|
ST. IGNATIUS WEBPAGE
|  |
You can view last Sunday's Homily by clicking on link below:
|
|
TRUTH SERUM
|  |
This week's Truth Serum looks at
Rejecting White Dominion - The Spiritual Lie: God Is White So White People Are
Like Gods
- click here
|
|
POOR BOX COLLECTION
|
 |
Each weekend
St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. This week's support goes to
the Jesuit Kino
Border Initiative
|
|
MASS MUSIC
|
 |
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass. click here
|
|
WORLD WATCH
|
 |
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is happening with your brothers and sisters! - click here.
|
|
ST. IGNATIUS CALENDAR
|  | |
|
|
JOIN OUR LIST
|  |
|
|
Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Faith,
Every Catholic parish has a concern and care for all of its children and young people. A major way it provides for them is through its religious education program. At St. Ignatius Church we call that program PREP. It is operative on six levels from First Communion to Confirmation. We have six dedicated catechists who instruct our young ones in the knowledge, traditions and practice of the Catholic faith.
Duarte Aguiar |
For the past four years the director and coordinator of PREP has been Duarte Aguiar. He hails from Newark, New Jersey, where he grew up in a Portuguese neighborhood. He attended the local Catholic Church and went to an excellent private Catholic High School in that city: Saint Benedicts Prep. He continued his education at Seton Hall University where he received his undergraduate degree.
At the end of this month, Duarte will be moving on to other work. During his time with us he has given a great deal of time and energy to making PREP a very special ministry at our parish. Besides his work with PREP, Duarte has also assisted in a number of other assignments including the Young Adults Ministry and, at the staff level, the Coordinator for All Parish Ministries. On behalf of all of our parishioners, I thank Duarte for his great commitment and dedication to the roles and functions he fulfilled during his years with us. We all extend to him and his wife, Jen, our very best wishes.
Trudy Bartel Alli Clayton |
Taking Duarte's place as Coordinator of PREP is parishioner Trudy Bartel. We welcome her and thank her for taking up this work with all our young ones.
Parishioner Allison Clayton will take on the work of Coordinator for the Young Adult Ministry. We welcome her to this growing ministry in our parish.
As we say farewell to Duarte, I ask you to welcome both Trudy and Allison to their very important work at Saint Ignatius.
Sincerely in the Risen Jesus,
|
|
A Christmas Salvation...
|
One Sunday at the 10:30 Mass the choir sang a magnificent rendition of the beautiful hymn Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us. We don't know who wrote the words to this hymn, but we do know that it first appeared in a children's hymnal compiled by Dorothy Thrupp in 1836, so some people think that Mrs. Thrupp wrote it--but there is a story connected to the hymn that we do know for certain. It has to do with Ira D. Sankey, the American gospel singer and composer, who was associated with the famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody in the 1800's.
On Christmas Eve in 1876, Sankey was traveling on a steamboat up the Delaware River. Travelers on that evening, seemingly cut adrift in a world where everyone else was celebrating with loved ones, gathered on the deck of the boat, looking out at the calm, starlit night. Someone said, "Mr. Sankey is aboard!" and immediately there were cries of "Let him sing for us! Let's ask Mr. Sankey to sing!"
Sankey, who was leaning against one of the great funnels of the boat, before he began, paused for a moment as if in prayer, deciding what to sing. He wanted to sing a Christmas song, but somehow the words of the Shepherd Song were what came to his heart.
Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care.
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare.
Among the listeners, there was a deep stillness, the words telling the story of God's love for wandering men and women. The beautiful melody floated out across the deck, across the water, into the night. Every heart was stirred.
At the end of the song, there was an almost audible response. One man stepped forth, a rather rough-looking man.
To Sankey, he said, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?"
"Yes," answered Sankey. "In the spring of 1860."
"Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright moonlight night in 1862?"
"Yes, I do," answered Sankey, with surprise. "Were you...?"
