Issue # 08032016                                                           March 8, 2016


















Fr. Jim Casciotti S
Carissimi,

Our Lenten Penance Service, which includes the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation individually with a priest, is coming up on Wednesday evening, 16 March at 7:30 PM. The staff and some brave parishioners have collaborated in a video [click here] that explains what the sacrament is about and encourages you to give it a try if you never have or it's been a long time.
 
I include here a favorite quote of mine by St. Francis Xavier. I assure you that if you give one of the Jesuits here the privilege of acting as your confessor, you will find the gentleness, comfort, and wisdom that only comes from being a sinner-just like everyone else:
 
"Take care not to frighten away by stern rigor poor sinners who are trying to lay bare the shocking state of their souls. Speak to them rather of the great mercy of God, and make easy for them what is at best a difficult task. Be especially gentle with those who from human weakness...have not the courage to confess the ugly things they have done. Tell them that whatever they have to say will be no news to you. Sometimes people are helped by your telling them about your own lamentable past."
                                                     
Many blessings as our Lenten journey brings us to Holy Week and the joy of Easter.

 By your side, In His service,




This Week's Special Event: 
Bishop Madden's
Prayer Walk For Peace in the City to be hosted by St. Ignatius Catholic Community


It's been nearly a year since the tragic death of Freddie Gray, Jr. and the uprisings that broke out in Baltimore as a result. Since that time Bishop Denis J. Madden has led monthly prayer walks that include priests, local Catholics and other people of faith. These walks have moved throughout the city making stops along the way to sing hymns, reflect and pray at points where violence took place. This month St. Ignatius Catholic Community will host the prayer walk and the simple dinner that accompanies the event. 

We invite you to join us in the walk, support our parish, and learn about significant local points pertaining to violence and urban needs surrounding the Parish of St. Ignatius. Stations of focus will include:
  • The murder site in front of the St. Ignatius rectory (January 11, 2014) and the fatal stabbing site of two young men (December 20, 2015) in the 300 block of N. Calvert Street.
  • The Central Booking and Intake Center where hundreds of men and women were detained following the 2015 unrest.
  • The Chesapeake Detention Facility which, until June 2010, housed death row. The death penalty was abolished in Maryland in 2014. 
  • Our Daily Bread which is a lifeline to those in need offering daily hot meals, assisting the homeless, and working with case management, job training and employment counseling for those endeavoring to transition out homelessness.
  • The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Housing and Resource Center - a low-barrier shelter housing 275 residents, serving those employed in low-income jobs, those affected by substance abuse, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community and those suffering from mental or physical disability. The Center also houses a convalescent unit for people without homes who need a place to recuperate under medical supervision after being released from the hospital.
Pertinent Information:
  • As you come for this event, you may park at no charge in the the parking lot behind the State Highway Administration Building (707 N. Calvert Street). The entrance to the lot is on the  parking lot at north side of Monument Street between Calvert and Gilford. 
  • Meet at 5:30 PM for a light supper in Ignatian Hall. The prayer walk will begin at approximately 6:00, and be concluded by 7:30 at the latest.
  • Those who wish to stay behind to pray and not go on the walk itself are welcome to do so!
  • The event, hymns, readings and prayers have been chosen and compiled by the St. Ignatius pastoral staff with concluding remarks by Bishop Madden.
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy, and Prayer for Others


POOR BOX
Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. This week's support goes towards Vulnerable Families in Need

MASS MUSIC
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's10:30 Mass.


CRS RICE BOWL 
What you give up for Lent changes lives. Learn how 
you can help!
Lenten Retreat in Daily Life Begins On Sunday - REGISTER NOW!

BEGINS ON SUNDAY!

March 13-19:  Watch and Pray Retreat - When we think of making a retreat, we typically think of going somewhere quiet or at least escaping for a bit from our ordinary world.  While such retreats can indeed be restorative, they are by no means the only way to grow in prayer and relationship with God.  St. Ignatius always envisioned sharing his spirituality and the treasures of the Spiritual Exercises in ordinary people's ordinary lives! As a way of honoring Lent's call to conversion and prayer, consider making this retreat in daily life.  The retreat opens and closes with a common gathering in the Chapel of Grace. Participants pray daily with assigned Scriptural texts and meet daily with a spiritual director to review their prayer.
  • Opening: Sunday March 13, 12-1:30 pm, Chapel of Grace
  • Closing:  Saturday March 19, 10-11:30 am, Chapel of Grace
  • Details:    Contact Fr. Steve Spahn, SJ at stevespahn@st-ignatius.net
  • To submit application, and let us know your times and availability to meet with a spiritual director, click here.
Upcoming Events


Tuesday, March 8 - 6:30 PM
The Inigo Book Group will meet on Tuesday, March 8 at 110 E. Madison Street (the parish office building) to discuss "The Door" and "The Boys in the Boat".  The meeting will begin with social time from 6:30-6:45 and will be followed by the respective discussions from 6:45-7:35 and 7:35-8:25.  All are welcome.  On April 12 the group will discuss "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen.  Please contact Catherine Young with any questions at pianocate2@gmail.com.



