ST. IGNATIUS WEBPAGE
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You can view or read last Sunday's Homily by clicking on links below:
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| SYNOD ON THE FAMILY | |
What the Synod on the Family is, and how you can prepare.
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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. This week we are supporting The Diocese of Fairbanks.
To learn more
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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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THE FAMILY, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND THE COMING SYNODS
 Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia receives a hearty welcome from the students of Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School as he visits the school May 14. (Photo by John Pensabene) |
My Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Since his election as Pope sixteen months ago, Francis has spoken often about the family. Moreover, he has made this topic the focus of the two Synods of Bishops, one this October 2014 and the other next October 2015. In preparation for the first Synod, Francis developed a comprehensive questionnaire which he sent out to every diocese throughout the world in October 2013 with the instructions that the bishops should consult with members of the diocese and the local parishes. The results of this unique step on the part of the Vatican leadership, namely to include the voice of the worldwide faithful, have been tabulated and a full report is being prepared for this autumn's Synod.
Recognizing the importance of this issue, the American bishops at their semi-annual meeting which took place in New Orleans in early June invited Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, to speak to them about plans for the World Meeting of Families scheduled to take place in Philadelphia in September 2015. The archbishop said that "There is a link between the crisis of faith and the crisis in marriage. There is also ... a clear link between the crisis in families and the crisis in society at large... The crisis in families is above all cultural. The prevailing tendency is to put the 'ME' first,' to direct all our efforts towards self-realization. As one French philosopher puts it, what we are facing is a 'second individualist revolution' where the individual views societal institutions and society itself in a self-referential context. The individual prevails over society and the rights of the individual prevail over those of the family."
The archbishop went on to say that "The family's meaning is turned upside down to the point that it is no longer the 'basic cell of society' but rather the 'basic cell of the individual.' 'ME,' the measure of reality, has become the measure of marriage as well.
"Moreover, just about everywhere in the developed world our laws reflect the primacy of the individual over the family. In this context, it is easy to understand how the family, as it has been understood for thousands of years, is ignored or, worse yet, is vilified and persecuted. Sadly, however, we don't realize that the weakening of the 'culture of the family,' has brought with it a weakening of society as a whole, and the principal strategy for survival in our contemporary megalopolises has become not 'looking out for others' but rather avoidance of the other and keeping them from getting too close."
In a note of warning, the archbishop offered his fellow bishops these sober remarks: "No other form of living can create the positive relationships that are found in the family. No other form of relationship has such societal potentialities or such economic potential. Nowhere else can humans fully learn and experience the solidarity that family ties provide and the mercy without which the other virtues lose much of their meaning."
With his closing reflections on the family, he informed the gathering of bishops that he wants the Philadelphia convention of the World Meeting of Families to include also leaders of the Eastern and Orthodox families and all communities of Christians (Evangelical, Protestant and unaffiliated), as well as families from the world's religions: Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and nonreligious families of good will.
In the months ahead, we will hear much more about this critical topic and possible ways in which we at St. Ignatius might become involved in the World Meeting of Families. We will also keep alert to further developments regarding the two Synods of Bishops. In the meantime, give a look to the sidebar article in the left column on What the Synod of the Family is, and How You Can Prepare for it.
Gratefully in the Lord,
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Seeing Things As A Blessing
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A Mom's Perspective
Continuing with the thought of Family and Parenthood we want to share with you a video, made by a mother when she was feeling particularly overwhelmed by "Motherhood". How helpful it is to keep perspective of our blessings in the midst of the daily "in's and out's" of life.
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Events Over the Next Week
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Iņigo Book Group
- Tuesday, July 8
The Indio Book Group will meet on Tuesday, July 8 in Ignatian Hall to discuss "Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh. The meeting begins with social time at 6:30 and is followed by the discussion until 8:30. All are welcome. Any questions? Please email Catherine Young. When the group meets again on August 12, they will discuss "Dreaming Up America" by Russell Banks.
Justice & Peace Committee
- Thursday, July 10
 One of our goals is to deepen our understanding of the principles of Catholic social teaching and then, through word and action, to help integrate these principles more fully into the life of our parish community. How you can help? By supporting us with your time, talent, and ideas; and expand Saint Ignatius' efforts to new areas. If this sounds interesting and you want to get involved with the parish's newly forming Advocacy Ministries in the areas of Immigration and Economic Issues; or our Education Endeavors and Projects, we invite you to join us at our next meeting on Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 PM in Ignatian Hall. For a copy of our agenda, email the committee chair, Candra Healy for more information. All are welcome!
All Church "Get Away Weekend" and Parish Picnic - Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13
 The parish's Sixth Annual Picnic will be held on Saturday, July 12 at the Bellarmine Retreat Center by the Appalachian Trail in the beautiful mountains of Blue Ridge Summit, PA.
In addition to a scrumptious lunch, a swimming pool and other outdoor activities are available as well as raffle baskets for adults (wine) and children (games, etc.)
TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE BY CONTACTING THE CHURCH OFFICE AT 410-727-3848. Ticket prices: Individual $15; Couple - $20; Family (2 adults and children, ages 5 -18) - $25. Be sure to buy your tickets before the day of the picnic. There will be an additional $5 charge for tickets that are purchased at the picnic. Once again, parishioners are asked to bring a dessert to share.
