| TRUTH SERUM | 
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For further knowledge about the Magi from Sunday's Homily
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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 about next weekend's collection
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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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My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
This weekend's celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus will bring to a close our Christmas Season of 2013-2014. So much has taken place in this short span of eighteen days. We need to step back for a moment and draw some fruit and insight from these rich days in our life of faith, a life of prayer, community and service.
In the spirit of our Ignatian tradition and practice in which the Examen of Consciousness plays a vital role in enabling us "to find God in all things," we ask in review what were some of the more memorable signs of God's presence for us, individually and collectively, in the persons, places and events we encountered beginning with Christmas Eve and extending to the coming celebration for this Sunday's Feast? Who or what moved us? When and where were we inspired? How and why were we consoled and brought to a deepening of faith, a strengthening of hope, an expansion of love, an intensification of joy, and a rekindling of peace?
Was it the Christmas pageant at the Family Mass where the children were dressed as angels and shepherds? Or the gathering at the family table for Christmas Dinner laden with an abundance of food, drink, laughter and camaraderie? Or the half hour of our choir singing parts of Handel's Messiah before the beginning of the 9:00 pm Mass? Or giving out soup and sandwiches in the 26 degree weather on Christmas night to the homeless men on the streets of downtown Baltimore on this "Most Holy Night"? Or a phone call, or visit, or greeting card,or email from someone we had not been in touch with for quite some time? Or the 21st Interfaith Prayer Service on New Year's Eve with its glorious music and powerful sermon? Or a visit to the crèche with the children... or the reception of the Eucharist...or a moment of silence sitting in prayer in our decorated homes with the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas everywhere? Or a book read, a TV show seen, a walk in the snow? Or the scriptures we heard, the tree we adorned with lights, the gifts we gave, or the warm Christmas greetings we shared with so many?
Where, then, have we found the face of God, Jesus the Word-Made-Flesh, during these unique days we call the Christmas Season? Taking time before the season disappears from our midst, we need to pause and express gratitude for where we have found God and where our lives have been enriched and blessed in very real and specific ways. Shall we all take that time in these final days of this season to recall what our blessings have been and thank our God and one another for them?
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The Incredible Facts about the Visiting Magi
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Sunday saw the celebration of "Epiphany" as we looked at the visit of the Magi, bearing their gifts to the child Jesus. Such a fascinating occurrence with so many messages of truth about humility and worship. This week's Truth Serum (left hand column), and this video are given to help us learn more fascinating facts about the mysterious visitors of the baby King of all creation.
 | | Ancient History- The Magi |
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The Story Behind the Classic
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"The First Noel"
The Story Behind The Classic
Our recessional song at Sunday's 10:30 Mass was the beautiful Christmas Carol, "The First Noel". As we celebrated "Epiphany Sunday", and considering how the Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the world,we thought it would be interesting to learn what is known about the word Noel, and the history behind this Christmas Classic. (to continue on click here)
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In the News
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Pope Francis waves as he leaves at the end of his Mass at the Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in downtown Rome Jan. 3, 2014.
Pope Francis is calling for a change in the culture of seminaries, saying priests who are taught only to toe the line will become "little monsters." - to continue on click here.
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From Forbes Magazine:
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This Week's Events
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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 is no charge but there will be a free will offering. They will sing a variety of classical and traditional music, including sacred pieces and some works from Handel's Messiah.
To hear a sampling of the Notre Dame Chorale in concert, click here.
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Digging Deeper Into the Bible in the Digital Age
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The Digital Word
Who to Follow and What to Watch For While Engaging the Bible Online
The early Christians relied on cutting edge technology as they compiled and disseminated the texts of the New Testament to the churches and Christians of the earliest centuries. The Apostle Paul would send letters with emissaries to respond to issues that had been raised by the Christians in Corinth or Thessalonica. Paul's letters were versions of the common Greco-Roman letter, expanded and "Christianized" through language and content to reflect the needs of the first churches. (to continue on click here)
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Yearly Contribution Statements
Letters confirming total donations during 2013 will be mailed before the end of January to all registered parishioners who contributed $250.00 or more this past year.
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e-zine compiled by John. C. Odean
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