January 21, 2020
Carissimi:
This is from a message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. He reminds us that without compassion we diminish the humanity of others and our own:
 
It is not just about migrants: it is about our humanity. Compassion motivated the Good Samaritan – for the Jews, a foreigner – not to pass by. Compassion is a feeling that cannot be explained on a purely rational level. Compassion strikes the most sensitive chords of our humanity, releasing a vibrant urge to ‘be a neighbor’ to all those whom we see in difficulty.

As Jesus himself teaches us, being compassionate means recognizing the suffering of the other and taking immediate action to soothe, heal and save. To be compassionate means to make room for that tenderness which today’s society so often asks us to repress.

Opening ourselves to others does not lead to impoverishment, but rather enrichment, because it enables us to be more human: to recognize ourselves as participants in a greater collectivity and to understand our life as a gift for others; to see as the goal, not our own interests, but rather the good of humanity.
Sunday's MLK Mass Followup
St. Ignatius parishioners Pime Ramirez, left, and Raul Ramirez process to the parish chapel with a portrait of St. Peter Claver during a Jan. 19 Mass. The portrait was hung as part of festivities honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

St. Ignatius in Baltimore acknowledges history of segregation


by Mary Tilghman

January 20, 2020

One day before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, St. Ignatius Parish on Calvert Street rededicated its basement Chapel of Grace as the Chapel of St. Peter Claver Jan. 19. According to the pastor, Jesuit Father James Casciotti, the ceremony symbolizes the parish’s dedication to racial justice

He said the rededication was inspired by calls for racial justice by Catholic leaders, including Archbishop William E. Lori, who marked the MLK holiday in 2018 with his pastoral, “ The Enduring Power of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Principles of Nonviolence ,” and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love – A Pastoral Letter Against Racism” in the same year.

The rededication was part of a weekend of activities honoring Dr. King, including a Jan. 17 screening of the film “Selma” and a Jan. 18 retreat on non-violence. READ MORE

PREP Update
PREP Students & MLK Day Project
On Sunday, January 19, PREP students participated in a Faith-in-Action event that involved preparing bags for the men and women of Our Daily Bread. PREP families donated money for the bag items, which included socks, hot chocolate and a cup, lollipops, and hand warmers. Children decorated the bags with inspirational messages from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you to the children, families, and adult volunteers who made many bags with the hope that our homeless brothers and sisters will be lifted up by a small gesture of caring.

Jesuit Blog Post
In the last year, a small phrase from the Mass I’d not previously paid much attention to, I learned to love. It is the preface to the Our Father when the priest says, “At the savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say…”  

I recall when we first changed to this translation nearly 10 years ago and I heard many people say things along the lines of, “We don’t ‘dare’ to pray to God. He loves us and invites us to always approach Him in tenderness. We should not encourage people to be scared to pray!” Even now, some priests don’t say what is written and opt for something without the word “dare” in it.

Though the language is a bit intense, I have realized that it communicates a very real and important truth about prayer and my relationship with God that I’m grateful to be reminded of daily. We certainly shouldn’t be scared to pray, and God does meet us always with tenderness, but encounters with God are  intense  and prayer can feel like a daring activity.  READ MORE
For Your Listening Enrichment
From AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast
A Jesuit vocation can mean a lot of things: there are Jesuits in medicine, astronomy, international relief and development, journalism, publishing and so much more. But perhaps the line of work most often associated with Jesuits is education.

Fr. Bill Watters is passionate about education—and he’s my guest today. Fr. Watters knows the value an education can have on an individual and a community. And he’s spent a good number of years expanding the educational opportunities available to young people by founding schools in the varied and diverse communities in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fr. Watters has been a priest for more than 50 years, and he shares, here, reflections and stories from the many people he’s encountered over that time. His memory for people—their names, their faces, their stories—constantly amazes me. It’s one of the reasons he was such a beloved pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Downtown Baltimore, transforming the parish from a struggling institution on the verge of closure to the vibrant community it is today.
From the Archdiocese
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are eager to share with you a glimpse of the energy shared by more than 300 participants who joined in our first-ever "Faith in Baltimore"celebration this past Wednesday evening. Especially if you were unable to be with us, we hope that you will take a moment to view these brief videos that highlight the work of Catholic Faith and service, which has and continues to make such an important difference in the lives of Baltimore residents, their neighborhoods, and for our City as a whole. The video honoring the work of Ray Kelly– the first recipient of the "Faith in Baltimore Award"– perfectly captures Ray’s own personal witness to the power of Catholic Faith which compels service to others, lifting and empowering those who face particular challenges in our most troubled neighborhoods, but who are fiercely determined to overcome their obstacles for themselves and their communities.

