As promised, here is a link to all the reflections submitted so far on the parish, the archdiocese, and the Universal Church in preparation for the 2023 Synod.

There will be two opportunities to attend a zoom meeting for those who have responded. The primary focus will be on what we have heard about the parish. Where are we doing well? What is lacking or can be improved?

One will be on Tuesday 22 Feb. from 6:30 to 8:00. The other will be on Monday 28 Feb. from 6:30 to 8:00.

*** If you haven’t yet responded, there is still time. You can

click here to share your reflections.

The zoom invitations will go out in mid-February.

As ever,

Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right? Well, maybe not.

The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn't romantic at all -- at least not in the traditional sense. Father Frank O'Gara of Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin, Ireland, tells the real story of the man behind the holiday -- St. Valentine.

"He was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudias who persecuted the church at that particular time," Father O'Gara explains. " He also had an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died." READ MORE

Editor's Note: Next weekend’s Gospel reading is Luke 6:27-38 – that remarkable passage where Jesus tells us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” Easy, huh?

Below is an article by Rev. Elizabeth Jones from St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Morton Grove, Illinois in which she tackles this passage. Enjoy!

Throughout history, we can trace many battles between enemies. I don’t mean outright war, like between armies with guns and tanks and bombs, but enemies, nevertheless. Serious sports rivalries can turn ugly, like soccer hooligans causing fistfights and even rioting. Factions and strife in a town can cause a cohesive neighborhood to break up. And in recent times, political differences can cause serious rifts between former friends. Deep tension even makes family members stop speaking to each other, sometimes for years.

What is this corrosive feeling between enemies? Some say envy, others say fear, others say hatred, plain and simple. Which brings us to the Gospel. What does Jesus say about enemies? READ MORE

We invite young adults to join us on a Lenten journey through Pope Francis’s Fratelli Tutti as we explore the ways in which we are all one human family — and what that means for our daily lives. We will meet each Wednesday of Lent, March 9 - April 13, from 6:30-8:00pm, in person or virtual as COVID requires. Please sign up by Ash Wednesday, March 2 on this form, and contact Macy Early at [email protected] with any questions.

From The Environmental Justice Subcommittee

The Environmental Justice Subcommittee invites parishioners to participate in a pruning project of trees planted by Blue Water Baltimore, an environmental non-profit. The project will take place on February 19, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the median of the 1.2 mile stretch of US40, which was built in the 1970's through West Baltimore, now known as the Highway to Nowhere. When built, the highway separated a very vibrant neighborhood at the time. Blue Water Baltimore has planted nearly 500 trees in an .8 mile of the stretch. Planting trees has many benefits: An urban forest improves air quality by absorbing CO2 and protects human health, combats "heat islands", keeps communities cooler, supports native wildlife, reduces energy bills, increases property value and beautifies our communities.   No experience is necessary as you will be working with Individuals who are trained to prune trees and tools are provided. But dress warm as you are outside.  For more information and to sign up please go to this link: https://bluewaterbaltimore.org/event/2-19-22-weekend-tree-pruning-party/  When you sign up, please let me know at [email protected]

If you are able to, please consider making a donation. You can click here to access a donation form. This link also has a list of needed items. If you prefer to make a cash donation so that volunteers can purchase new items to respectfully furnish an apartment for a new American family, you can do that it one of two ways. 

We are accepting donations until February 28th. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Come join Bishop Lewandowski, St. Ignatius, the Racial Justice Circle and the Pastorate of St. Ann, St. Francis Xavier and St. Wenceslaus on Sunday February 27 from 2 PM – 4 PM as we journey together on a Virtual Pilgrimage of Mother Mary Lange. It is a time to pray and to ask for your particular grace as we come before God in this Sacred Space of life, trials and triumphs of Mother Mary Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence. Please register for this event by clicking here. Upon registration you will receive a Zoom entrance code for this event.

Evan Kirshen (Trumpet)* and Midoria Ataka (Organ), students of the Peabody Conservatory, will be presenting their exciting collaborative concert at St. Ignatius on Saturday, February 19th, at 6 PM. Both performers have performed professionally around the world, and are now teaming up to collaborate in their first concert as a duo.There is no charge for this event.

(In addition to this duo, St. Ignatius also collaborates with the Charm City Brass Quintet, of which Evan Kirshen is a part of.)

February 22 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

February 27 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The good news is there’s a third option. Just about anyone can be a racial reconciler, and it’s never too late to start. But it takes effort, sacrifice and a whole lot of heart. Here’s where I suggest you begin: READ MORE

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.