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ADVENT DEVOTIONS

The Christmas Story - Does it Still Matter?

FROM THE
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Christmas For Our Times: Homeless in America

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My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

In this Season of Advent it is the Church's tradition to dedicate the Second and Third Sundays to the message of the precursor who straddles both the Old and New Testaments: John the Baptist. This towering figure looms large in the face of the coming of the Lord: Jesus the Messiah and Anointed One whose mission is to liberate and emancipate us from the powers of darkness, sin and evil.

 

John, from his wilderness habitat, challenges us to undergo a radical conversion, an interior change of mind and heart, a revamping of our values, attitudes and behavior where they fail to conform to the Gospel of Jesus. Are we ready for John's confrontation? Are we prepared to review our way of living and acting?

 

One sure and tested way to respond to his demanding message is to find some time each day to pray and to reflect on how we are living, what our priorities are, where God is in our thoughts, words and actions. We might all take five or ten minutes with the Bible in hand as we read reflectively God's word being spoken to us. There is no question that daily prayer and reflective scripture reading (lectio divina) are life-changing events. If we do both on a daily basis, we inevitably will experience great changes in our lives. This Season of Advent is the time to take seriously John's call to transformation by means of daily prayer and personal reflection on the word of God in scripture.

 

The Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for the word 'rejoice'. This upcoming Sunday proves to be a very special time. Throughout the 10:30 Mass, the St Ignatius Quartet and guest musicians will be presenting selections from Vivaldi's Magnificat in G minorPrelude and postlude will be from Vivaldi's Concerto in D minor for Two Oboes.

   

 

Last Thursday saw the passing of a truly remarkable man who, having overcome the adversity of a 27-year Imprisonment, led his South African people to a peaceful transition to democracy and the ending of the oppressively unjust system of apartheid. Nelson Mandela was the rare world leader whose moral stature reached far and wide beyond the borders of his own nation to impact the rest of the human community.

 

One of his many outstanding achievements, after being elected his country's first black president, was his establishment of the unprecedented Truth and Reconciliation process that allowed the victims and perpetrators of the heinous crimes against humanity to be reconciled without bloodshed and endless recriminations. 

 

As a man steeped in the spirit of Gospel truths, he recognized and led his fellow citizens to practice forgiveness. He understood the profound truth that without forgiveness there would never be justice (the healing of tortured and ruptured relationships); and without justice, there would never be any peace. His extraordinary leadership created a culture of forgiveness, leading to justice that made peace possible for all South Africans, black and white alike.

 

Nelson Mandela: Requiescat in Pace.

 

Gratefully, In Christ,

      Watter Signature  
 

Advent Week 2 - Peace

In this second week of Advent our emphasis is on the peace of God toward his people. In the Christmas story, an angel visits a group of shepherds who were "watching their flocks by night" and tells them of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem. Then, suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:13-14).

 

Many people believe the angels proclaimed a general peace to men on earth but in reality they announced peace among those men (and women) whom God had graciously chosen. They announced that God's sovereign delight rests upon his chosen and declared that with them alone God is well pleased. (to continue reading click here)

 
 Advent - "Video Thought"
Advent - Together in Peace
Advent - Together in Peace
 

Pastoral Council Election Results

   

Congratulations go to Nick D'Alesandro and Jessica Swing who were elected to fill the two positions on the Pastoral Council being vacated by Candra Healy (chair) and Hew Baldwin (vice chair) whose terms are expiring. In accordance with the Council's By-Laws, Father Watters has appointed Eric Clayton to fill the position of Anne Haddad. Our gratitude goes to the other parishioners (Josh Beck, John Bender and Rick McCord) who generously placed their names on the November ballot.

Because of the Snow This Past Weekend...

 

As you know, at St. Ignatius we care about your thoughts and voice. To that end, this past weekend we held public response forums regarding the Vatican's Survey (Extraordinary Synod on the Family 2014). The results of those gatherings are to be sent to the Archdiocese to be included in its report to the Vatican. On Sunday, during the 10:30 Mass, the snow started to fall. Our thinking is that many were not able to stick around for the forum, or perhaps just couldn't make it to the forums over the course of weekend. We want to inform you that you can still respond if you wish. We've created an electronic form for you to fill out. You only need to answer as many of the questions as you wish. We need your responses to be e-mailed to the office by Friday evening. To access the form, click here.

