| TRUTH SERUM | 
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This week's thoughts for deeper living
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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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 Ash Wednesday - The Lenten/Easter Journey Begins Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God." (Joel 2:12-13)
My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
When I was working at St. Joseph's Parish in Benin City, Nigeria, I was amazed at the fervent manner in which the people celebrated Ash Wednesday. Regardless of their religious traditions, Nigerians of every persuasion (Muslims, Animists, Protestants, and, of course, Catholics) came to the church by the thousands to receive ashes on their foreheads. It was the one day of the year when we were all brothers and sisters recognizing our own personal and communal need to acknowledge our failures and sinfulness and to seek God's compassion and mercy.
Ash Wednesday is not only a day in which ashes are smeared on our foreheads as a symbol of our repentance and change of heart, but it is also a time in which God summons us to truly turn back and to undergo an authentic conversion by returning to the central person in our spiritual lives, Jesus Christ. Thus tomorrow inaugurates once again a penitential season in which we embrace Jesus as the foundation of our lives by journeying with him on a forty-day pilgrimage of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to the poor that leads us to the great event of our faith--Easter: the Risen Christ himself who is our irrevocable hope, our fresh horizon, and our endless joy.
In last week's "Watters' Edge" I highlighted a prayerful way to make the journey with Jesus by participating in MOVED TO GREATER LOVE. Today, I am sending you the first day's mailing of that prayerful movement (click here) so that you can review the path which is being sent to all those who have already chosen to share in this daily pilgrimage. If you have not already signed up for this graced movement, I invite you to do so by clicking here. Please know that you will be joining all the American Jesuits and many, many of our lay partners in this special time of prayer.
Thank you and welcome to the Day of Ashes and the Lenten/Easter Season.
Gratefully, In Christ,
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For a history and background on Ash Wednesday from the magazine "Catholic Update" - click here.
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Happy Birthday!
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We celebrate the 80th birthday of our beloved Father Watters. How grateful we are for his life and service to Christ as he loves and pastors the flock at St. Ignatius. We love you, Father Watters, and wish you many more healthy years! Click on the video below to view our birthday wish to Father Watters.
 | | Father Watters Birthday Greeting |
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St. Francis Xavier Novena Begins Today...
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The centuries old NOVENA OF GRACE in Honor of Saint Francis Xavier starts today, March 4th, and ends nine days later on March 12th, the day on which both Francis Xavier and Ignatius Loyola were canonized in 1622. The novena prayers along with personal commentary by Father Francis Moan, SJ may be obtained by clicking here. To learn more about the fascinating history of the Novena of Grace, click here. To download a prayer card click here. Finally, we know a lot of you are fond of the Sacred Space blog, presented by the Irish Jesuits. They currently have a wonderful piece on the Novena of Grace. You can access it by clicking here. Enjoy!
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Young Adult Bible Study
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My name is Gabrielle Finck, I've been a parishioner at St. Ignatius for about 5 years now, and you'll most often see me at the 6:00 pm Sunday evening Mass. I am the leader of the new Young Adult Bible Study that meets twice monthly at the church. Fifteen of our parishioners gathered last Monday night for a great first meeting. We are reading the book Interior Freedom, by Father Jacques Philippe and using the book as a guide to exploring New and Old Testament scriptures. The format is designed to be helpful for both Bible beginners and long-time spiritual seekers, because God's word has something to offer every person! Our goals for this Bible Study group are to help us get to know the Bible better, encourage one another on our path toward God, and share the joy of Christian fellowship within our parish.
We are meeting two Mondays per month, from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm. We've chosen the 2nd and last Mondays of the month as our meeting time. For March that means March 10 and March 31. We meet in Ignatian Hall downstairs of the church, we have snacks, and the parish is providing copies of the book and Bibles for attendees. It's also available online for Kindle. Please consider joining us; all young adults are welcome, and there's room for everyone! Email me at gabefinck@yahoo.com if you have questions.