Tuesday, March 8 - 6:30 PM
Solidarity on Tapat Ropewalk Tavern, 1209 S Charles St, Baltimore. Jesuit Volunteer Corps and Ignatian Solidarity Network welcome all to join us for a simple gathering for socializing and social justice. Fr. Steve Spahn, SJ will share his reflections on encountering mercy through social justice. Drinks and food will be available for purchase. Click here to download flyer.


Wednesday, March 9 - 5:30 PM
Bishop Madden Prayer Walk for Peace in the City - St. Ignatius is hosting this month's event. See box above for details.

Thursday, March 10 - 6:30 PM
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; advocate for economic justice and legislative initiatives, e.g. paid sick leave and affordable housing; and provide an environment that supports and advocates for racial justice, and develops diversity in our community.  Read More



Saturday, March 12 - 8:45 AM
Ignatian Morning of Reflection - Please note the following schedule change. Due to a conflict in presenter schedules the First Saturday event will be moved from Saturday morning March 5th to Saturday morning March 12th from 8:45 - Noon. The topic is "Who Do You Say I Am?" presented by Fr. Bob Hamm S.J. and Toni Moore- Duggan. 

Tuesday, March 15 - 6:45 PM
Women of the New Testament which meets on the third Tuesday of the month, is currently discussing Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories 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. Both men and women are invited to participate in these fascinating discussions. The meeting will be at 6:45 PM in the Conference Room at the Parish Offices (110 East Madison Street).

Wednesday, March 16 - 7:30 PM
Lenten Penance ServiceThis year's service for parishioners of St. Ignatius, St. Vincent de Paul, & Corpus Christi will be held at St. Ignatius Church at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 16th. Included will be the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation individually with a priest. Please view this video, put together by our staff and parishioners that encourages you to give it a try if you never have or it's been a long time.

Monday, March 21 - 7 PM
Young Adults Yoga - Rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit through yoga! Young Adults are invited to a free one-hour yoga session, appropriate for all levels. Yoga is an exercise that combines physical fitness with spiritual awareness, honoring the light of God in each one of us. This Yoga Session will be held in Ignatian Hall.


Tuesday, March 22 - 7 PM
Embracing God's Gifts - You are invited to join members of our gay and lesbian community in the Parish Offices at 110 E. Madison Street at 7:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of each month. This group is open to anyone interested in fostering support, maintaining communications, and encouraging social activities among diverse members of our parish. For more information, contact Gordon Creamer at themissionbridge@yahoo.com. To learn more about the Embracing God's Gifts Ministry click here.
 

March 18 & 19, Palm Sunday
  • Masses: 4:30 PM (Saturday), 8:00, 9:00, 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM
  • Reception in Ignatian Hall after 9:00 and 10:30 Masses
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
  • Daily Masses at 7:25 AM
March 23, Holy Thursday
  • 7:30 PM - Mass of the Lord's Supper, followed by private adoration in the chapel until 10 PM
March 24, Good Friday
  • Reconciliation and Private Prayer 11:30 AM - 3 PM
  • Stations of the Cross: Noon
  • Liturgy of the Passion: 7:30 PM
March 25, Holy Saturday
  • 7:30 PM - Easter Vigil Service, followed by fellowship in Ignatian Hall
March 26, Easter Sunday
  • Masses: 8:00, 9:00, 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM (9:00 Radio Mass will be a full hour long)
  • Reception in Ignatian Hall after 9:00 and 10:30 Masses
Runners For Others: An Ignatian 5k - Register Now!

Register online now for Runners For Others: An Ignatian 5K, a 3.1-mile race and 1-mile family walk at 
9 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in Patterson Park. 
To register,
 
and look under "Upcoming Races." You will also be able to sign up after Mass this Sunday (for the last time). You are welcome to sign up as a "Virtual Walker" if you prefer.
  • Activities begin at 8 a.m. at the park on race day, at the entrance near the corner of Eastern Avenue and S. Linwood Avenue.
     
  • Proceeds will go to the eight Jesuit schools and organizations in the Baltimore area to support a variety of initiatives that directly help people in need.
     
