| TRUTH SERUM | 
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Reflections on The Woman at the Well
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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:
As you may remember, last week the Archdiocese of Baltimore sponsored an event that took place at Loyola University entitled the Francis Factor. It was quite a remarkable evening and we wanted to make it available to you. I heartily encourage those who did not have a chance to attend to take time in the next few days to view the linked video of the evening. Viewing time is about two hours. The program opens with a brief trailer from the "Francis Effect" televised by Salt & Light Media last April and then proceeds to present the evening's various speakers followed by a panel of respondents to the questions posed by the audience. The entire evening program gives very special insight to this remarkable man, Pope Francis, and the impact he has been having on both the Church and the world.
The Archdiocese has also issued a very helpful reflection that offers a number of recommendations about how, during this Season of Lent, parishioners throughout the diocese may follow the example of Pope Francis in his imitation of Jesus. The suggestions are ways by which we can deepen our relationship with Christ. They involve key steps to strengthen our Catholic faith by seeking Christ, finding Christ and serving Christ. I'd like to ask you to read the statement and consider undertaking the recommendations in the same spirit as Pope Francis in his imitation of Christ.
 | | To view The Francis Factor - click on video above |
To read the Archdiocese's recommendation from the The Francis Factor event: Click here
Gratefully, In Christ,
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As we travel towards Easter... THE SCRUTINIES
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 This pat Sunday, and for the next two Sundays at the 10:30 Mass we will be celebrating with "the elect" the Scrutinies, a series of rites, reinforced by a simple exorcism, for self-examination, repentance and spiritual reconciliation. The Scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal, all that is weak, disordered and defective, and dark or sinful in the hearts of "the elect," and to draw out and strengthen all that is righteous, good and virtuous in their lives. The Scrutinies are celebrated to deliver "the elect" from the power and influences of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to strengthen them in Christ. These rites, then, aim at completing the journey of conversion to Christ and the Gospel on the part of "the elect," and deepening their resolve to remain faithful to Christ and to carry out their determination to love God above all else. Though the Scrutinies are rites aimed specifically at "the elect," all of us who have been baptized into Christ are encouraged to participate in the rites as a powerful means of renewing the fidelity and quality of our lives in light of the teachings of Jesus and our own calling to walk in his footsteps as the light of this world.
As part of the Scrutinies, at last Sunday's 10:30 Mass, our choir under the direction of Paul Teie and accompanied by Tim Murphy on the organ and cellists David Teie and Todd Thiel presented J.S. Bach's Komm Susses Kreuz (Come Sweet Cross) from St. Matthew's Passion. Here is the video of that presentation.
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Bach Komm Susses Kreuz (Come Sweet Cross)
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The Events of This Next Week
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Embracing God's Gifts
- Tuesday, March 25
 You are invited to join members of our gay and lesbian community in Ignatian Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. This group is open to anyone interested in fostering support, maintaining communications, and encouraging social activities among diverse members of our parish. We are currently reviewing a piece of literature, discussing it and being nourished by some faith sharing/dialogue. We will be having a retreat day this Spring and a movie night this Winter. Contact Gordon Creamer at 410.236.8225 with any questions. To learn more about the Embracing God's Gifts Ministry click here.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Wednesday, March 26
Prayer Shawls are knitted or crocheted blankets for those that are most in need of extra prayer (i.e. sick or homebound parishioners, retreatants, etc.) Women and men who are interested in learning how to knit or crochet are invited to join us on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 p.m. at the parish office. Please contact Duarte Aguiar at DuarteAguiar@st-ignatius.net or 410.727.3848 if you can't make the meeting but would still like to participate or if you have questions about what a Prayer Shawl Ministry is or does
Friday Night Mass and Lenten Program - Friday, March 28  During the Lenten Season St. Ignatius celebrates Mass each Friday night at 5:30 PM in the church. The Stations of the Cross follow at approximately 6 PM. After Mass we go down to the parish hall to share a simple Lenten supper of soup, salad and bread, after which there is a presentation on scripture by Dr. John Pilch, followed by a discussion. This week Dr. Pilch will speak on"
Raising an Honorable Son - Proverbs; Isaiah's Servant; Mark; Hebrews". Dr. Pilch lectures in the Odyssey Program at Johns Hopkins University. For 18 years he taught the Introduction to Biblical Literature at Georgetown University. A prolific author, he contributed "The Cultural World of the Ancient Mediterranean" to the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, Revised New American Translation (Liturgical Press, 2011). If you are able to help with the meal please email Diane White at dwhite@mdsj.org. For a complete schedule of events and liturgies during Lent, Holy Week and Easter, click here.