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The Events of This Next Week
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Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule
- Wednesday, March 5
The time has now come in the Church year for the solemn observance of the great central act of history, the redemption of the human race by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the Roman Rite, the beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with the austere symbol of ashes which is used in today's liturgy. The use of ashes is a survival from an ancient rite according to which converted sinners submitted themselves to canonical penance. The Alleluia and the Gloria are suppressed until Easter. To learn more about the practices of Ash Wednesday, click here. Ashes will be distributed during each Mass. Confessions in the church will be heard after the 12:10 and 5:30 Masses. The offertory collection on Ash Wednesday will be for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Masses of Ash Wednesday at St. Ignatius are as follows:
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7:25 AM (Chapel)
12:10 PM (Church)
5:30 PM (Church)
| For a complete schedule of the 2014 Lenten and Easter Season at St. Ignatius, click here. |
Young Adults Bible Study
- Monday, March 10
On Monday, March 10 at 8:00 PM we will have our Young Adult Bible Study. Gabrielle Finck will lead the study that focuses on the book Interior Freedom by Father Jacques Philippe. If you are between the ages of 20-40 and would like to help out and/or participate, please email Gabrielle.
Friday Night Mass and Lenten Program
- Friday, March 7
 During the Lenten Season St. Ignatius will celebrate Mass each Friday night at 5:30 PM in the church. The Stations of the Cross will follow at approximately 6 PM. After Mass we will go down to the parish hall to share a simple Lenten supper of soup, salad and bread, after which there will be a presentation on scripture by Dr. John Pilch, followed by a discussion. This week Dr. Pilch will speak on Interpreting the Bible in the Church, and the Iraq Culture Card - Bible Culturgram. If you are able to help with the meal please email Diane White at dwhite@mdsj.org.
Care For the Earth/Care For the Poor
- Saturday, March 8
The annual archdiocesan Social Ministry Convocation will be held this Saturday, March 8, 8:15 AM-3:30 PM at Seton Keough High School on Caton. Ave. For further information contact Carol Palmer at 410-261-6780 or by email at cpalmer@cc-md.org.
Iñigo Book Group
- Tuesday, March 11
INIGO BOOK GROUP will meet on Tuesday, March 11 to discuss "The Zealot" by Reza Aslan. The meeting takes place in Ignatian Hall beginning with social time from 6:30-7:00 and is followed by the discussion until 8:30. ALL ARE WELCOME. At the March 11 meeting the book group will be discussing "Someone" by Alice McDermott. Any questions? Please contact Catherine Young at pianocate2@gmail.com.
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A "Save the Date" Reminder
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The Francis Factor
- Tuesday, April 18
On Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at Loyola University Maryland's Reitz Arena, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will host The Francis Factor, an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Seán O'Malley, OFM Cap.,  Archbishop of Boston and member of Pope Francis' Advisory Council of Cardinals, will share his thoughts and observations on Pope Francis and his amazing first year as leader of the Catholic Church. Joining Cardinal O'Malley will be Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, CEO of Salt & Light Television and Vatican Spokesperson, Helen Alvaré, Professor of Law at George Mason School of Law and Catholic author, and Fr. Matt Malone, S.J., Editor-in-Chief of America, who will share their experiences and observations on the first year of Pope Francis' papacy. All four will participate in a Q&A discussion with participation from the audience. The Francis Factor will also be streamed live. Tickets are free and are available for request at www.archbalt.org.
Event Information
Tuesday, March 18 | 7 p.m.
Loyola University Maryland, Reitz Arena
Panelist Biographies
Directions & Parking
Ask a Question
Have a question? Submit it online and Cardinal O'Malley or one of the other participants may answer it during the Q&A session.
Afternoon Retreat Opportunity
- Saturday, April 5
Our parish's Gay and Lesbian Ministry, Embracing God's Gifts, is sponsoring an afternoon retreat on Saturday, April 5th from 1 PM- 5 PM. The program will celebrate the themes of wholeness and holiness with opportunities for prayer, dialogue and creative exercises. Anyone in our parish is welcome and encouraged to join us. Contact Gordon Creamer with questions or more information at themissionbridge@yahoo.com.
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SON OF GOD Amazed Hollywood by Grossing Over $9.5 Million at the Box Office on Friday.
Now showing at theaters throughout the Baltimore area. Click here to find a location near you. This is an excellent way to share the Gospel with your friends, family or co-workers.
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e-zine compiled by John. C. Odean
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