Click on video above:'The Thought' - March 21, 2022

Need for Acolytes

As we begin to recover from COVID, I’m hoping to recruit more adults and young people to serve as acolytes at our Liturgies. This is a great way to participate more fully at Mass and a great service to our community. [If you’ve made your 1st Communion, you qualify! If you are preparing for Confirmation, you are even more qualified.]
 
Sue Cesare and I would be glad to show you the ropes after the 10:00 Mass on Sunday March 27. Parents are welcome to serve along with their children.
 
Let me know if you can make it! jimcasciotti@st-ignatius.net
Gospel Reflection
Editor's Note: Next weekend’s gospel reading is Luke 15 where we find The Parables of Lost and Found ThingsThis week's Gospel Reflection is entitled "What Is the Purpose of the ‘Lost’ Chapter in Luke 15?", and is written by Dolores Smyth who is is a nationally published faith and parenting writer. – Enjoy!
What Is the Purpose of the ‘Lost’ Chapter in Luke 15?

These parables may resonate with you because you may be lost in the wilderness like the lost sheep or lost in the darkness of your own home like the lost coin or lost to the desires of the flesh like the prodigal son.

The fifteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel is a short chapter packed with meaning. In it, we read of the symbolism between lost things of value and sinners, and the symbolism between a community rejoicing over lost things found and the joy in heaven when a sinner repents.

Most of us can see ourselves in at least one of the “lost” parables. Let’s take a closer look at the parables and see how.

Background of Luke 15
Luke opens his fifteenth chapter with a familiar scene in the gospels: Jesus is surrounded by sinners who are eager to hear His words. In this particular scene, Jesus welcomed His listeners to dine with Him (Luke 15:1-2).

In contrast to this group of sinners stood a group of legal experts — Pharisees and scribes — who watched and grumbled against Jesus.
The legal experts implied that Jesus was unworthy of following because He associated with sinners instead of banishing them as “unclean” and, therefore, not right with God (Luke 15:2).

In response to the legal experts’ scorn, Jesus told three parables with one common thread: we must never let life’s obstacles make us lose sight of what holds true value.
A Lenten Perspective
What do I give up for Lent? These young Jesuits think that’s the wrong question.
Click on video above:'What do I give up for Lent?'
Hearts, Eyes and Prayers toward Ukraine
A Message from Archbishop Lori
The Consecration of Ukraine and Russia
Dear friends in Christ,

Every day we witness the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine as innocent and vulnerable civilians, even those in shelters and hospitals, are targeted by Russian military forces. This unjust war has produced a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions and has threatened the peace and stability of the whole world.

Pope Francis has actively appealed for peace, has arranged for much humanitarian assistance, and has led the whole Church in praying for the victims of this war. Very recently, His Holiness decided to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation, Friday, March 25. He has invited the bishops of the world to join him in this Act of Consecration.

Accordingly, I will celebrate Holy Mass that same day at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. I cordially invite you to attend this special Mass. CONTINUE READING
Spotlight On Ministry
St. Ignatius Respect for Life/Gabriel Network will meet at 11:15 AM at the Parish Office (former Gonzaga Hall) on Sunday, March 27th. Zoom option is available; contact Brendan at Bcassidy1916@gmail.com for details or questions.
St. Ignatius parish upholds the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death—and is committed to learn from, accompany, serve, and seek justice for the vulnerable and excluded in our society. The Mission of the St. Ignatius Respect for Life (RFL) Ministry focuses on the most vulnerable persons at the beginning and end of life, especially unborn children, expectant women, and new mothers. LEARN MORE
From Embracing God's Gifts
Presents the video:

"Proud to Call You My Transgender Son"
(A Virtual Educational Event)

Tuesday, March 22, 2022
7 PM – 8:30 PM

After viewing the video we will:
  • Discuss the video by this father of a transgender son in small groups.
  • Have a larger group session in which you can ask questions, listen to parents, friends, and transgender individuals in a large group session.

To reserve your place and receive virtual sign-in link RSVP Ryan Sattler at ryansattler@comcast.net


Co-sponsored by: Chevrei Tzedek Congregation Open Church of Maryland, and St. Ignatius Catholic Community
From the Environmental Justice Subcommittee...
The Environmental Justice Subcommittee invites to a learn about the benefits of native planting, from the comfort of your home:

Stormwater Gardening with Blue Water Baltimore
Join us virtually on Monday, March 28 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Mary Lewis, the assistant Nursery Manager at Herring Run Nursery, will be presenting information about the work of Blue Water Baltimore and how we can address stormwater issues with native plantings. After covering the basics, we will dive into some of the best plants for managing stormwater and the many benefits of choosing native plants in the landscape. 

Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

As an added benefit, all those who participate will receive a 10% discount when you purchase in person at the Herring Run Nursery at 6131 Hillen Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21239 from the period beginning March 29, 2022 through April 17, 2022. To receive the discount you must purchase your items in person at the Nursery and only during the time period provided.  
From the Antiracism Awareness Taskforce
The Antiracism Awareness Task Force hosts monthly "Media Meditation" sessions virtually on the last Thursday of each month. The sessions involve two parts; the first half hour is for parishioners to, in a completely unstructured manner, share personal reflections on the media items in the monthly calendar sent out in the beginning of the month. The second half involves prayer, whether an antiracist-focused examen or rosary, for antiracist meditation and further self reflection. Parishioners are welcome to join for either part - and are also welcome to just listen!
One tap mobile:
Meeting URL:
Meeting ID:
848 3727 3173
Passcode:
408883
An Interreligious Listening Session
An Interreligious Listening Session:
In partnership with the Catholic Synod 
Thursday, March 31 
7:00–8:00 PM EDT via Zoom 
Register to receive a Zoom link
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore has invited ICJS to offer our insights on interreligious dialogue and our efforts to help build an interreligious society as part of the wide-ranging process of consultation the Church is conducting that will help to determine its future and how it relates to the world. 