Young Adult Spiritual Exercises
- Sunday, March 30
The Young Adults meet on the last Sunday of every month at 4:30 PM. in Ignatian Hall to pursue the Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises are a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God. For centuries the Exercises were most commonly given as a "long retreat" of about 30 days in solitude and silence. In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on the Spiritual Exercises as a program for laypeople. If you are between the ages of 20 and 40 and interested in deepening your relationship with Christ through these Exercises should join us on Sunday, March 30. The meeting lasts for one hour before the 6:00 PM Mass.
Young Adult Bible Study
- Monday, March 31
Everyone who participated in the first gathering was so pleased that they decided to do it more often. In addition to the last Monday of each month, meetings are now being held on the second Monday of each month. So if you are between the ages of 20 and 40, mark your calendars for the next meeting on March 31, and join us in Ignatian Hall at 8:00 PM. For more information, contact Gabrielle Finck at gabefinck@yahoo.com.
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Operation Rice Bowl
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Catholic Relief Services helps millions of the world's poorest people with long-term solutions to poverty, hunger, drought and disease. Operation Rice Bowl is a popular way during Lent to help contribute to this program. Pick up an Operation Rice Bowl packet from the narthex or gallery and contribute a little bit each day - what you have saved through your Lenten disciplines -to help this worthy cause.
CRS Rice Bowl also provides prayers and reflections to guide Catholics in the U.S. on a rich spiritual journey through the 40 days of Lent, and connects participants to our brothers and sisters in need worldwide through the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Join the community at crsricebowl.org.
If you are looking for a new way to bring Lent to life, there's an app for that! Download CRS' first-ever mobile app and have daily reflections sent directly to your phone throughout the 40 days of Lent. Track your Lenten sacrifices, learn about this year's featured countries, and prepare simple meals, all right from your phone! Download at crsricebowl.org/app.
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Viva House Collection
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On the weekend of April 5 & 6 we will be collecting bags of groceries for the neighbors of Viva House, the Catholic Worker House in southwest Baltimore. Please help and share your blessings with those who are less fortunate by bringing to Ignatian Hall a doubled brown paper grocery bag or reusable cloth bag filled with the following items (Click here).
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A Great Opportunity to Volunteer
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Are you retired or finished raising your family? Do you want to give back, enrich your spiritual life, and enrich the lives of others? Consider joining the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. Volunteers serve 2 days per week (Sept. - June) in local organizations that work directly with poverty, and meet monthly for prayer and shared reflection in the Ignatian tradition.
You are invited to an information session on April 10 (3:30 - 4:30 PM) or
May 20 (7- 8 PM) at Loyola Blakefield's Chapel. A session will also be held on April 30 (1:00 -2:00 PM) at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock. For more details or to register, contact Steve Eberle, Regional Director, at seberle@ivcusa.org or 410.752.4686, or visit www.ivcusa.org/Baltimore.
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In the Media
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Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster
U2's Bono on Jesus Christ 
Irish television journalist, Gay Byrne said there were no limits set during his interview with U2's Bono on RTÉ One. Bono talks about "the life that has shaped his beliefs and values and the values and beliefs that have shaped his life." Two days before his 53rd birthday, the singer and activist took time out from the studio where U2 are recording their next album which is due for release.
According to series producers, he wanted a clear space between his interview with Byrne and promotional interviews for the new album because, having watched previous episodes of Byrne's The Meaning Of Life program, he understood that this was not a conversation about the album or the band.
Speaking about the interview, Byrne said: "Bono is one of the people who I have always wanted to feature on The Meaning Of Life. For one of Ireland's most influential figures he has managed to maintain a remarkable degree of privacy. We had spoken many times about doing the interview as I knew this would be very different from any we had done in the past.
"Many people will be surprised that Bono has a deeply-rooted belief which permeates his everyday life and motivates all his campaigning work. Nothing was off limits and he opened up about his innermost beliefs, his religion, his family and of course the influence of his beliefs on U2."
For a clip of the video Interview in which Bono speaks of his faith in Christ, click on the video below.
 | | Bono on faith and Jesus - Christianity Explored |
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e-zine compiled by John. C. Odean
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