Carissimi,
This week and the two following, I will be sharing with you 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.
The Field Hospital:
The first foundation is the assertion that not only the activity, but the very nature of the church involves at its heart pastoral action to heal the hearts of men and women who are suffering. Pope Francis outlined this ecclesiological assertion in his beautiful description of the church itself as a field hospital:
…“This is the mission of the church: the church heals, it cures….the mission of the church is to heal wounds of the heart, to open doors, to free people, to say that God is good, God forgives all, God is the father.”
…the image of the church as a field hospital stands as a powerful testimony to the nature and role of the community of faith in the world. It speaks to the centrality of God’s action in the life of the church, an action which begins as Jesus did, by healing women and men in their brokenness, thus opening them up to receiving the grace of God in their hearts even as that grace is made manifest.
The image of the church as a field hospital points to the reality that the church is never remote from the human experience, never self-referential if it is to be faithful to its mission.
Rather the church must always be enmeshed in the real lives and sufferings and challenges and joys of the people of God and the whole of humanity…
The image of the field hospital emphasizes the explicitly pastoral identity of the church…reaching into the lives of men and women precisely in their greatest suffering to reveal the multiple dimensions of the saving love that comes from God.
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Meet Your Pastoral Council Nominees
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The Nominating Committee of the St. Ignatius Pastoral Council is pleased to present the 2018 slate of candidates for the upcoming election:
- Len Heckwolf
- Joe Hillery
- Barbara Lazzati
To learn about the function of the Pastoral Council,
click here
.
Elections will begin on Saturday, December 8 and close on Sunday, December 16. We will have paper ballots available again this year at weekend Masses on December 8, 9, 15 and 16.
We do however encourage on-line voting
. Of the three listed candidates you will be able to vote for two. We will send the electronic ballot and easy voting instructions on December 8 at 12:01 AM. For now, 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 tow 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 to the Parish Office.
We appreciate the amazing support you continue to provide.
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Sometimes you just feel like dancin'!
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It's "Christmas Commercial" Time
Some are just designed to tug at the heart strings, and this one does just that.
Bouygues Telecom
unveils the 2018 Christmas advert featuring an emotional father-son story. With the spot, Bouygues aims to highlight how the smartphone isn't just a piece of technology but rather a tool which captures stories and connects generations. Whatever...it just makes the heart smile.
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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, recorded several years ago, 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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Tuesday, November 27 - 7 PM
Embracing God's Gifts
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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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Wednesday, December 12 - 6:30 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 PM
Advent Penance Prayer Service
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Sunday, December 23 - 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Confession in the Chapel of Grace
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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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Loyola University MD
presents
GUN VIOLENCE:
HONORING LIVES SACRIFICED
Loyola University Maryland
November 28, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Maryland Hall 241
Ann Costlow
Fr. Timothy Brown, S.J.
Offered through Loyola University’s
Office of Mission Integration
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Join us for a moving presentation honoring the victims of Gun Violence over the last decade and a discussion on what we can do.
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The Women of the New Testament (WNT) ministry encourages parishioners to attend the workshop and seminar “Voices of Women in the Church: Time to Listen…Time to Act,” presented by
Call to Action Maryland
, one of the groups with whom WNT partnered in “keeping watch” during the US Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting earlier this month. The event will be held at St. Matthew Church,
Saturday, December 1, from 9 AM to 3:30 PM
. Lunch will be served and free will offerings graciously accepted.
READ MORE
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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
Vulnerable Families in Need
collection.
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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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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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