February 25, 2020
Carissimi:

Let’s start Lent by meditating on God’s Mercy. This is from Fr. Keenan, SJ’s Commandments of Compassion:

Mercy is an act of rescue. It's being an act is important because our entire tradition always talks of mercy in terms of actions, as either the spiritual or corporal works of mercy. Like clothing the naked or feeding the hungry, mercy entails acts of rescue, whereby one stretches out to those who are struggling to survive.

Understanding mercy as rescue helps us to appreciate the powerful utterances of those with illnesses who cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” They were crying out to Jesus to rescue them from their blindness, from their leprosy, and from their marginalization by the rest of society.

In a similar way, when we cry out in our sinfulness at the beginning of the liturgy, “Lord have mercy,” we are not crying out to Jesus, “Be not severe in your judgment.” Rather we are asking Jesus to rescue us.

We are not saying, “Don’t punish us, even though we are sinners.” We are saying, “Save us because we are sinners.”

….Mercy is the act of God saving us and we are called to imitate God in God’s own act of rescue….It is for this reason that Jesus tells us that at the Last Judgment those who performed the corporal works of mercy will be saved, for by rescuing others we participate in God’s life.
Reflections
How Ash Wednesday Orients Us to the Season of Lent
By Jaime L. Waters
February 20, 2020

On Ash Wednesday, we begin the liturgical season of Lent. During this 40-day period, we prepare ourselves individually and collectively to celebrate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Today’s readings help to orient us to this season.

Why do we begin Lent by wearing ashes? The first reading from Joel offers insights. The prophet describes an event called the Day of the Lord, a day associated with judgment and destruction. To avoid its consequences, Joel tells his community to perform outward expressions of mourning, such as fasting and weeping (Jl 2:12). These actions enable the people to correct their behavior and focus on improving their relationships with God. Wearing ashes, which can be a sign of mourning, unites us as we embark on this solemn period. The ashes remind us to be introspective and to behave in a way that nurtures our relationship with God. As the second reading proclaims, “we are ambassadors for Christ as if God were appealing through us” (2 Cor 5:20). Today we physically show our beliefs with ashes, but our actions throughout the year must be our actual hallmark READ MORE
Lenten Season & Holy Week at St. Ignatius
Lent 2020 will begin tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and ends on Thursday, April 9. This holy season is a special time to grow closer to Christ and to one another.

We invite you to join us each Wednesday in March for Lent: Wednesday Evenings of Reflection from 6 to 7:30 PM.

We will celebrate Mass at 6 PM in the Chapel of St. Peter Claver, then share a simple supper in Ignatian Hall with a brief reflection and discussion to provide spiritual nurture in Ignatian tradition. Mass will be presided over by Fr. Jim and Deacon Andrew.

The evening is co-sponsored by The Justice and Peace and The Hospitality Committees.

We have created a Lenten Portal that will take you to each Wednesday evening’s focus, readings, and questions, which will be part of that week's discussion. You will also be able to RSVP for each session, which will allow us to plan for the necessary printed materials and the food for our simple suppers we will share together. Our hope is that this portal will allow you to prepare yourself before you arrive. If you don't get to the readings...come anyway! To enter the Wednesday Evenings of Ref lection portal, click here .
The following are various Lenten Events and Holy Week Masses happening in and around St. Ignatius Parish.

Wednesday, March 4 –  Lenten Evening of Reflection
Wednesday, March 11 –  Lenten Evening of Reflection
Wednesday, March 18 –  Lenten Evening of Reflection
Wednesday, March 25 –  Lenten Evening of Reflection
Monday, March 30 –   Lenten Penance & Reconciliation
Saturday, April 4 – Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 5 – Palm Sunday
Wednesday, April 8 – Tenebrae Service
Thursday, April 9 – Holy Thursday
Friday, April 10 – Good Friday
Saturday, April 11 – Solemn Easter Vigil Service
Sunday, April 12 – Easter Mass Schedule
Upcoming Events


Tuesday, February 25 (6:45 PM)
Women of the New Testament
For complete information, click here .


Saturday, March 7 (9 AM)
Saturday Retreat in Ignatian Spirituality
For complete information, click here .
Tuesday, March 10 (6:30 PM)
St. Ignatius Reading & Discussion Group
For complete information, click here .
Sunday, March 22 (9:45 AM)
Respect for Life
For complete information, click here .
Worship with Offerings and Liturgy
POOR BOX 
This weekend's Poor Box support goes to support the Loaves & Fishes.
MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
In the Media
Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience on June 5, 2019 at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. (Photo by EIDON/FABIO FRUSTACI/MaxPPP)

Time to Bury the Clergy-Centered Church
Depriving the Christian faithful of their right to Word and Sacraments


by Robert Mickens

What's the greatest threat to the Roman Catholic Church today – a schism? Or the rise in power of fundamentalist clericalists?

José María Castillo, himself a priest, believes it's the latter.

The 90-year-old Spaniard was one of the most influential theologians in Latin America and elsewhere during the first couple of decades following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). His books, published in the dozens, were mandatory reading in many Spanish-speaking seminaries and universities immediately after the Council.Then they weren't.