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ST. IGNATIUS WEBPAGE
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You can view or read last Sunday's Homily
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TRUTH SERUM
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This week's
Truth Serum coincides with our Friday Night Showing of the film "Pay It Forward". It looks at the beautiful, biblical concept of what it means to pay it forward. click here
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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 support goes to
No Kid Hungry Maryland.
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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. click here
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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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This next weekend we will celebrate Bread for the World Sunday. Under the leadership of Phillip Clark, who coordinates Bread for the World activities, and Amy Petkovsek, who heads up Loaves and Fishes, we are beginning to think about how Loaves and Fishes, our ministry to Viva House and other efforts can foster direct connections with the hungry of our city.
It is our hope that through prayer, reflection, and conversation we will better be able to deepen our advocacy, solidarity, and direct connection with those who suffer from hunger - especially the young and the vulnerable right here in Baltimore.
In all of this, we are exploring ways to network with other churches and agencies such as Catholic Charities and the Family League of Baltimore to share information and collaborate in direct service to the homeless, the poor, and the marginalized.
It is no small thing that we collect groceries for the poor and bring soup and sandwiches to the homeless. St. Vincent de Paul said, "It is only by feeling your love that the poor will forgive you for the gifts of bread."
Done without communicating love, gifts to the poor tend to reinforce the differences between giver and receiver. For any relationship to be transformative and mutually enriching, we have to give something of ourselves.
This weekend we begin with prayer - again, no small thing. Won't you join me in praying that we as individuals and as a parish will have the humility and wisdom to love, accompany, and learn from those we serve.
Yikes! Pray too, that I as your pastor will have the humility and wisdom to love, accompany, and learn from you!
By your side, in His Service,
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GREAT BEGINNING!
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A Day of Racial Justice Harmony was a Great Success!
 The blessing of the new African American version of
the crucifix, now hanging in the St. Ignatius balcony |
Toni Moore-Duggan, with husband Michael.
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terrific showing - a great Mass and message - special music - the blessing of a crucifix of a black Christ and the painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe - a new exhibit in Reeves Gallery about St. Ignatius history in this racial work - and oh, the food! There were so many people who made this day such a memorable experience. But can we just honor one who had the ideas and vision? Toni Moore-Duggan! We are grateful for your efforts.
If you would like to view yesterday's special Mass celebrating A Day of Racial Justice Harmony, you can do so by clicking here.
Remember, this is just the kickoff of the work St. Ignatius is planning to do in our city that is so full of racial strife. This will be accomplished by partnering with other churches and organizations in events, lectures, peace rallys in the days to come.
St. Ignatius' next event to be presented by the Racial Justice Forum is the November 2nd lecture by Rev. Joshua Smith, entitled Concrete Rose: Pushing Past the Hopelessness of a Broken City. Both a Bible savvy and street smart social change advocate, Joshua will give a fresh grassroots perspective on issues affecting black Baltimore inner city youth, where the problems originated and practical solutions in which the church can play an integral part.To learn more about this event, click here.
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I AM SECOND
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God...Our One True Friend 
In today's social media world, "friends" come and go with each passing day. We collect vast numbers and mass communicate with them via a keypad. In many ways they are just names in a directory.
Having true friends is much more complicated, especially during the critical school years. Doug Bender's perceived lack of friends growing up greatly impacted his life. In his I Am Second film, Doug remembers the scarring that took place during his search for friends, and how he finally discovered the key to understanding friendship.
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| | I am Second Video - Doug Bender |
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ON RE-DISCOVERING THE HEART OF CHRIST - IN MY HEART
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The following is an article I wrote several years ago in my position as a pastor and director of church planting for our movement in Ukraine - and as an advocate/director in the anti-human trafficking movement. I thought I'd share with you how I re-discovered the heart of Jesus in my own life through a way that I've come to learn is the center of the Jesuit spiritual practices. - John Odean
The Fields of the Fatherless
by John Odean
Tom Davis, in his book, The Fields of the Fatherless, may have committed the words to paper, but I'm pretty sure they were words he'd stolen from the loud emptiness ruminating inside of me. He wrote:
What am I missing? Some years ago, I found myself asking this question almost daily. As a pastor, I thought I knew what mattered to God. I read my Bible almost every day. I tithed, I watched the "right" movies, I prayed as often as I could, I kept my devotions on track and I even journaled in an attempt to reflect on what was happening in my life! But none of this could shake my conviction that I was still missing something. Something important.
The rest of the book talks about Davis' journey into finding Jesus in a whole new dimension as he joined Jesus in the "fields of the fatherless" - orphan ministry in post communist Russia. I found Him in Odessa, Ukraine. A friend we hadn't seen in a decade reconnected with us and told us of the orphan crisis they had been working with in this post-soviet bloc country. The government admitted to there being 250,000 orphans, but it's likely there are more than 500,000 of them. We listened in horror as we heard of the barely livable facilities housing them and of society's disdain for them. Our friend had been filming a documentary about this pandemic when she walked into one of the "infant" orphanages. Babies, sometimes 25-30 of them in one room with only one worker, lying in their own urine and feces, screaming in their cribs! Our overwhelmed friend laid down her video camera and picked up the calling of her life - to turn around this horrible atrocity. By the time we reconnected, she had been at work for nearly a decade. She invited us to join her in her efforts.
I will never forget the night I first walked into a group of Ukrainian orphans. - READ MORE
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SEE THE TRAILER...THEN COME WATCH THE FILM!
