August 21, 2018
Two Facilitated Conversations on the Current Crisis to be Held at St. Ignatius Next Week


Carissimi:
Following the release of the grand jury report on sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Pennsylvania, we sent out Archbishop Lori's video statement to those on our email list. For those who were unable to attend Mass on Sunday, we wanted to also include Fr. Jim's homily regarding this issue (See video below) and a text copy of Fr. Watters' weekend homily . We have also chosen some articles in this edition of Parish: 'the thought'' that we think are pertinent.

Finally, I write to invite you to a facilitated conversation about the current crisis of confidence in our leaders. One will be held in Ignatian Hall on Tuesday August 28th at 6:00 PM and another on Wednesday the 29th in the Ignatian Hall at 8:00 PM.

This past weekend, Fr. Watters and I preached on the latest revelations about the sexual abuse of minors that has devastated so many lives and left so many Catholics sad, betrayed and angry. As I said, anger is justified, but how can it be channeled to bring structural change?

We currently don’t have specific answers but answers will emerge, and the first step is to listen with respect and compassion to what our people are thinking and feeling. We need to understand the causes of sexual abuse by clergy, what failed to protect children in the past, what progress has been made, and what more needs to be done.

As it is now clear, and as the Archbishop has stated, there must be accountability and transparency for all, including bishops. There must be independent oversight structures, checks and balances, and—as Pope Francis constantly says—a reform of clericalism.

Mrs. Madeline Lacovara, who helped us deal with the Netflix series, The Keepers , will facilitate this 1st step.

We are also considering a healing service or Mass in October that will be based on our conversations.

Our prayer and conversation must lead to action. It will be our task as a parish community to discern what actions are needed in the light of the measures the U.S. bishops and the Holy See actually implement. 

As ever,
Video: Homily - 10:30 Mass - August 19, 2018
Dear Cardinal DiNardo & USCCB: Do the Right Things, and We Will Have Your Backs

United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington DC 20017
202-541-3000 @USCCB

Dear Cardinal DiNardo and US Bishops, 

Thank you for your  recently-released statement  addressing the revelations concerning both Archbishop Theodore McCarrick and the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. 

Many American Catholics are grateful to read that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is committed to investigating, reporting on, and resolving questions and circumstances surrounding both issues. We ask that you please shine a hard light on the matter of Archbishop McCarrick. A truly objective, thorough, and forensic examination of his story is essential, and as you “develop a concrete plan for accomplishing these goals” in time for your November meeting, we will pray that the Holy Spirit guides you into wise discernment and courageous action, that you may truly begin to address the cesspit in which our Church seems mired. 

From where we layfolk are sitting, here is what we see: Theodore McCarrick’s entire clerical career was fraught with dishonesty, psycho-sexual misconduct, human objectification and abuses against the bodies, minds, and spirits of young Catholics, in particular seminarians — young men who began their studies in faith and hope only to find themselves preyed upon, abused, and threatened with social exclusion or fraternal isolation when resistant. There is now also a credible accusation of what would be criminal abuse. Through it all, McCarrick rose through the ranks of the church with the support of influential churchmen, until becoming himself (and remaining) a key influencer in the Church. We need to know: How did that happen?  READ MORE

August 20, 2018

“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.

1. If one member suffers…
In recent days, a report was made public which detailed the experiences of at least a thousand survivors, victims of sexual abuse, the abuse of power and of conscience at the hands of priests over a period of approximately seventy years. Even though it can be said that most of these cases belong to the past, nonetheless as time goes on we have come to know the pain of many of the victims. We have realized that these wounds never disappear and that they require us forcefully to condemn these atrocities and join forces in uprooting this culture of death; these wounds never go away. The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced. But their outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it, or sought even to resolve it by decisions that increased its gravity by falling into complicity. The Lord heard that cry and once again showed us on which side he stands. Mary’s song is not mistaken and continues quietly to echo throughout history. For the Lord remembers the promise he made to our fathers: “he has scattered the proud in their conceit; he has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Lk 1:51-53). We feel shame when we realize that our style of life has denied, and continues to deny, the words we recite . READ MORE
The Virtues of Catholic Anger:
In the face of the Pennsylvania Abuse Scandal, Christians Should Use Their Rage to Combat Evil Within the Church.

Aug. 15, 2018

Every American Catholic I know is angry — with good reason. The recent release of a grand jury investigation into 70 years of sexual abuse by priests in Pennsylvania is appalling in its breadth and detail.