"I did, too, but I was serving in the Confederate Army. When I saw you standing at your post, I said to myself, 'That fellow will never get away from here alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was in the shadow, completely hidden, while you walked in full moonlight.
"At that instant, you began to sing-just as a moment ago. The song was 'Saviour, like a shepherd lead us...'
"The music reached my heart. I took my finger off the trigger. 'I'll wait until the end of the song,' I said to myself. 'I can't miss him, and I can shoot him afterwards.'
"As you sang, you reached the place where it says,
'We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,'
"'Be the guardian of our way...'
"I could hear every word perfectly, and how the memories came to my heart! I began to think of my childhood and my mother. She loved God. She had sung that song to me many times. But she died all too soon, otherwise I think my life might have been different.
"At the end of the song, I could not raise my musket again. It was impossible for me to take aim, though you still stood in the bright moonlight, a perfect target.
"Then I thought of the Lord. I looked at you and thought, 'The Lord who was able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' My arm dropped to my side and I cannot tell you all the things I thought at that time. My heart was smitten, but I didn't know what to do.
"Just now, when you were about to sing and stood quietly as if praying, I recognized you. I've wandered far and wide, since that other occasion. I have never found that Shepherd. Please help me now find a cure for my sick soul."
Deeply moved, Mr. Sankey threw his arms about the man who had been his enemy, who, indeed, could have ended his life. That Christmas Eve night, a former soldier found the great and tender Shepherd as his Savior.
|
Next Sunday's Mass
|
Mass of Hope: A Mass in the Jazz Idiom
As you know, this upcoming Sunday, July 26th we will be celebrating the Feast of St. Ignatius or the Solemnity of St. Ignatius Loyola at the 10:30 Mass. The musical program will include selections from Mass of Hope: A Mass in the Jazz Idiom, by Pittsburgh jazz guitarist and educator Joe Negri**. This joyous and tuneful setting of the Mass will feature a jazz ensemble (piano, bass, drums and guitar) led by our very own Tim Murphy. We hope you and your friends will come to participate in a unique worship experience.
A Message from the Composer
Jazz Guitarist, Joe Negri |
I'm so excited and happy that the musicians of St. Ignatius Church will be performing parts of the Mass of Hope for the Feast of St. Ignatius.
The Mass of Hope had a very inauspicious beginning. Starting out as a piece for solo voice and jazz quartet, it has grown considerably over the years.
I'm always happy when the Mass is being performed by groups outside of Pittsburgh. We have been privileged to perform it on many levels, from high school choirs to professional groups like the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. It has been performed outside of Pittsburgh on only two other occasions.
The Mass definitely has jazz roots, but I hope that it is music that can be enjoyed and loved by non-jazz fans as well. I truly believe that hope is what the world needs. And jazz music is the only music I know that is capable of transcending people of different backgrounds and ages. Jazz can take people to places no other music can, giving them hope, and giving them joy.
Thanks to Paul Teie and his group for performing these pieces.
- Joe Negri
**Joseph Harold "Joe" Negri (born 1926) is a jazz guitarist and educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He appeared as a regular cast member, "Handyman Negri", on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Currently he teaches jazz guitar as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Joe Negri does Gershwin with the Wheeling Symphony
|
Visit Reeves Gallery This Weekend
|
Stop by the Reeves Gallery after Mass next weekend. We have a new showing by our own Kevin Kuczynski. Kevin just graduated from Gilman in June and will be attending Macalester College in the fall. He was this year's winner of Gilman's Harold Holmes Wrenn Art Prize. This collection features oil paintings, drawings and some photography.
|
From the Office
|
We just wanted to inform you that we are sending out a rather "stuffed" envelope in the mail in the next couple of days. Keep your eyes open as it contains very important financial information that you will enjoy reading!
|
Thanks For Giving!