Camping and in - house accommodations on Friday and Saturday night are also available. The prices per night are as follows: For the houses: $20 for adults and $10 for children (over 12 years of age); in tents: $10 per tent, regardless of the number of people staying.
The picnic committee is looking for volunteers to help on the day of the picnic. If you are interested, please email Kathleen Talty. For Driving Directions click here. To view last year's event, click here.
Young Adult Parish Picnic/Retreat
- Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12
On July 11th-12th we will have a retreat for our Young Adults in conjunction with our annual Parish Picnic. Bring your swimming gear, a bible and a tent to make for a fun and prayerful weekend. Carpool will be available from St. Ignatius to Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Please email John Odean or call 410.727.3848 to sign up or for additional details.
Young Adult Bible Study
- Monday, July 14
Meetings are held on the second and the last Mondays of the month. If you are between the ages of 20 and 40, join us in Ignatian Hall at 8:00 PM. For more information, contact Gabrielle Finck: gabefinck@yahoo.com.
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Upcoming Feast of St. Ignatius Events
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Feast of St. Ignatius
Plan to join us at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, July 27, when we will celebrate the feast day of our patron saint in a special way. The presider and homilist will be Father Jim Shea, S.J., who has been the provincial of the Maryland Jesuit Province for the past six years. Concelebrating with Father Shea, along with other Jesuits, will be Father Bob Hussey, S.J., the newly appointed provincial. Our choir will be joined by guest musicians to present outstanding music for the celebration. A grand feast will follow in Ignatian Hall.
Faith and Science Lecture
Mark your calendars and tell your friends! Father George Coyne, S.J., former Director of the Vatican Observatory for more than 28 years will be presenting our 20th Annual Ignatian Day Lecture on Monday, July 28 in the Chapel of Grace at 7:30 PM. His topic will be "An Awakening to Faith: We are Made of Stardust." To learn more about this event, click here.
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A Greater Need Than Usual
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Groceries For Viva House - July 26 & 27
St. Ignatius cared for the poor in a special way, and to help celebrate his feast day later this month we will be following his example by helping those who are in need.
Viva House is a Catholic Worker House which has served the community in Southwest Baltimore for more than 40 years by providing their neighbors with bags of groceries and warm meals. Several times a year our parishioners bring grocery bags to help. But this time there is even more of a need. It has been necessary for Viva House to discontinue its daily soup kitchen this summer; instead they are providing bags of groceries every week instead of only once a month.
They need many more bags than usual. If you can help, on the weekend of July 26/27 please bring to Ignatian Hall a reusable cloth bag (or a double brown paper bag) containing the following items:
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 1 box cereal (low or no sugar preferred) - 1 peanut butter
- 1 jelly/jam
- 1 vegetable
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 spaghetti sauce
- 2 cans meat (chicken, chili, etc.)
- 2 soups
- 2 cans beans (without pork if possible)
- 2 macaroni and cheese
- Toothpaste and toothbrush.
We will also be dedicating the Poor Box to Viva House that weekend.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Anne Rice - Her Return to God
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After thirty-eight years of authoring books about vampires and darkness Anne Rice found her way back to God. Anne explains that she grew up in a devoted Catholic family, knowing the importance of God and obtaining something in life beyond materialistic things. Still, she felt unshakably confined within the parameters of religion. At the age of eighteen, she walked away from it all and chose to live a life believing that ,"In order for me to grow up, I have to put God aside."
Though her professional career was very successful as an author of Vampire tales, she was a Christ-haunted person. "I knew that as long as I denied Him, I wouldn't know rest or peace. You must know that you can't save yourself through art or music. You can't do it through travel or wealth. Your attempt to achieve salvation alone ultimately amounts to nothing." She found herself very ready to go back to God.
Anne had to stop. "Writing about vampires was no longer relevant in my life because they were stories about a person in a godless world. They were stories about me. That, however, is no longer the case. Now, I have to write for Him."
 | | I Am Second - Anne Rice |
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In the Media
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Downwardly Mobile for Jesus
by Lawrence Lanahan
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Matthew Loftus, left, walks home with his wife, Maggie, and daughter, Naomi, after attending Sunday service at New Song Community Church in the impoverished Sandtown neighborhood in Baltimore.
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BALTIMORE, MD. - At the corner of Laurens Street and Fulton Avenue, a man watches Matthew Loftus walk by with his 21-month-old daughter, Naomi, strapped to his back. "She got big!" the man says.
Loftus, 27, says something friendly back, but he's not sure who the man is. "My eyesight is actually really bad," he says.
As he runs an errand in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, people notice Loftus before he notices them. On Presstman Street, where Loftus rented before buying a home several blocks away, a young girl in a school uniform smiles and says, "I see you're visiting the old neighborhood." A group of men playing cards on the corner asks about the rabbits that he and his wife, Maggie Loftus, 25, were raising the last time they saw him. In front of a Monroe Street car wash, a man spies Naomi. "She still gorgeous!" he says. "Tell your wife I said hi."
For his neighbors, Matthew Loftus is hard to miss, no matter their eyesight. He is white in a nearly all-black neighborhood. Like much of West Baltimore, Sandtown faces relentless poverty, addiction and violence. Six hours after Loftus' afternoon stroll in late May, three men were shot just down the street from the car wash.
For a brief while, though, as Loftus walks through the neighborhood, it feels like a small town. - READ MORE
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