Parish: 'the thought' - April 24, 2018

April 24, 2018 Edition

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Carissimi:

John O. Brennan, Director of the CIA from 2011-2017, recently responded thus to one of the President’s tweets: “When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history.”

These are strong words from someone who is in a position to know of what he speaks. We take no delight in them. It is a sober business, but for our nation to heal, the truth must come out and those who betray the public trust must be forgiven and held accountable.

In what follows, Fr. Nouwen reminds us that real leaders serve a calling larger than their own advantage and are admired because they don’t need to be. I’m thinking now of some senators from both parties, many civil servants, diplomats, military personnel, first responders, our pope, our own archbishop, and others like them.

There is a lesson here for each of us, for our Church, and for our nation:

There is much emphasis on notoriety and fame in our society. Our newspapers and television keep giving us the message: What counts is to be known, praised, and admired, whether you are a writer, an actor, a musician, or a politician.

Still, real greatness is often hidden, humble, simple, and unobtrusive. It is not easy to trust ourselves and our actions without public affirmation. We must have strong self-confidence combined with deep humility. Some of the greatest works of art and the most important works of peace were created by people who had no need for the limelight. They knew that what they were doing was their call, and they did it with great patience, perseverance, and love.

Reflection on Sunday's Hymn

I cannot remember when hymns were not deeply embedded in my mental framework. I loved the 'songs of God' from my youngest days – long before I actually came to know the one who would become the center and purpose of my life. Listening to, and singing songs about His great love is what, to this day, ushers in an awareness of his presence with me and within me. The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete (the Comforter, Advocate, Helper). The word literally means 'to walk alongside' – and so many times in my life he has done exactly that, often experienced as I hear or sing a song composed by some long-ago saint for whom he'd done that as well.

Have you ever experienced a song playing and suddenly you are whisked off into a moment from your life, perhaps decades prior, when that song seemed to capture and underscore that significant memory? It happened to me during the 10:30 Mass on Sunday as the choir began to gently sing a beautiful rendition (arranged by our own Paul Teie) of the William Bradbury hymn: "Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us." READ MORE

Where Did the 'African-American Jesus' Go?

Editor's Note:

The African-American Jesus on the cross that hung in the choir loft has been returned to Philadelphia from whence it was loaned. It has been replaced in the loft by a blown up photo similar to the picture in the header of this e-zine.The total story is below.

Director of Communications

Lost for years, ‘Christ of North Philadelphia’ returns to Gesu Church

By Lou Baldwin • Posted April 20, 2018

St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in North Philadelphia conducted a rededication Thursday evening, April 19 of a unique tableau sited at a side-altar alcove in the rear of the former Church of the Gesu.

The church of the parish that closed in 1993 is now the chapel for St. Joseph’s Prep and Gesu School, which is now a private Catholic elementary school.

The tableau, titled “Christ of North Philadelphia,” is carved from wood and it is approximately 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. It allegorically depicts a street scene of the neighborhood with its most prominent feature, the crucified Christ, as an African-American man on a cross with the vertical section resembling a telephone pole. READ MORE

DC Detention Network Training Followup

DC Detention Visitation Network Training

On February 24, 2018 the St. Ignatius Justice and Peace Committee hosted a training session for potential new volunteers to learn about the US immigration detention system. About forty people had the opportunity to listen to presenter Erin Hustings, Esq., co-founder of DC Detention Visitation Network. She spoke about how volunteers can be in solidarity with immigrants in uncertain desperation either by making in-person visits or by sending letters to them to lessen their isolation.On any given night, about 1,000 migrants are held in at least five immigration detention facilities in Maryland and Virginia. They have been accused of being determined to be in the US without authorization and detained by US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). READ MORE

From the Office

Annual Parish Count This Weekend

During Masses over the weekend of April 28-29, 2018 you will be asked to assist our Parish in the annual c ount to obtain information about the number of persons who attend Mass at our Parish as well as some general limited data on the cultural and/or ethnic background of your own family members. Please know that providing this information is voluntary and anonymous. The cultural/ethnic information you provide will be used to assist us in making better future pastoral ministry decisions for our church community at the parish and diocesan levels. The data is also used by the Archdiocese in their reports to the Vatican.

For Our Upcoming Angel Mom Baby

Bring Items to Church When You Come to Mass on May 12th or 13th

The Parish Gabriel Network Angel Friend team has a new Mom! Grace is a young woman from Burkina Faso in West Africa expecting her first child, a little boy, in July. She lives in South Baltimore with the baby’s father who is also from the West African nation. The family is poor and somewhat isolated. The Angel Friend team has been providing her with maternity clothes, food, referrals for immigrant and social services and help in connecting with others in the community.

The Respect For Life Ministry is again appealing to the generosity of the parish in helping her with baby items. For list of requested items and drop-off instructions, click here .

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.

To Learn More, click here

MASS MUSIC

Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.

View Music Listing

PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN REPORT

Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is

happening with your

brothers and sisters!

This Week's Prayer Needs

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