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ST. IGNATIUS WEBPAGE
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You can view last Sunday's Homily by clicking on link below:
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TRUTH SERUM
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This week's Truth Serum
is called "Who Will Carry The Light If We Do Not?"
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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's focus is Bread for the World. To learn more click here .
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MASS MUSIC
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Attached is the listing for the music selections
at next Sunday's
10:30 Mass.
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WORLD WATCH
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Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is happening with your brothers and sisters!
click here
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ST. IGNATIUS CALENDAR
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JOIN OUR LIST
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 Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J. |
by Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J.
It's hard to believe that our Lenten journey begins in less than a month. As I walk the streets of Baltimore I still see the occasional discarded Christmas tree. My how time flies! Lent is a journey - one which we all desire to travel faithfully and fruitfully. Inevitably this is harder than it sounds. The distractions and challenges of our daily lives intrude upon this holy season as they do in every season. Who among us hasn't found him or herself bearing down on Holy Week and wondering where the time went? Fortunately for all of us, the Jesuits of the USA are offering again a program of daily prayer and reflection.
Please join the Jesuits for "Igniting our Values," our Lenten 2015 digital prayer experience beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, through Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. Each evening, material for the following day's prayer will be posted here. Participants who sign up will receive an evening email with the newly posted content.
"Igniting our Values" will bring us together again, as pilgrims, to follow Jesus through the Lenten desert to the healing waters of the Resurrection.
While we journey, we will prayerfully consider the Gospel readings in light of our Ignatian identity. We will explore what it means to be companions of St. Ignatius - whether as Jesuits or Jesuit colleagues, partners in mission, students, alumni, family or friends. What, precisely, are the values and characteristics we think of as being uniquely "Ignatian" or "Jesuit"? How, in our many ministries and vocations, do we express, recognize and support those values?
Ignatian men and women from across the Jesuit spectrum will provide daily reflections (available in Spanish as well as English). Carefully selected music, video, art and poetry will enrich our prayer. To learn more about "Igniting our Values", or to sign up for the daily devotions, click here.
Stay tuned for updates on how our parish family will engage in this nationwide endeavor.
In His Great Love,
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Archbishop's Annual Appeal 2015
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ARCHBISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL - Many of you have already received the initial mailing regarding the 2015 appeal. This annual appeal is for funds to help parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are struggling economically to provide such ministries as religious education and youth ministry. A large portion of this appeal also contributes to the programs run by Catholic Charities. On the weekend of February 7 and 8 we will be given the opportunity to give and/or sign pledges to donate funds toward this appeal. In the past St. Ignatius parishioners have been very generous toward meeting the parish goal. This year that goal is $44,397. Everyone is strongly encouraged to prayerfully consider making a contribution toward that goal since the participation given by many donors, however small, can reach the goal easier than relying on a small number. Thank you in advance for your sense of stewardship. To learn more about this appeal, and what your contributions go towards click here.
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Continuing the Conversation...
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last week guest columnist Joshua Smith reviewed our recent movie evening in which we began a conversation on 'racism'.
Josh wrote that: "The racism of today is not as overt as it was in the 1950's and 60's during the Civil Rights Movement. It does, however, remain deeply integrated into our American culture." He continued, "Jesus followers have the difficult task of engaging in uncomfortable conversations and becoming conscious of the systemic and structural racism that plagues our nation."
We believe that is true - and it is our goal to grow in our understandings of the common nuances of racism, and wherever possible, to move into advocacy in order to prune it from our lives, from our churches, and from our community.
As we are growing and learning, we wanted to provide for you the link to a project called Inward/Outward which is sponsored byThe Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. As we are coming upon Black History Month (February), we thought it would be a great opportunity to sensitize ourselves to issues of the struggles, victories and issues surrounding the fight for total equality on every level. To subscribe to the daily reflections from Inward/Outward click here.
Let us all hope
that the dark clouds
of racial prejudice
will soon pass away,
and the deep fog of misunderstanding
will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities,
and in some not too distant tomorrow
the radiant stars of love and brotherhood
will shine over our great nation
with all their scintillating beauty.
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Last week in D.C.
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"We Need To Be the Field Hospital, Not Judge Judy"
- On March Eve, Cardinal O'Malley's Call: "Pro-Life" Means Pro-Poor
The following is a blog posting from the blog spot WHISPERS IN THE LOGGIA by Rocco Palmo. Palmo is one of global Catholicism's most prominent chroniclers. A former US correspondent for the London-based international Catholic weekly The Tablet, he's been a church analyst for The New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, BBC, NBC, CNN and NPR among other mainstream print and broadcast outlets worldwide.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015
Forty-two years since abortion was legalized in the US by the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, the defense of the unborn remains the paramount public cause of the Stateside church. Yet even as the annual March for Life in Washington to mark tomorrow's anniversary of the ruling has always provided the most significant platform on the issue both for the movement's base in the trenches and the horde of hierarchs on-hand to lead them, that's become all the more the case over these last two years in which the head of the USCCB's pro-life apparatus has suddenly emerged as the principal North American adviser to the Pope - and, by extension, the Vatican's most influential American power since John O'Connor bestrode the earth, if not longer still. Over the 21 months since that confluence came to pass, its clout and profile have been flexed selectively and with keen discernment... but both this year and last, rarely has their full force shown itself more than on this night. - CONTINUE READING
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| Upcoming Events |
 Embracing God's Gifts
- Tuesday, January 27
Due to the flight cancellation of tonight's guest speaker, Dr. Arthur Fitzmaurice, we are cancelling our meeting tonight. Our next meeting will be on February 24th.
