year the community of St. Ignatius supports them in this good work. You can collect the groceries on the attached list and bring them when you come to Mass this weekend.
Young Adult Ministry - Advent Sharing Groups
Hey Young Adults!

It's time to sign up for Advent faith sharing groups! Groups will meet during the weeks of December 2nd through December 17th. We'll focus our reflection on the weekly readings, using  Sacred Reading for Advent and Christmas 2018-2019  as our guide. Please obtain a copy of this reflection book if you plan on joining a group. Registration closes November 19th, so  sign up on this form  today!

For those who aren't familiar with our faith sharing groups, they are an opportunity to pray and reflect in community with other young adults. Groups meet in young adults' homes throughout the city on various days of the week. They are a wonderful chance to get to know other young adults and to be intentional about our preparation for Christmas. 

This Sunday...
An Afternoon with VentoArchi Trio
For the first time at St. Ignatius Church we present the VentoArchi Trio on Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 PM. Their members have been active musicians in the DELMARVA area for the past several years. For your pleasure, the group has been formed earlier this year in order to explore the repertoire for this ensemble

The recital is free of charge, but we suggest a donation of $20. For complete Information, click here .
Upcoming Events and Meetings
Iñigo Book Group
Tuesday, November 13 - 6:30 PM
Click here for complete information

Respect for Life Ministry Meeting
Sunday, November 18 - 9:45 AM
Click here for complete information


VentoArchi Trio
Sunday, November 18 - 2:30 PM
See boxabove for complete information


Women of the New Testament
Tuesday, November 20 - 6:45 PM
Click here for complete information


Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 22 - Mass at 9 AM
(office closed both Thursday & Friday)

Embracing God's Gifts
Tuesday, November 27 - 7 PM
Click here for complete information



Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. This week's support goes to the Ignatian Spirituality Project .

MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass. 
 
PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN REPORT
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is
happening with your
brothers and sisters! 


In the Media
Bishops attend morning prayer Nov. 12 during the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS/Bob Roller)

Bishops' Meeting Bombshell: Vatican Says No Voting on Abuse Crisis

The plenary meeting of the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops opened with a bombshell. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the conference, announced that the Holy See had insisted the U.S. bishops not vote on any concrete action items regarding the clergy sex abuse crisis, pending the February meeting of the presidents of all episcopal conferences that Pope Francis has announced. DiNardo said he only learned last night of the Vatican's decision.

Immediately, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich jumped to the microphone and suggested the bishops continue their discussion as planned, so as to advise DiNardo in advance of the February meeting. He also urged that the bishops move up their June meeting to March, so that they can move promptly on the decisions reached in Rome at the February meeting. READ MORE
Baltimore Archbishop Outlines Path Toward Reform and Renewal in the Catholic Church

As is customary this time of year, Baltimore is again hosting the nation’s Catholic bishops, who are convening here in America’s first Roman Catholic diocese for extensive discussions about the relevance and impact of Catholic faith in American society. This year in particular, because of the severe crisis confronting the church, the agenda, deliberations and outcomes of our meeting are rightly under intense scrutiny. READ MORE
Open Letter to US Catholic Bishops: "It's over"

Dear brothers in Christ, shepherds, fellow pilgrims,

We address you as you approach this year's  national meeting  in Baltimore because we know there is nowhere left to hide.

It's over.