One priest had his victim wash his mouth out with holy water after being forced to perform a sex act on the priest. Another arranged an abortion for a minor he impregnated. Compounding these appalling crimes were years of documented cover-ups by church officials.

That most of these stories are decades old does not diminish the abject horror among Catholics today who read them today.

These disgusting reports come on the heels of revelations that one of the church’s most powerful clerics, Theodore E. McCarrick, for many years the archbishop of Washington, D.C., was accused of multiple incidents of harassing seminarians and young priests and of the sexual abuse of a minor. READ MORE

A Continuation of the Series...
Reclaiming Jesus Part II:
" One Body in Christ"

Carissimi, 

Last Spring, a group of 23 senior pastors published a document entitled “Reclaiming Jesus” to address the crisis of moral and political leadership that continues to polarize our nation. They began with two questions: “ Who is Jesus Christ for us today? What does our loyalty to Christ, as disciples, require at this moment in our history?”

Then they present six affirmations of faith and, after each one, what they reject “in the practices and policies by political leaders which dangerously corrode the soul of the nation and deeply threaten the public integrity of our faith.” Here is the 2 nd one:

II. WE BELIEVE  we are one body. In Christ, there is to be no oppression based on race, gender, identity, or class. The body of Christ, where those great human divisions are to be overcome, is meant to be an example for the rest of society. When we fail to overcome these oppressive obstacles, and even perpetuate them, we have failed in our vocation to the world—to proclaim and live the reconciling gospel of Christ.

THEREFORE, WE REJECT  misogyny, the mistreatment, violent abuse, sexual harassment, and assault of women that has been further revealed in our culture and politics, including our churches, and the oppression of any other child of God. We lament when such practices seem publicly ignored, and thus privately condoned, by those in high positions of leadership. We stand for the respect, protection, and affirmation of women in our families, communities, workplaces, politics, and churches. We support the courageous truth-telling voices of women, who have helped the nation recognize these abuses. We confess sexism as a sin, requiring our repentance and resistance.
Ok...here's a good one!
Two Different Tables

A man was invited to visit both Heaven and Hell...
First he went to Hell...
In Hell he found all the tormented souls were sitting at tables laden with the food, yet they were starving and howling with hunger. Each soul had a spoon, but the spoons were so long that they couldn’t get them into their mouths. Their frustration was their torment. 
He then went to Heaven...
To his amazement, in Heaven the man found the souls of the blessed sitting at similar tables laden with food, but they were all fed and contented. Each had a spoon and the spoons were just as long as the spoons in hell. But they were able to eat all they needed because they were feeding each other.

- Pretty good, huh?

Our Annual School Supply Drive  
For a number of years, our parish has generously supported SS. James & John, the Queen of Peace Cluster School on Somerset Street which educates approximately 230 students from pre-K to eighth grade. The children who attend this school are from families of limited means, and after they pay tuition and purchase uniforms, there is little left to buy the necessary school supplies. We can help. Listed below are the items each student needs. If you are able to assist, please fill a bag (or, better still, a child’s backpack) with the items on the attached list and return it to the church by Sunday, September 2. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.

To download this year's school supply shopping list, 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 support the
CRS 75,000 Meal Challenge.

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! 


Upcoming Events and Meetings
Bishop Madden's Prayer Walk for Peace in the City
Wednesday , August 22 - 5:30 PM
Click here for complete information

Embracing God's Gifts
Tuesday, August 28 - 7 PM
Click here for complete information
Upcoming Growth Opportunity
Curious About the Spiritual Exercises & Ignatian Prayer?

Loyola University's Office of Mission Integration is happy to offer the Baltimore community the opportunity to pray the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola beginning this Fall. 

Our approach will be one that Ignatius himself proposed for busy people - a way to make a prayerful and potentially transformative retreat in everyday life. 

Over the course of nine months of daily prayer with Scripture, journaling and regular conversation with a guide, one can experience the same graced movements and discoveries that a privileged few get to make in 30 days of secluded silence. 

This long retreat is undeniably a commitment of time and resolve -one that may or may not be right for everyone or perhaps not right at this time. Fortunately Ignatius offers many other practical tools for spiritual growth that we can all enjoy. Loyola University will offer these as well -including weekend Ignatian retreats, 4-week Advent and Lenten retreats, evenings of prayer, spiritual reading groups and lectures. 

If you'd like to learn more about the Spiritual Exercises and lgnatian spirituality­ and how YOU might experience them, please join us: 

Wednesday September 5 (7 - 8:30 PM)
Loyola University 
Alumni Memorial Chapel  

For more information, contact:  LUMspiritualexercises@gmail.com