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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 we entered into "The Year of Mercy." In light of this, our Truth Serum is entitled: Toward a Catholic Understanding of "Mercy" 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 Helping Up Mission, an organization that focuses on supportive care for poor and homeless men in Baltimore. - 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. 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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Catholics Shouldn't Support Trump's Ban On Muslims, Bishop Says
Carissimi,
Our Archbishop has spoken out against denying people entrance to the United States based solely on religious affiliation as strategy in the fight against terrorism, saying that such policies would threaten religious freedom and incite more violence. This link gives you the full story.
We must all decry the hucksterism of public servants and would-be elected officials who stir up suspicion and fear against Muslims and Latinos-just as the demagogues of the past stirred up suspicion and fear against Catholics, Jews, Africans, Irish, Italians, Chinese, Japanese and Eastern Europeans [did I miss anyone?].
Our faith calls us to be better than this, as does our citizenship in this great Republic. I am grateful to Archbishop Lori for reminding us of both.
By your side, in His service,
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ADVENT, WEEK 3 - JOY
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The third week of Advent is about the joy that is ours because God has entered the world. Angels heralded the birth of the Messiah and kings came from the east to worship and marvel at what God has done.
We marvel that God would step into our world, broken and marred by our sin - and that His ultimate purposes cannot be stopped or deterred. Awareness of this can bring us great comfort and great joy, even as we still live in a world with sorrow and pain, particularly grievous with the multiple acts of terrorism seen globally these past few months.
I came across two videos I would like to share with you on this third week of Advent. The first is a wonderful rendition of The Prayer by David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco. For me this Advent season, the lyrics perfectly articulate my cry to the God who was so concerned about the plight of humankind, that He came to save us from our sins. We need Him to come and save us in the midst of the hatred, strife and turmoil that is currently manifest in our world.
"I pray You'll be our guide, and watch us as we go, and help us to be wise in times when we don't know."
Lord Jesus, manifest your presence in us and through us... that the world might know your love, grace, mercy, peace...and great joy!
The second video is simply the beautiful biblical proclamation of our Savior coming into our humanity as portrayed by youth from around the globe. Enjoy the Advent Joy of knowing that God can be approached with our fears and cares ( The Prayer video), and that there is a purpose for His coming to us ( A Savior is Born video).  |
A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!
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Sunday evening the Young Adult Ministry at St. Ignatius had their holiday 'ugly sweater' Christmas Party. A terrific evening of fun, food and fellowship!
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CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD: WHAT IS OUR GOAL?
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 You who attend the 10:30 Mass have surely seen the procession of children called forth after the Opening Prayer to join their peers in the sacristy for their own "Liturgy of the Word." Our Sunday worship is not short on words. When we gather your children at this time, we aim to break open the Word of God in a meaningful way for our youngest members. Typically this means focusing on a story or phrase from the Scriptures that resonates in the lives of our little people. We intend this ministry for children from Kindergarten to 3rd grade. Father Spahn and a generous team of volunteers help shepherd this class. Our PREP program engages our older children in a similar fashion. Please pray for these young people - those who attend this Children's Liturgy of the Word and those engaged in our religious education program - and for their parents, who are, as the Rite of Baptism proclaims - "the first and best teachers" of their children. By the way...if you are interested in volunteering for this ministry or have any questions about it, please contact Trudy Bartel at trudybartel@st-ignatius.net, or Fr. Steve Spahn at stevespahn@st-ignatius.net.
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SAVE THE DATES
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 Earned Sick Leave Rally with Senator Catherine Pugh and Delegate Luke Clippinger
- Monday, January 11
On Monday, January 11, the Justice and Peace Committee and Working Matters will co-host an "Earned Sick Leave" rally in order to become a focused and energized group encouraging the state legislators to pass the "Earned Sick Leave Bill" during the next legislative session, which convenes on January 13. During the upcoming 2016 Session, the Maryland Legislature is poised to pass legislation that would allow every Maryland worker the ability to earn paid sick leave, but they need persistent reminding. We want to help send a loud message to Annapolis to pass legislation that respects all Maryland workers and their families. Joining in the evening are the two major sponsors of the bill, Senator Catherine Pugh and Delegate Luke Clippinger who will give us first hand knowledge of what the bill entails, and what we can do to help support it. We need your support and loud voice,  and we heartily encourage you to attend this event that will kick off this push to change the law to help so many... maybe even you! The rally is from 6:30 until 8:30 PM in Ignatian Hall. For more information, contact Terry Cavanagh, Chair of the Justice and Peace Economic Justice Subcommittee at 202-368-4814 or by email at tcavanagh@seiumddc.org.
