"O people of Zion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations; and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart."   (Isaiah 30:19,30  Antiphon for the Second Sunday of Advent)

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) wrote the following lines, which readily apply to this Season of Waiting.

"They watch for Christ who are sensitive, eager, apprehensive in mind, who are awake, alive, quick-sighted, zealous in honoring Him, who look for Him in all that happens, and who would not be surprised, who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed, if they found that he was coming at once. . . . This then is to watch: to be detached from what is present, and to live in what is unseen; to live in the thoughts of Christ as He came once, and as He will come again; to desire his second coming, from our affectionate and grateful remembrance of his first."

As we wait and watch for Christ's coming, we listen deeply in our hearts to the voices of those sent to us by God to make us alert and aware of preparing for that coming in a fitting and appropriate manner.

The first voice from this past Sunday's first reading is that of Second Isaiah. Listen again to his message: "Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God...Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom." (Isaiah 40:9-11)

In our second reading we hear the voice of the Apostle Peter reminding us "...according to God's promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace."  (II Peter 3:13-14)

Finally, in the Gospel it is John the Baptist's voice echoing the words of Second Isaiah summoning us to "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."  (Mark 1:3)

All three voices call on us to be attentive and to undergo an ever more profound conversion of our minds, hearts and actions, as we watch and wait for the Lord's coming in our midst again.

Who isn't grateful for the phenomenal talents of all of the musicians and singers who faithfully bring us amazing worship experiences each week - year after year! The Community of St. Ignatius is so incredibly blessed to have this group who share their gifts with us. This past Sunday after the 10:30 Mass they gathered down front to record Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming for us to share with you as we progress through this Advent season. To learn about the history of this favorite hymn, click here. To view the St. Ignatius Quartet and Cantor version from Sunday click on the video below.

St. Ignatius Quartet and Cantor - Lo How A Rose E're Blooming Director, Paul Teie; Kyle Engler; Rebecca Rosselló; Jim Li; and Cantor, Julie Kurzava

Click on image above to learn about "Syria Cries For Peace"

Jesuit Refugee Services Could Use  

Our Help

The Poor Box Collection for this next week will go to the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS). 

Syrian refugee families numbering in the tens of thousands continue to languish in special camps set up for them in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and the Palestine. No one suffers more than the children whose lives have been completely disrupted and put on hold.

Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) is involved in providing assistance, especially schools within the camps for the young people to continue their education. Your gift at this Christmas Season will help JRS to continue to develop more learning opportunities to help the youth and their families. To learn more about Jesuit Refugee Services you can visit their website by clicking here.  

If you would like to contribute, the Poor Boxes are located in the Chapel of Grace and in the narthex of the Church at the top of both side stairs. Thank you for your generosity.  

Education key to present, future of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Winter weather has arrived and our homeless brothers and sisters are cold. During this season of Advent, we are collecting warm coats, used but in good condition, to be given to the people we serve (mostly men) through our Loaves & Fishes ministry. Please leave your donations in the narthex or gallery before Christmas.

Jesse Tree is also wonderful. People buy warm gloves, hats, socks, scarves, etc. as Christmas gifts for our homeless brothers and sisters who are served by our Loaves & Fishes ministry, as well as grocery gift certificates for the women served by My Sister's Place.  

There are two trees this year: one in the narthex and one in the gallery. Please take an ornament and remember those who are less fortunate when you are doing your Christmas shopping.  

Angel Tree presents should be WRAPPED and labeled with the Angel tag when they are returned and put under the tree THIS SUNDAY, December 14. Gift cards for My Sister's Place should be placed in the offertory collection basket at Mass. All other gifts should be placed under the tree UNWRAPPED for ease of delivery. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

For nearly 70 years Radio Mass of Baltimore has served the imprisoned, the hospitalized and travelers. Broadcasting live from St. Ignatius, the Jesuit Church of Baltimore, Radio Mass is now changing stations. Starting on January 4, 2015, Radio Mass will be heard at 9:00 AM on WQLL (AM 1370) instead of WBAL. People living in White Marsh, Bel Air, or elsewhere in Harford County can also hear the 9 AM broadcast on FM 99.9 (WFRE).  The Mass will also be rebroadcast each week on WCBM (AM 680) at 6 o'clock Sunday evening.  Please tell your friends.  If you have any questions, visit the website at  www.radiomass.org or call Carolyn Dunne at 410-539-7812. Here's to the next 70 years! 

David Brewster is the featured artist in the Reeves Gallery from December 14 - January 18.  

Brewster was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up on a farm in nearby Glyndon. His father was an investment banker and his mother worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art as a docent. David is now active in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States and is represented by Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY; Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; and C. Grimaldis Gallery, Baltimore, MD.

Brewster often paints directly from the subject, creating works in a single pass in the spirit of the American Action painters of the mid 20th century. "He sits within a tradition the French call premier coup," writes artist Stuart Shils," meaning 'all at once,' an attitude toward work in which the graphic urgency of improvisation response underscores all decisions and informs the energy of the mark making."

Brewster's work references agriculture, urban landscapes, and commercial development, and often their decline and abandonment. Author Pamela Mandell writes that his paintings "upend the viewer's expectations of the pastoral landscape through a startling combination of rural subject matter... with the industrial artifacts of contemporary life."

Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints

NFL Player's Thoughtful Ferguson Post About Sin and the Gospel Draws Applause

CNN) -- Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints, came home Monday night after a tough loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
It was late and surely he was worn out.

He turned on the television and saw everything that was going on in Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of the grand jury decision.

As he fixated at the screen, his heart hurt for the people there.
 NFL player's Ferguson essay goes viral

The next day, he started to deal with his emotions -- and there were many. Watson, in his 11th NFL season, likes to write down his feelings, so throughout the day he jotted them on his iPhone.

While sitting in a Target parking lot as his wife shopped, Watson went back and put the notes together into an emotional Facebook post. 

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