We are so grateful to our many partners whose commitment and support make possible our outreach and enhance the work that is vital to the lives and prospects of so many. Thank you for all that you do to enable the ongoing legacy of Catholic commitment, service and impact in the City that we love, and which we are determined to make better for all. We encourage you to share this good news with friends, family and colleagues to continue building our collective Faith in Baltimore!

#iamcatholic #wearebaltimore
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
This weekend's Poor Box support goes to help
support our
Loaves & Fishes Ministry
MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
DAILY EXAMEN
Reflections for your
spiritual growth.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 21 (7PM)
The Fierce Urgency of Now
See detailed information below


Tuesday, January 21 (6:45 PM)
Women of the New Testament
For complete information, click here .
Friday, January 24
March for Life
For complete information, click here .
Sunday, January 26
Respect for Life
For complete information, click here .
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is the time for vigorous and positive action.” – MLK

Loyola University Maryland cordially invites you to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation and pre-event community reception. The MLK Convocation, featuring Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, is an occasion for Loyola and the Baltimore community to launch the spring semester and the New Year by coming together for shared inquiry into legacies of race and racial justice in America.

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020
Andrew White Student Center, McGuire Hall West
7 PM Convocation in Reitz Arena
 
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II , pastor and social justice advocate, will discuss current event issues related to social and racial justice during his lecture, “The Fierce Urgency of Now.”

Since 1993, Barber has served as a pastor of the Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, N.C., where he focuses on interfaith and multiracial issues. His advocacy for voting rights, healthcare, immigrant rights, public education, and LGBTQ rights has led to rallies in Raleigh, N.C., as well as thousands of nonviolent acts of civil disobedience across the south.

In 2013, Barber founded Repairers of Breach , an organization that strives to build and expand a national movement in moral analysis, articulation, and action.

Additional information about the event can be found at www.loyola.edu/mlk .
Growth Opportunity
Revolution of the Heart
Washington Premiere of a Major Film on Dorothy Day
January 27, 2020
6-8:00 PM
Dorothy Day’s compelling faith, call to nonviolence, and care for the poor offer crucial lessons in these difficult days. Her fascinating story, complicated choices, and challenging witness are brought to life in the powerful new film Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story by Martin Doblmeier and Journey Films. 

Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life is honored to host the Washington premiere of this powerful documentary before it is broadcast in March 2020 on public television. Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier will introduce Revolution of the Heart. Following the 60-minute film, Day’s granddaughter; the editor of her diaries; and a leader in her cause for sainthood will reflect on the continuing relevance of Dorothy’s life, faith, and witness. READ MORE
In the Media
Benedict Removes Name From Book on Celibacy After Dispute Over His Involvement
by Joshua J. McElwee

VATICAN CITY — Retired Pope Benedict XVI's name is being removed as a coauthor of a controversial new book defending the Catholic Church's practice of clerical celibacy after dueling accounts emerged of the ex-pontiff's involvement in the preparation of the volume.

The removal, confirmed  in a tweet  Jan. 14 by Cardinal Robert Sarah, the other author of the book, comes after an odd and dramatic public dispute between Sarah and Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict's private secretary.

In fact, announcement of the change in authorship came only 90 minutes after Sarah had  tweeted  a statement defending the choice to list Benedict as a coauthor, claiming the former pope had reviewed the entire manuscript of the volume, the cover design, and also consulted on the publication date. READ MORE
Pope Francis: “I will never grow tired of condemning every form of anti-Semitism”
Pope Francis enters the main gate of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, July 29, 2015. (CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, pool)

by Gerard O'Connell

Referring to the “barbaric resurgence of cases of anti-Semitism” in many countries today, Pope Francis firmly condemned “every form of anti-Semitism” on the eve of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. “I will never grow tired of condemning every form of anti-Semitism,” he stated.

His remarks came on Jan. 20 during an address to a delegation from the  Simon Wiesenthal Center  in the Vatican. The center, established in 1977 by Rabbi Marvin Hier, is today is “a global human rights organization researching the Holocaust and hate in a historic and contemporary context.”

In his talk, Francis reminded the delegation that this resurgence of anti-Semitism has to be viewed in the wider “troubling” context where “in many parts of the world, an increase in selfishness and indifference, lack of concern for others and the attitude that says life is good as long as it is good for me, and when things go wrong, anger and malice are unleashed.” He said this attitude of indifference “creates a fertile ground for the forms of factionalism and populism we see around us, where hatred quickly springs up.” READ MORE