Exhibition Opening in the Reeves Gallery
- Sunday, February 1  Join us in the Reeves Gallery on Sunday after the 10:30 Mass to view a new exhibit: photographs by parishioner Kevin Capinpin. This exhibit is entitled "Around Mount Vernon" and will be on display through March 7. Blessing of the Throats - Tuesday, February 3  On Tuesday, February 3rd we will celebrate the feast day of St. Blaise. to learn more about him, click here. Persons wishing to have their throats blessed will have an opportunity to do so at the end of each of our daily Masses in the Chapel of Grace at 7:30 AM and 12:10 PM. In addition, for the convenience of those who are unable to attend Mass on weekdays, throats will be blessed after every Mass next weekend. Morning of Reflection - Saturday, February 7  On Saturday, February 7, in Ignatian Hall, Father Bob Hamm, S.J., Seamus Dockery, and Toni Moore-Duggan will guide us in prayer and reflection into the joy of encountering Jesus Christ through the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist. The program begins at 8:45 AM and concludes with the 12:10 Mass. Please join us.
Charm City Baroque Concert
- Saturday, February 7  "The Glory of the German Baroque": Charm City Baroque (Michael De Sapio, Baroque violin; Marc Bellassai, harpsichord; Jessica Powell-Eig, viola da gamba) explore the wit, whimsy, pathos and gravitas of German Baroque violin music. Program features music by the great 17th century violin virtuosos Heinrich Biber and Jacob Walther as well as movements from JS Bach's Partita no. 1 for unaccompanied violin. The Concert, approximately one hour, without intermission will begin at 3 PM. Concert is free of charge, but a free will offering will be gratefully accepted.
Charm City Baroque is a young chamber ensemble dedicated to the most glorious era of western music. Formed by several friends who met while studying at the Peabody Conservatory, CCB brings the music of the 17th and 18th centuries to vivid life through the use of period instruments and insight into historical performances practice. Find them here on Facebook. Iñigo Book Group - Tuesday, February 10  The Iñigo Book Group will meet on Tuesday, Feb.10 in Ignatian Hall to discuss "The Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline. The meeting begins with social time from 6:30-7:00 and is followed by the discussion until 8:30. All are welcome! On March 10 the group will be discussing "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese. Please contact Catherine Young at pianocate2@gmail.com with any questions.
St. Ignatius Movie Night - "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" - Friday, February 13 
In conjunction with the start of the Lenten Season, St. Ignatius Catholic Community is presenting Brother Sun, Sister Moon. Stunning visual metaphors irradiate this 1972 production about a man who gave up everything - wealth, rank, and the pleasures of the flesh - to wear rags, beg food, and seek God in a leper or a field of flowers. More a poem than a biography, the film exalts Francis of Assisi's spirit and message. For more information click here. Ash Wednesday Masses - Wednesday, February 18  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. To view Mass schedule click here. Young Family Social Event - Saturday, February 21  We are kicking off the Young Families Ministry this year with a potluck get together on February 21 at 3pm at Jack & Jenny Linehan's home in Hampden. All young couples and families (including children) are welcome. If you would like more details or just want to RSVP, please email Jack directly at jlinehan02@yahoo.com. Please propose any drinks (juice, soda, beer, wine) or food (finger food or snacks) you intend to bring. Father Steve Spahn will join us as well for a lovely afternoon to connect, commune, and celebrate marriage and family.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Spring 2015 Weekend Retreat -"Behold the Face of God"
Friday April 24 - Sunday April 26, 2015
Loyola on the Potomac, Faulkner, Maryland
Based on the methodology and content of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this retreat is conducted in an atmosphere of prayerful silence and includes generous amounts of time for prayer, personal reflection and the cultivation of a deep relationship with God.
Our theme invites our retreatants to explore the Ignatian Principles of being "Contemplatives in Action" and "Finding God in all Things."
The invisible God is made visible through his creative work. Everything is made and continues in existence by God's creative/salvific work in Christ (John 1: 118). By seeing what God does, we come to know who he is. All that we see is a reflection of God, leads us to God and yet God is not contained in or limited to any created thing. We deepen our ability to see and understand with eyes of Faith.
The retreat is open to anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God through prayer. For fees, registration, and further information CLICK HERE.
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| In the Media |
 What's God got to do with football devotion? Plenty 
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson bows his head in prayer after the overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 18 at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime. (RNS/Reuters/USA Today/Kirby Lee)
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by Cathy Lynn Grossman Religion News Service | Jan. 24, 2015
Did God lift Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's overtime pass into the end zone on Jan. 18, rewarding the prayerful Christian player with a championship victory and a trip to the Super Bowl?
Millions of Americans may think so.
"One in four Americans believe there will be a 12th man on the field, and that the hand of God will be seen before the final whistle blows in the Super Bowl," said Robert Jones, CEO of Public Religion Research Institute.
And 53 percent agree God "rewards athletes who have faith with good health and success," according to a new PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey released Thursday.
Indeed, not only did majorities of all but one major religious group put faith in God's rewarding the faithful, so did 27 percent of those who claim no religion, the "nones."
The survey of 1,012 U.S. adults, conducted by PRRI in partnership with Religion News Service, measures how people interweave team spirit and spirituality -- and moral wrath, too. Nearly one in three Americans would slap a lifetime ban on players convicted of domestic violence, even for someone on their favorite team. - READ MORE
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