To that end, we are inviting ALL people who have engaged in our mission of interreligious dialogue, by attending our courses and programs, to join us in a listening session in which we will hear your stories and insights about your own interreligious experiences. Participants will be placed in smaller groups for discussion.

This event is not aimed at only Catholics, but anyone who has engaged with ICJS. We will compile what we hear into a report that we will submit to the U.S. Catholic bishops conference and post on our website.
For what is likely the first time...
A Vatican Official Will Address an LGBTQ Audience
Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, the undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops office at the Vatican will deliver a New Ways Ministry-sponsored lecture entitled “Synodality: A Path of Reconciliation." (To register, click here.)
 
The lecture will be on Sunday, April 3, 2022, 12 noon, Eastern U.S. Time, on Zoom.
 
Sister Nathalie’s talk will focus on the way the practical ways the Catholic Church can become a church which listens to all members to discern the best way to handle current issues. The webinar is part of New Ways Ministry’s “Father Robert Nugent Memorial Lecture Series,” named after one of the group’s co-founders who passed away in 2014.
 
Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, commented on the upcoming lecture: “Sr. Nathalie’s acceptance of our invitation is a strong sign that Pope Francis truly wants all people to be involved in the synod discussions taking place in our church today, including LGBTQ people who have too often felt excluded and unwelcome in Catholic spaces."
 
Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL, the other co-founder of New Ways Ministry, said: “For decades, LGBTQ people have tried to dialogue with Catholic leaders, and have been too often rebuffed. Sr. Nathalie’s encounter with LGBTQ people and their allies is hopefully only a beginning for rich, new dialogue taking root in the church.”
 
We hope you you will join us for this significant step in reconciling the Catholic Church and the LGBTQ community. To register, click the button below.
Upcoming Events
Respect for Life/Gabriel Network Meeting
March 27 @ 11:15 am - 1:00 pm

Women Who Stay
March 22 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Environmental Justice Town Hall
March 30 @ 7:30 pm -8:30 pm
Offerings & Prayers
POOR BOX
This week's collection is for Afghan Resettlement Project
 
HOW TO GIVE  
How to contribute to 
St. Ignatius.

PRAYER LIST
Pray for those who are sick
and on our Prayer List.

A Great Resource
Editor's Note: We often get requests from parishioners for a tool to help understand Ignatian Spirituality 101. Well here is a great primer, produced the The Jesuit Post.
Jesuit 101: Consolation and Desolation
How do you respond when people ask, “how are you doing?” If you’re like me, you often offer some form of an empty answer, like, “I’m good, how are you?” But do you ever think to answer, “Oh, I’m experiencing some serious desolation lately”? Or, “I’m experiencing a lot of consolation right now. Thank you for asking!”

Jesuits live on a steady diet of these two words: consolation and desolation. Perhaps you’ve heard them before. A simple definition of them is analogous to the typical response to the question above. Consolation is typically associated with “good” and desolation is taken to mean “bad”. While these two interpretations approach the truth, there’s a lot more to consolation and desolation than just feeling good or bad. CONTINUE ON
In the Media
After supporting Ukraine invasion, Russia's Patriarch Kirill criticized worldwide
WARSAW, POLAND — As Russian troops and tanks battled Ukrainian forces during the third week of their bloody invasion, prospects of peace appeared to be fading.

Meanwhile, amid the scenes of wanton destruction, the militant stance of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill also seemed to dash hopes of closer ties between his community and the Catholic Church.

"The vocation of every church is to recall basic Gospel principles — Kirill has not only abandoned this, but is actually sacralizing this cruel aggression," Marcin Przeciszewski, veteran director of Poland's Catholic Information Agency, told NCR.

"The old discourse about Catholic and Orthodox leaders sharing in the defense of traditional Christian values all looks like nonsense now," said Przeciszewski. "The only values Kirill is defending are those of Russian imperialism." READ MORE
'A Nuclear War Cannot be Won and Must Never be Fought'
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on Sunday that he had ordered Russian nuclear forces to high alert (he called it a “special mode of combat duty”) brought to mind some of the most dangerous days of Cold War brinkmanship. For four decades, bellicose Soviet and American rhetoric and actions — from the Cuban missile crisis to Reagan administration talk of a “winnable” nuclear war — kept the world at very real risk of annihilation. (The Biden administration, to its credit, responded this week to Putin’s provocations by asserting, correctly, that “a nuclear war cannot be won, and must never be fought,” as a White House official put it to Reuters, and declined to escalate the U.S. nuclear alert status.) READ MORE
First German Catholic diocese allows women to perform baptisms
BERLIN (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen has become the first in Germany to allow women to perform baptisms, citing a lack of priests.

The diocese said in a statement Monday that Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck tasked 18 lay ministers —17 of them women — with conferring the sacrament of admission into the Church at a ceremony over the weekend. READ MORE
BERLIN (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen has become the first in Germany to allow women to perform baptisms, citing a lack of priests.

The diocese said in a statement Monday that Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck tasked 18 lay ministers —17 of them women — with conferring the sacrament of admission into the Church at a ceremony over the weekend. READ MORE
READER NOTIFICATION:  

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.

 - This e-zine was designed and compiled by John C. Odean