  • Registration fees are $25 until March 15, with discounts for certain groups (see registration site for details) and FREE registration for children age 10 and under and members of religious orders.

    To download event flyer
    click on image
     
  • To volunteer or become a sponsor, send a message to  ignatian5k@aol.com.
  • Proceeds from the race will go to these organizations to support their charitable activities.
  • Medals will be awarded to the top overall finishers, and the top finisher in each age group. 

Father Watters to Receive Inaugural "Beyond the Finish Line" Award at the Race

The Runners for Others: An Ignatian 5K will present the inaugural "Beyond the Finish Line" Award to Father William Watters, SJ, at the annual race. This annual award celebrates Ignatian service and commitment to others, by honoring an individual possessing the vision, courage, humility and stamina to make great things happen.

Now in its fourth year, the Runners for Others: An Ignatian 5K event brings together all of the Jesuit organizations in the greater Baltimore area. In choosing Father Watters to be the honoree for the inaugural award, the Race Committee celebrates his decades-long broad involvement in nearly every one of the Jesuit ministries, as a parish priest, educator, advocate, leader, spiritual adviser and role model.  

Another Point of Interest!
We hope to see you March 12 for our special interfaith presentation - The Saint and the Sultan. Our esteemed panelists include Imam Mohammad Bashar Arafat, Sr. Patricia Hutchison, OSF, and Rev. William A. Au as they take us on a journey to explore the encounter between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil of Egypt during the Crusades and the foundation it provides for fostering a mutual understanding and cooperation today. 
 
Join us 9 AM in Baltimore's St. Matthew's Church Hall for an incredible day of learning and reflection. 
 

In the Media



Lives of Christ:
Two films reinterpret the 
greatest story ever told.
MOTHER AND CHILD. Sara Lazzaro as Mary and Adam Greaves-Neal as Jesus in "The Young Messiah"

March 14 2016 Issue  | John Anderson

The lure of high-end historical fiction -- Gore Vidal's "Narratives of Empire" series, to cite one popular example, or even a movie like "Lincoln"-- is the sharing of secrets: The author tells us things we could not otherwise have known, insights and revelations "kept" from us by the limitations of the historical record -- the same historical record that provides the story with its plausibility. The key to the success of these narratives is that we viewers and readers want these stories to be true. Our belief is enhanced by the mechanics of imagination.

In other words, what is needed is faith, a convergence of belief and fact. This is the key to two films about Jesus currently in circulation: The Young Messiah and Risen. To say they bookend the life of Christ would not be quite accurate. "The Young Messiah"-"inspired by Scripture and rooted in history" as the opening title tells us-imagines the life of the 7-year-old Jesus during and after his return to Judea following the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. "Risen," a far more rigorous movie, frankly, is about the risen Christ; the principal narrative begins mid-crucifixion and continues through the ascension. Read More

 
America Magazine   
Still Dreaming In 1965, James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. participated in a public debate at Cambridge University. Under discussion was the question of whether "the American Dream has been achieved at the expense of the American Negro." Read More

Crux
Baltimore Leaders Get the Pope's Blessing for Their Healing Efforts A group of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders from Baltimore, led by Archbishop William E. Lori in Rome this week, have received a blessing from Pope Francis for their efforts to address issues such as poverty, housing, and education in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray. Read More

Francis May Need to Expand His Comfort Zone to Include Sexual Abuse Survivors - Recently two different constituencies in the Catholic Church have complained of feeling misunderstood or let down by Pope Francis, and it's instructive to compare the pontiff's responses in each case. Read More


Relevant Magazine
Pope Francis: Nuns Martyred in Yemen Are Victims of the 'Globalization of Indifference' On Friday afternoon, four gunmen disguised themselves as relatives of the local residents of a home for the elderly in Yemen, entered the facility, handcuffed 16 people and proceeded to execute them. Read More

 
Catholic Review
Harbaugh Discusses Faith in Adversity at Sold-out Catholic Men's Conference
Speaking to about 1,100 Catholic men at St. Philip Neri Parish, Ravens' coach John Harbaugh made mention of his team's hard-fought wins and miraculous plays leading up to a Super Bowl victory that capped the 2012 season, but he focused just as much on a 5-11 season in 2015. Read More

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READER NOTIFICATION:  "Parish: the thought" is a publication of St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Baltimore. Each edition contains articles and news feeds that are included for awareness of current topics in our world today. The positions expressed by outside authors and news feeds are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of St. Ignatius Catholic Community or its staff.

          - This e-zine was compiled by John C. Odean