Events During the Week

Advent Reconciliation Service 
- Wednesday, December 11
 
 
On Wednesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. there will be a communal penance service at Corpus Christi Church in Bolton Hill (110 W. Lafayette Avenue) for parishioners of St. Ignatius, St. Vincent de Paul, Corpus Christi, The Basilica and St Alphonsus Liguori. Several priests will be available for private confession.  Everyone is encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help make this prayerful season more meaningful in preparation for the great feast of Christmas.
 
Jessica Bachicha - Soloist at the Basilica
- Thursday, December 12
 
Our own former parishioner, Jessica Bachicha Ewell, who moved away this summer to become a professor of music at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, will be the featured soloist at the Catholic Charities Christmas Festival at the Basilica on December 12 at 7:30 p.m.  Proceeds benefit Our Daily Bread and My Sister's Place. Order tickets here or call 410-547-5329. For Concert Flyer click here.
 
 

The Jesuit Collaborative has invited us all to participate in an Ignatian Advent Meditation with Charles Currie, S.J. in an effort to bring an Ignatian perspective to the Christmas season and prepare for the birth of our savior. Meditation will be at 6:30 PM followed by a reception at 7:30 PM. Location: Gonzaga College High School, School Chapel, 19 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. This program is co-sponsored by the  Loyola Club of Washington, DC. To register  click here.


 
Morning of Reflection 
- Saturday, December 14
 
Fr. Bob Hamm  will conduct this session (8:30 a.m. - 12 noon) on prayer and reflection with time given for personal prayer, sharing and questions. We hope this presentation will lead you more deeply into your faith and help you to grow in your prayer life and your desire of service in the world we live in day by day.  
 
 
 

The Handel Choir of Baltimore continues its tradition of ushering in the Christmas season with Handel's glorious oratorio Messiah on Saturday, December 14th at 8 PM at  St. Ignatius Church. The Handel Choir of Baltimore is an oratorio society of auditioned singers, currently 50, with a seventy-eight-year history of performing choral and choral-orchestral repertory. For further information and ticket purchase visit their website here. Hurry as this concert always sells out.


Young Adults  (18-40, married or single) Potluck/Meeting
- Sunday, December 15

 

Last Sunday's (Dec 8) reception after 6pm Mass and Young Adult Planning Meeting were postponed due to weather conditions. This meeting is rescheduled for this Sunday, Dec 15 after 6pm Mass. So, one more time....Please join us at the reception in Ignatian Hall after the 6:00 p.m. Mass to share some ideas for our Young Adult ministry here at St. Ignatius. We want to serve the needs of our Young Adults and provide opportunities for them to grow in their faith while living out the Ignatian Mission of being Men and Women for Others. Come and join other young parishioners while helping to grow our Young Adult Ministry! 

Save the Date - January 8, 2014

St. Ignatius will be hosting the University of Notre Dame Chorale, which is the official concert choir of Notre Dame (South Bend, Indiana) for a concert here on Wednesday, January 8 at 7pm.  There are approximately 45 members in this choral. There is no charge but there will be a free will offering.  They will sing "a variety of classical and traditional music, a good amount of which are sacred pieces, including some works from Handel's Messiah."  

Angel Tree / Jesse Tree 

Gifts for the Angel Tree - for the children whose parents are incarcerated - are to be returned (WRAPPED with the Angel Tag attached) this Sunday, December 15.  Gifts for the Jesse Tree - warm gloves, hats, socks and scarves for our homeless brothers and sisters, as well as grocery gift certificates for the women served by My Sister's Place - can be returned (UNWRAPPED please) any time before Christmas. For more specifics, click here.

Advent Solidarity With Loaves & Fishes

There are cards available on the food table at the after-Mass receptions in Ignatian Hall that indicate an item needed for Loaves and Fishes. These items include scarves, gloves, hats, socks, and monetary donations for the Loaves and Fishes Ministry which provides so much for our city's homeless people.   As you consider the tasty snacks available after Mass, please consider helping those who are not so fortunate.  There are also cards on the table in the Gallery for those who do not attend a reception after Mass.   

In the Reeves Gallery

 

December 8 marked the opening in the Reeves Gallery of "A Survey of Art"  from The Loyola Blakefield Faculty. For more information, click here.

 
 

 

e-zine compiled by John. C. Odean