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This Friday Evening is the showing of "Pay It Forward". See details in "Events" Box Below. Bring Your Friends...Bring Your Family!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Iñigo Book Group
 Inigo Book Group will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Ignatian Hall to discuss "God's Hotel" by Victoria Sweet. The meeting begins with social time from 6:30-7:00 and is followed by the discussion until 8:30. The Nov.10 meeting is a planning session for 2016. All are welcome! Please note that there is no meeting in December. The January reading is "Transatlantic" by Column McCann and the meeting will be held on Jan. 12. Any questions - please contact Catherine Young at pianocate2@gmail.com.
Lecture: The Cry of the Earth - Part II (with Jack Haught)
 In June Pope Francis issued a stirring call to action for all of us to reexamine humanity's relationship with our creator and our planet and to save "our common home". His encyclical Laudato Si' covers much more than simply climate change, exploring subjects such as biodiversity, clean water and the disproportion effects of environmental degradation of the poor.
This fall St. Vincent, along with co-sponsor St. Ignatius Catholic Community, delves more deeply into the encyclical with a three-part speaker series, featuring three distinguished professors who have written about faith and the environment. On Wednesday, October 14th, part 2 will be presented: Science, Theology, and "Laudato Si". This lecture will be held at St. Vincent's Church. For more details, click here.
The Justice & Peace Committee
- Thursday, October 15
 The Justice & Peace Committee is dedicated to the service of faith and the promotion of justice. We are organized through subcommittees that identify particular programs to more effectually: serve the poor and our focus on hunger and homelessness in Baltimore City; support Immigration advocacy and projects - at risk children and families; Economic Justice (legislatively advocate a paid sick leave initiative); support justice issues especially impacting women; and advocate for and develop diversity in our community. We remain committed to organizations working for domestic and international peace and justice. This meeting will be in Ignatian Hall, beginning at 6:30 PM. For more detailed information click here.
On Friday, October 16 at 7:30 PM, St. Ignatius Catholic Community will show Pay It Forward, an inspiring and imaginative film that speaks directly to the greatest social problem and character disorder of our times - incivility. Wherever one looks - in the home, on the street, or at work - everyone is consumed with taking care of number one. Small acts of courtesy, it seems, are a thing of the past.
Pay It Forward dares to point us in a different direction, through an 11-year-old boy named Trevor, and his innovative "pay it forward" social studies project. It boldly reveals that kindness and putting others first are acts of moral beauty. It concretely proclaims that each person can make a difference in the world by doing good. And it reveals that although we'll probably never know the effects of our acts of compassion, that's okay. The reward is in the act itself. Tissues will be available.
- There is no charge for this event. Popcorn, snacks and beverages will be provided.
 Bread For the World Sunday
- Sunday, October 18
On Sunday, October 18th, Saint Ignatius will be participating in Bread for the World Sunday - an occasion to raise awareness through prayer and solidarity in the effort to end hunger in Baltimore and throughout the world. During the Sunday liturgies, various prayers will be offered regarding the phenomenon of hunger. The poor box will be designated for No Kid Hungry Maryland - a local affiliate of a national campaign conducted by the non-profit Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength is dedicated to eradicating pervasive hunger among children, particularly through the promotion of after school meals programs. Following this year's Offering of Letters, Bread for the World Sunday offers parishioners the opportunity to engage in tangible action supporting childhood nutrition. Pope Francis reminds us that, "Poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus, in that child who is hungry." Celebrate with us, as we pray and work to eliminate the scourge of hunger from our society.
Exhibit Opening & Artist's Talk with Brother Mickey O'Neill McGrath, - Monday, October 19 
Please join us on Monday, October 19th from 6 to 8 p.m. for a reception and artist talk from Brother Mickey O'Neill McGrath, OSFS, an Oblate of St. Frances de Sales. His paintings and illustrations are known nationally. His great storytelling and love for Catholic traditions are alive in his brilliant art. This event is our first weeknight reception this gallery season. To learn about this wonderful artist visit his site by clicking here.
Women of the New Testament - Tuesday, October 20th  The Women of the New Testament group meets on the third Tuesday of each month, and is currently discussing
the book Women of the Bible by Tikva Frymer-Kensky. This book addresses two of the most significant intellectual and religious issues of our day: the experiences of women in a patriarchal society and the relevance of the Bible to modern life.
At the October meeting they will be discussing the last three chapters of Part 1 ("Victors"): "A Wise Woman of Power", "The Shunanmite", and "Villains: Potphar's Wife, Delilah, and Athaliah." Both men and women are invited to participate in these fascinating discussions. The meeting will be at 6:45 PM in Ignatian Hall.
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IN THE MEDIA
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How to Pray for the Syrian Refugee Crisis.
Advice for when you don't know what to say.
 Over the last few months, the world has been watching tragic stories of refugees fleeing the Middle East. And I suspect that many of us feel overwhelmed by the incredible need of the refugee population right now. I've been reading the Humans of New York stories shared over the previous few weeks, and I can't help but break down as I do so. It hurts my heart to see so many people struggling to simply find a safe place to lay their heads at night. I can't even imagine some of the horrors they've had to go through, just because of where they were born and where they live. It's hard to know how to really help. I've donated money to organizations helping those in need, I've spoken to my political representatives about helping, but I want to do more. What else can I do? While I read about the refugee crisis, I'm prompted to give and advocate, but I sometimes forget that prayer is a powerful way to help, as well. I can pray for peace. I can pray for protection. I can pray for our leaders to open their hearts and our borders to take in those fleeing unimaginable circumstances. I can pray for safety. I can pray for changed hearts. I can pray. - CLICK HERE
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The Independent:
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The Huffington Post:
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America Magazine:
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Religion News Service:
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CRUX:
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