| WEEKLY DEVOTION | 
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This weeks devotional focus: Luke 17:5-10
"Increase Our Faith"
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| WORSHIP FOCUS | 
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A focus from Sunday's Worship
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| ST. IGNATIUS CALENDAR | 
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View Full Calendar
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| POOR BOX COLLECTION | 
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Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. To learn what next weekend's collection is for
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| PASTORAL COUNCIL NOMINATIONS | 
For more information
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| WORLD WATCH | 
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is happening with your brothers and sisters!
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| JOIN OUR LIST | 
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 My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: This past July while Pope Francis was in Brazil to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD), he took time to address a large group of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops who form the Leadership of the Council of Bishops' Conferences in that part of the world. In his talk, he asked the Bishops to do an examination of conscience about the actual state of the church. Francis posed six questions which we, too, might ask ourselves regarding the Church as the "Community of Christ's Disciples on Mission to the World." Here are the six questions adapted to our own parish. - Do we see our ministry and work at St. Ignatius as more pastoral than administrative? Who primarily benefits from our efforts--the organization or the People of God?
- Are we creating a proactive mindset in our parish for the benefit of the parishioners and the wider community?
- In practice, do we make the laity sharers in the mission of the Church?
- Is pastoral discernment an habitual criterion in the parish through opportunities for lay people to participate in the pastoral council, finance committee, and other parish ministries where their voices can be heard?
- Are we conscious and convinced of the mission of the laity as disciples who are on a mission? Are we supporting the laity and accompanying them on the mission?
- Do the pastoral staff and the parishioners in general feel part of the church and its mission?
Though these questions were set before the bishops, we need to see them as addressed to ourselves at St. Ignatius. Because this is the time of year when we are seeking candidates for nomination to our pastoral council who will voice their ideas and concerns and those of their fellow parishioners regarding the identity, life, mission and ministries of our parish, I am encouraging any parishioner who would like to place his/her name in nomination to do so before the closing date for nominations which is Sunday, October 20th. Please see nomination information in the left-hand column of this e-zine.Thank you!
Gratefully in Christ, |
Naaman, the Leper, and Bill W.
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 The homily at this past Saturday afternoon's Mass focused on the passage of scripture in 2 Kings 5 where Naaman is used by God to heal a leper. There are so many practical applications in that passage about being obedient to God when it just does not make sense. Father Watters tethered that passage to a man named Bill who appeared to be a hopeless alcoholic whom doctors pronounced incurable. Like the leper who surrendered himself to do what Naaman suggested (and the 10 who cried out to Jesus for cleansing and freedom), Bill admitted defeat and confessed that he had turned to God in his absolutely hopeless condition. He found salvation and liberation from the monster which had controlled him for too many years and was destroying his life. He also became the founder of a movement that has brought freedom to countless millions through the years. Bill is Bill Wilson, the founder of the 12 Step Program known as Alcoholics Anonymous.
For those who struggle with addictions, and need a pathway out, St. Ignatius hosts several support programs that use our facilities each week. Please feel free to just show up. All meetings are held in Magner Hall - 801 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
- Sundays - Alcoholics Anonymous 7:15 - 9:00 PM
- Wednesdays- Alcoholics Anonymous 7:15 - 9:00 PM
- Thursdays - Sexaholics Anonymous 7:15- 8:15 PM
- Fridays - Alcoholics Anonymous 8:30 - 10:00 PM
- Saturdays - NAMI* Meeting 9:45 AM - 12:45 PM
* NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness and
offers an array of support to help build better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness
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For other topical articles of interest:
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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 From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The statistics on domestic violence are heartbreaking. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women, and one in seven men, have been the victims of severe physical violence by an "intimate partner" (boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse) at some point in their life. Read more.
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Events During the Week
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Youth Group
- Saturday, October 19
5:30-6:30 PM (after 4:30 Mass) in Gonzaga Hall
The St. Ignatius Youth Group (post confirmation) will meet this Saturday following the 4:30 Mass (5:30- 6:30PM). We will have pizza and a discussion on world religions. For more information contact Duarte Aguiar.
Wine Tasting
- Saturday, October 19
6:00 PM in Ignatian Hall
The theme is "The Wines of Portugal"
There's no bias because the coordinator of ministries is Portuguese! We're just going to have a fun time with great people, good Portuguese food, and of course Portuguese music (that's right we're going to rock out to the likes of Amalia Rodrigues and Mariza!)
Admission: $10 for Students - $15 for everyone else.
Colleen Moore on "Domestic Violence"
- Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20
(after all Masses in the Chapel of Grace)
 As mentioned in the article in the section above, October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We have asked our own parishioner, Colleen Moore, to give some introductory remarks about this topic at the closing of all weekend Masses. Understanding that this may have been, or currently is, an issue for some in attendance, Colleen will make herself available immediately following all Masses in the Chapel of Grace. Colleen is the Coordinator of Domestic Violence Program at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) in Baltimore County, and has been working in the field of violence against women since 1987. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Futures Without Violence Health Resource Center and was featured in the film Domestic Violence and Health Care: Best Practices in Action.
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News Feeds of the Past Week
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In our ongoing commitment to bring you news and information on what is happening in the Catholic Church, and in the world in which we are called to share the life and Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, we share these news-feeds with you. It truly is fascinating!
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Ignatian Spirituality Project is a Jesuit ministry that offers overnight retreats and days of recollection for men and women who are in transition from homelessness and addiction. This is vital and life changing ministry for both the homeless, and for those who volunteer their time. To visit the Ignatian Spirituality Project webslte, click here. To learn how you can be involved with the St. Ignatius arm of this ministry, contact George Schuette.
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Entertainment Corner - Review/Commentary of Film: Gravity
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Just to mix it up a bit...we offer you Father Robert Barron and a review commentary on the current film, Gravity. (spoiler alert).
To view video click here.
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