|
From Our Friends At Catholic Charities
On Friday morning our good friends at St. Ignatius Church, Baltimore, MD donated 30 bags of deodorant, razors, bars of soap and other essential toiletries for the residents of the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center! Thanks to these wonderful parishioners, residents like Michael received much-needed supplies. We are so grateful to the folks at St. Ignatius!
|
| Upcoming Events |
Viva House Collection Grocery Collection
- Sunday, July 26
In celebration of the Feast of St. Ignatius and in keeping with our goal of becoming Men and Women for Others, on July 26, we will be collecting groceries for the neighbors of Viva House, the Catholic Worker community in southwest Baltimore. If you can help, please bring to Ignatian Hall on Sunday, July 26 a reusable cloth bag (or a double brown paper bag) containing the following items: 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, 1 toilet paper. Thank you for your generosity. You really make a difference to those in need.
 Annual Feast of St. Ignatius
- Sunday, July 26
Plan to join us at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, July 26, when we will celebrate the feast day of our patron saint in a special way. This will surely be a Mass of great beauty. The celebration will include selections from Mass of Hope: A Mass in the Jazz Idiom, by Pittsburgh jazz guitarist and educator Joe Negri. This joyous and tuneful setting of the Mass will feature a jazz ensemble (piano, bass, drums and guitar) led by our very own Tim Murphy. We hope you will join us for this unique worship experience. A grand feast will follow in Ignatian Hall.
 Annual Ignatian Day Lecture
- Monday, July 27
The Annual Ignatian Day Lecture will take place this year on Monday, July 27th featuring Fr. Tom Gaunt, S.J. and the topic: "Rediscovering Catholic America: Growing, Moving, Changing."
The Catholic population of the United States is dynamic and changing, as it has always been. The factors underlying these changes are often overlooked or misrepresented - factors that are key to understanding the Church's vitality and engagement. Where is the Church growing and diminishing? Who are today's Catholics? Who are tomorrow's parish leaders? This presentation of current research on Catholics is both provocative and insightful. The Ignatian Day Lecture will be held in the Chapel of Grace at 7:30 PM; there is no charge, and a reception will follow in Ignatian Hall.
Fr. Gaunt is Executive Director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), and research professor at Georgetown University. To download flyer of event CLICK HERE.
Unbound Prayer Morning
- August 15
Have you ever longed for freedom but felt unable to receive it? Do past sins, hurts, or memories keep weighing you down? On Saturday morning, August 15th there will be teams available to provide prayer ministry using the Unbound Model of Prayer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Ellicott City. Unbound Prayer is based on 5 simple, Scriptural keys that will help you unlock areas of your life where you feel "stuck" or that have held you back in your spiritual growth. This Unbound Prayer Model provides compassionate listening without judgment to help you attain greater freedom in Christ.
If you are interested in receiving this kind of prayer, or wish to learn more, please contact Dan Gahagan by Saturday, August 10th, 2015 via email at unboundministrymaryland@gmail.com and we can schedule you.
|
|
| In the Media |
Shopping Our Way Into A Brighter Future
Have you seen the new piece from Huffington Post Highline, The Myth of the Ethical Shopper? It's a pretty fierce condemnation of the way we try to make social change happen in the world. For years, our model of creating social change, especially as it relates to consumer products, has been name-and-shame. It has been somewhat effective, but not nearly to the level we hoped it would.
We've scolded Nike, Walmart, H&M, Coca-Cola, and plenty more for their absolutely abysmal human and labor rights violations. In April, John Oliver looked at the horrifying history of workplace abuse in several of these companies. It would be nice if we could pretend that these issues were a problem of the 90s. After all, that's when we all took great offense at the clothes we were wearing. But it's an issue that has not only persisted, but has become worse. - READ MORE
|
America Magazine:
|  |
Sojourners Magazine:
| 
|
Religion New Service:
| 
|
Relevant Magazine:
| 
|
National Catholic Reporter:
| 
|
National Catholic Register:
|
|
|
|
