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Issue # 221013
October 22, 2013
ST. IGNATIUS WEBPAGE





WEEKLY DEVOTION

For those who want to linger longer on Sunday's homily. This weeks devotional focus: Luke 18:1-8
"The Persistent Widow"

ST. IGNATIUS 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


WORLD WATCH
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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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The Watter's Edge
 My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

 

"Jesus himself, in the midst of his busy public life, would withdraw from his disciples and retire to the mountains to pray. We must follow his example if we wish to preserve and strengthen our faith, to keep constantly before our minds the fact that our whole life is from God and is going to God, to be ever mindful of God's will in all we do. By prayer, we refer t
o God all that happens in our life each day, whether good or ill."  (Walter Ciszek, SJ, He Leadeth Me)

 

We all live in an ever faster paced culture that leaves little time for rest and relaxation let alone time for prayer. Yet in this past Sunday's Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) "Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray without becoming weary." So how can we fulfill Jesus' admonition to pray always? Strategically, we need to schedule each day a time and place to pray, a time to be alone with Jesus, a time to take up the scriptures and listen to what Jesus is revealing to us about his presence and mission in our lives.

 

One way to be "praying always" each day is to open to one of the Gospels and reflectively read a specific passage for five or ten minutes. Listening attentively with our heart to what Jesus is saying personally to us is a relevant way to pray. In undertaking this spiritual exercise on a daily basis we will find much insight into the way Jesus is leading us and revealing his presence in our lives and busy world.

 

As Father Ciszek who spent 23 years imprisoned in a Soviet jail and the labor camps of Siberia indicates in the quote above, if Jesus himself took time to withdraw from his busy life in order to be present to his Father in prayer, then we, too, need to do the same.    

 

Gratefully in Christ,

                 Watter Signature 


To learn more about Father Ciszek click here
Persistence in Prayer
The 'take home' from Sunday's homily on the persistence of the widow (Luke 18:1-8) is the opening line of the story, that we 'ought to pray and not lose heart'. Timely words at any juncture of our lives. The video below talks about "The Power of Persistent Prayer". Click on it to view.
The Power of Persistent Prayer
The Power of Persistent Prayer
Women in Dialog With the Vatican

 

 

"The question of women serving as Christian leaders is not a contemporary issue." 

          - Ava Oleson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday's Homily focused on Luke 18:1-8 and the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Make sure to check over in the "Truth Serum" section on the left column of this e-zine for this week's devotional focus on persistent prayer. Father Watters spoke about the tragic condition a widow in biblical times would find herself in (for study on widows in biblical times,  click here). It brought to mind how Jesus really was the great liberator of women in a culture where women were no more than possessions owned by men with no thought or place given to them in the society in which they lived. Jesus truly honored and valued women, going against the social norms  by rebuffing those who abused and devalued women, and in his kind interactions with them. (For an interesting blog on thoughts about women at the time of Jesus,  click here. For a surprising theological treatise on the leadership role of women in the early church, click here

 
Throughout church history there doesn't seem to have been as progressive of an embrace of women's abilities or calling to positions of leadership. Perhaps now is the time in which the Holy Spirit is bringing this issue to the surface. It seems to be the topic of conversation wherever one turns around. The Jesuit national Catholic magazine "America", just this past week, posted an editorial, a cluster of 3 articles, an audio podcast and a video pertaining to women, the church, and their unfolding roles. Because this appears to have become a "front burner" issue to so many, we present the articles to you:

 

 

Editorial:
Article:Opening Doors: Women in Dialogue with the Vatican
Article:Domestic Policy: Can the Church Help Women Achieve a Better Work-life Balance?
Article:Growth Opportunity: The Importance of Supporting Women in Developing Nations
Podcast:A New Role for Women?
Video: 

 

A Word About This Week's Poor Box Collection.
 
As you may know, every week we collect for special needs above and beyond our tithes and offerings. These are areas of special support and attention. Note the "Poor Box" block in the left hand column. This week we are collecting for the a most valuable cause - The Maryland Food Bank. To introduce you to this organization we are inserting the following testimonial video, a story of a community member, It could have happened to any of us, and in fact has happened to many. Please consider giving.
Voice of Hunger - Tracy Coleman
Voice of Hunger - Tracy Coleman
 

Upcoming Event - Get Your Tickets Now!

Join the musicians of St. Ignatius Church on November 2 at 7:30 pm for an evening of music appropriate for Halloween and  the Feast of All Souls.  Selections will range from the sublime (Pie Jesu from the Requiem Mass of Gabriel Faure) to the peacefully macabre (Mon cadavre est doux comme un gant by Francis Poulenc, sung by a corpse resigned to his circumstances).  There will be spooky organ music, the well-known Erlking of Franz Schubert, the elegant Graceful Ghost Rag by William Bolcom, as well as standards and show tunes like That Old Black Magic and Jo Stafford's hit from the 50's Haunted Heart.  It promises to be an eclectic and enjoyable evening of entertainment.  Tickets are $10.00 and will go on sale in the Narthex and in the Reeves Gallery after Mass. A reception will follow in the church hall.  We hope you will plan to join us. 

Events During the Week

 

Johns Hopkins University: Respect Life Week

- Several Events October 22-24

  

  

Frank Richardson, who works at Johns Hopkins University, has sent this announcement regarding Respect Life Week at the Hopkins main campus and several accompanying events.  All are welcome. For event details click here.

 

  

  

Holy Hour of Adoration

- Sunday, October 27 

10AM - 12 Noon

  

Stop by the Chapel of Grace between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Sunday, October 27th, (and on the last Sunday of every month) to spend an hour - or a few minutes - before the Blessed Sacrament. Benediction is at noon.

 
Reaching the Next Generation

 

Of course the future of any local community who are followers of Jesus, is the embrace and integration of the next generations. CNN recently published a blog by Rachel Evens entitled: "Why Millennials Are Leaving the Church". (To read the CNN blog, click here). For our own future, it is important that we understand the issues that the next generation struggles with. Interestingly enough the blogger wrote: 

 

"Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions- Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. -precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being 'cool,' and we find that refreshingly authentic."
  

The good news is, we stand poised to offer what seems to be a deep stirring within the hearts of the 'millennial' generation. In order to do so, we have work to do and changes to make. The wonderful thing about Jesus and the advancement of His Kingdom is that it really all begins with 'seeing', or becoming aware. That is the purpose of publishing this prompt - that we would have dropped into our understanding the thinking of the culture in which we live, that we might better grasp how to share the love and salvation of Christ. Following the article, "Why Millennials Are Leaving the Church", the Ministry Matters website wrote an article called: 'Nones' and Faith. It shares more on the thinking and desires of the millennial generation.  Click here to read it.