May 18, 2020
Click on video above: Weekly Update - May 18, 2020
The Governor's Roadmap to Recovery
The Governor's Office of Community Initiatives convened a workgroup of faith-based leaders across the state representing a broad array of faiths and denominations to discuss the Governor's vision for reopening the economy based on the criteria outlined in his plan, "Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery."
The following guidelines are subject to change, pending updated guidance from public health and governmental agencies. This instruction is given to update, clarify, and determine the methods to be observed in the various phases of the resumption of “limited public worship” in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
A Gospel Reflection
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
Editor's Note: Next Sunday's Gospel reading is John 17:11-11 which begins The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus . Here's some background to Jesus' longest recorded prayer in scripture.
John 17 contains the longest recorded prayer of Jesus Christ, which he said right after the Last Supper. Jesus, the Eternal High Priest, is in direct conflict with Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest in the Jerusalem Temple for that year. The Romans had taken over appointing the High Priest from the Jewish Nation, as part of their conquest, and Caiaphas was their puppet priest for the year that Christ died. Today, this would be like the President of Italy yearly appointing a Pope in the Catholic Church. Let’s take a look at these two High Priests, Jesus and Caiaphas, and how they differ.

Before we begin our analysis, let’s see exactly what it says. (Read John Chapter 17 , The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus)

Jesus IS the High Priest Sent by God

We know that Jesus is the High Priest sent by God from several other scripture references. First, in John 6:27 , it says,

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.”   READ MORE
Time to Weigh In...
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From the Pastoral Council...
My name is Ted Engelke, and this is my first year on the pastoral council. I have been a parishioner at St. Ignatius since 2015 when I moved my family here for my work with Diageo (Guinness), from Charleston, South Carolina. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and am a self-admitted beleaguered Browns fan.

I was drawn to the parish because of its Jesuit roots (I have 10 years of Jesuit education between high school, undergrad, and graduate school), progressive attitude, and unpretentious manner. My wife Katherine and I are in our second year teaching the second grade PREP class and treat every moment with our students as a blessing. We have four daughters, Harriett 16, Ouisie (Edith Louise) 14, Kit 12,and Lila 10. The older two were confirmed last year at St. Ignatius. I want to mention that previously in my career I lived in Baltimore with my family for a few years. At that time, we belonged to another parish in the area that, somehow, we found unfulfilling. We could never put our finger on what was missing and hung in there, just chalking it up to “this is how today’s Catholic Church must feel.” Having moved away for a few years to South Carolina and then back to the region, it felt like a repêchage, a real second chance. After some looking around, we discovered St. Ignatius. We talked to a few friends and attended a mass, and that was it, we knew right away this was the place for us. A sense of community that felt organic and rock solid, no one was trying too hard, just authentic people being authentically Catholic. Quickly we started seeing some familiar faces of folks we didn’t know were parishioners and our sense of belonging grew and grew.

My hope is to bring a balanced point of view that draws from several years living overseas in Nigeria and the U.K., my passion for Jesuit introspect, and my newfound love for this great American city with so much upside. Please know you will always find me w ith an open heart and open mind, to new ideas, challenges, and advice.
Parishioner Insights...
I have missed my routine since this whole weird thing started.  
I had no idea how much I appreciated St. Ignatius Church until I spent a couple hours preparing music for Holy Week services in the empty sanctuary in late March. It made me realize that all the things I was missing were things I took for granted while I had them. The clergy and good people of St. Ignatius are at the top of that list. How many hundreds of times have I climbed those stairs at the back of the narthex in the nearly 40 years it has been my privilege to serve the music ministry of St. Ignatius? 

During my enforced leisure I have had the opportunity to listen to a lot of wonderful music.  I’ve decided to pass on to you just a few of the gems I have discovered or re-discovered in the last weeks. Over the next few pages you’ll find a few jotted down notes from me about each song. To listen to the songs, just click on the appropriate link.
The crooners are to be expected, I guess. I have learned from all of them. But there might be a couple of surprises. I adhere to Duke Ellington’s motto: “If it sounds good, it is good.” There’s not a downer in the bunch, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. – Enjoy! Continue to Playlist
"That they all may be one"....
UK Churches sing ‘The Blessing’ over the UK
Click video above for: Churches sing ‘The Blessing’ over the UK
At this unique and challenging time over 65 churches and movements in the UK, representing hundreds of others, have come together online to sing a blessing over their land. Standing together as one, their desire is that this song will fill people with hope and encouragement.

But the church is not simply singing a blessing. Each day they've been looking to practically be a blessing. Many of the churches included in this song have assisted with supplying over 400,000 meals to the most vulnerable and isolated in the UK since the COVID-19 lockdown began. This alongside phone calls to the isolated, pharmacy delivery drops and hot meals to the NHS frontline hospital staff.

As they say: "Our buildings may be closed but the Church is very much alive!"
Again this weekend...Let's help Our Daily Bread feed our neighbors in need!
This Saturday!
As we told you last week, during the past to Mac & Cheese collections we have
delivered 162 casseroles to Our Daily Bread. That means which 1296 meals have been provided to those neighbors in need. How terrific! And here we go again. Our next collection is this Saturday, May 23rd from 9-10 AM. Please bring your casseroles outside the church. Just pull up and you'll be greeted by Helen and Len Heckwolf, Deacon Andrew, and Fr. Casciotti, all smiling behind their masks as they greet you!

Thanks for your great generosity!
Virtual Prayer with Fellow Parishioners
We have a new link to rosary video chats! We will still be saying them following online mass at 9:30 AM every Sunday until quarantine is over.

Please join by following this  link  or copy and past the url below into your search bar. You can also go to Zoom and use Meeting ID: 932 6804 4973 (Password: 622113).

We look forward to praying with you!


Thanks,
Worship, Offerings and Prayer
HOW TO GIVE   
How to contribute when we are not gathering together during this season.
POOR BOX 
This weekend's Poor Box support goes to help Vulnerable Families in Crisis
PRAY FOR THE SICK
A list of those who have been added to our
weekly prayer list.
In the Media
Supporters of the Georgia NAACP in Brunswick, Georgia, wear protective masks May 8 during a protest about the February murder of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed young black man shot after being chased by a white former law enforcement officer and his son. (CNS/Reuters/Dustin Chambers)
Naming the Dehumanizing Agenda of Some Christians


It's worth remembering that the Gospels consistently portray Jesus Christ reserving his harshest criticism and condemnation for religious hypocrites. Those who say one thing yet do another, particularly under the cover of religious beliefs or the guise of moral superiority, enraged Jesus and triggered a divine righteous anger that was not shown even to thieves and adulterers.

Given the current state of the behaviors, beliefs and policies of many self-identified Christians today, I believe we need more of the righteous anger that Jesus modeled. The challenge is for Christians to take seriously the name we dare to appropriate for ourselves, claiming by our religious affiliation the status of a follower of Jesus Christ.

Addressing religious hypocrisy begins with self-examination to be sure, but it can't stop there. We have to hold one another accountable, and perhaps the greatest transgression that has gone largely unchecked today is the widespread dehumanization of particular groups of people. Often these groups are already vulnerable or minoritized communities, made more susceptible to violence or subjugation by the rhetoric and agendas of self-styled Christians who appear to see no apparent contradiction in their claim to follow Christ and the way they express their views and live out their lives. READ MORE