Catholic Lobby Night
- Tuesday, February 9
Join the Justice and Peace Economic Justice Subcommittee and Catholics from all over Maryland at the Maryland Catholic Conference Annual Lobby Night taking place on February 9, 2016 starting at 3 PM and continuing until 7:30 PM in Annapolis. Lobby Night provides Catholic voters the opportunity to speak with their selected officials about issues to support and share in the Church's outreach in the state, and helps build relationships with legislators. A light supper will be provided.
What you can expect:
- Streamlined briefing at St. John Neumann Mission Church, Annapolis (3:00 - 3:30 PM)
- Shuttles to the state office buildings (beginning at 4:30 PM)
- Visits with legislators to deliver postcards and discuss the Church's stance on issues (5:00 - 6:00 PM)
- Dinner reception with legislators (6:00 - 7:30 PM)
- Short "Next Steps" presentation from Conference staff (7:30 PM)
- Shuttles available back to St. John Neumann Mission Church (7:30 PM)
Registration is necessary to participate, and instructions are simple:
- The event is free but you MUST register at www.mdcathcon.org/lobbynight. There are several options available. If you cannot make it to Annapolis for the 3 PM briefings, we encourage you to join the legislative visits at 5 PM or the reception at 6 PM.
- When you are done registering, click here to send your legislators a pre-drafted email telling them you'll see them on February 9th!
Thank you - and see you on February 9th.
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ANOTHER IMPORTANT SAVE THE DATE!
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Beginning January 10th and running through January 18th, St. Ignatius will be hosting a series of events that fall under the heading "Keeping the Dream Alive - a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." The week will see films, a racial dialogue event, and the following event which is actually the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, which will be hosted by Loyola University. We are putting out the information on this now because, while the event is free, reservations are required. Get ready...January is going to be a rockin' month!
The office of academic affairs at Loyola University Maryland invites you to save the date for the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at 5 p.m. in McGuire Hall featuring Claudia Rankine, distinguished guest and author.
Claudia Rankine is one of the nation's most interesting and powerful voices on race in America today. Her work spans various genres, including visual arts and the essay, and draws on everyday experience, popular culture, and history to create a compelling portrait of what it means to be a member of the American community.
An award-winning, Jamaican-born poet, Rankine's fifth book, Citizen: An American Lyric, published last year, received the 2015 Forward Prize for Best Collection and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. A finalist for the National Book Award, Citizen won the NAACP Image Award, the PEN Open Book Award, and the LA Times Book Award for poetry. Citizen is the winner of the Hurston/Wright 2015 Legacy Award, finalist for the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize, and was selected as an NPR Best Book of 2014.
Rankine has become known for her "American lyrics:" powerful, inventive meditations on everyday racial experience in American life, infused by long legacies of violence up through and beyond Ferguson, Mo. The cover of Citizen is a haunting image of the empty top of a hoodie, reminiscent of the death of Trayvon Martin and American loss. Her talk will help the Loyola community sustain a conversation on race on campus and in Baltimore and the greater community.
This event is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required. Click here for ticket information. Tickets will be available starting Dec. 9 and attendees are encouraged to obtain tickets by Monday, Jan. 11.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Christmas and New Year's Mass Schedule
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CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24
Family Mass - 4 PM
Evening Mass - 6 PM
Christmas Music - 8:30 PM
Solemn Christmas Mass - 9 PM
(This Mass will be followed by our parish's traditional Christmas Eve Grand Reception in Ignatian Hall from 10:30 to 11:30 PM)
CHRISTMAS DAY - DECEMBER 25
Mass in Chapel - 8 AM
Christmas Mass in Main Church 10:30 AM
(There will be a reception in Ignatian Hall following the 10:30 Mass)
NEW YEAR'S EVE - DECEMBER 31
Interfaith Service - 8:30 PM
(special music prior to Interfaith Service - 7:30 PM)
Jewish - Muslim - Christian
ALL ARE WELCOME!
NEW YEAR'S DAY- JANUARY 1
Mass will be celebrated on New Year's Day at 10:30 AM in the Church
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IN THE MEDIA
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Why Humility Always Trumps Inflammatory Rhetoric
Colbert's comments about prayer underscore a need to bring humility to public discourse.
On Monday night, Stephen Colbert returned to The Late Show after a week away from TV.
He'd missed a tragically eventful few days. Following terrorists attacks in San Bernardino, California, that killed 14 people and injured 21 others, Americans collectively grappled with some very heavy issues: guns, immigration, the role of prayer, terrorism.
But, in the midst of dialogue and debate, something uglier than heated discourse emerged. Inflammatory rhetoric and vitriol drowned out calls for unity and solutions, with religion at the center of much of the outrage.
A major news source scolded politicians who offered "thoughts and prayers" to terrorism victims, claiming they were simply making "meaningless platitudes." Cable news outlets rifled through the belongings of the suspects, showing pictures of their child's room and private documents on live TV. Two news anchors on one network were suspended for lobbing expletives directed at the president following his address to the nation.- READ MORE
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