Next Sunday's Gospel reading will be the story of the disciples hiding away, and the encounter of what is traditionally called "Doubting Thomas." Above is a modern rendition of Caravaggio's The Incredulity of Saint Thomas. This modern version is by John  Granville Gregory, and is entitled Still Doubting (c. 1990).Check out "From the Archives" below for a look at Thomas from the past and today, using these two iconic paintings to compare.
Issue # 29032016                                                                                   March 29, 2016

Carissimi,
 
I'm writing this on Easter Monday. The parish office is closed and we will not count the Easter collection until tomorrow. I'm thinking this is a good time to thank all of you for your goodness and generosity apart from your financial contributions. [More on that topic another time!]
 
So many of you pitch in-with Loaves and Fishes and other ministries to the poor, in advocating for social change, with hospitality, religious education at all levels, care for the sick, the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises, and liturgical service. Some of you are retired. Some of you work in the background, counting collections, keeping up the database, and filling in wherever needed.
 
You made Lent and Easter this year a real joy, helping with our Wednesday night suppers and programs, decorating the church, and wonderful receptions for Easter Eve and Day.
 
I am especially grateful to our young singles and young families. You are at a time in your lives in which your finances and busy schedules rightly limit your participation, yet you are here and are generous in so many ways.
 
God love you. Lord knows I do [just sayin'].


Hear Our Prayer, O Lord

From the Archives: Doubting Thomas
       The Incredulity of St Thomas by Caravaggio (c. 1601-02)

STILL DOUBTING
A BLOG REPOST BY  MICHAEL WELSCH 
 
About two weeks ago I included Caravaggio's The Incredulity of Saint Thomas in a post. The painting, included above, shows Thomas investigating Christ's wounds following the resurrection. While the encounter is mentioned in John 20, the author does not say whether or not Thomas actually took Jesus up on his offer. Jesus merely invites Thomas to touch him and Thomas responds by declaring, "My Lord and my God!"

I love this piece for a number of reasons. In the style typical to Caravaggio, the interplay between light and dark here is incredible - I particularly like the way Thomas is depicted as literally emerging from darkness into light as the reality of Christ's resurrection is made plain to him. I also find it incredibly touching that Caravaggio depicts Christ as actually guiding Thomas's hand to his wound, highlighting both the intimacy and the intentionality behind his inviting Thomas to touch him.

Yesterday a professor of mine pointed me towards a modern rendition of this piece to ask what I might make of it. The piece is John Granville Gregory's Still Doubting - and it turns out I love it about as much as the Caravaggio - for different reasons. Read More
Photo Gallery From Passion Week 2016
     
WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT? WELL HERE THEY ARE!

Last week was a very memorable time at St. Ignatius as we moved through the Passion of Christ and the various Masses and Services.

If you weren't able to join us, or if you want to review our gathered times together, we've added this gallery of some of the liturgies for your enjoyment.

Click here to move through our Passion Week 2016 gallery.
Collection for Syrian Refugee Children - Next Two Weekends
     
Bring Supplies on Weekend of April 3 & 10

As you will hear at the Syria - A Faith and Justice Response event on Sunday, April 10th, the civil war in Syria has caused a major crisis as refugees flee for their lives. Up to 70,000 refugees a year resettle, find jobs and housing, and integrate into American life. In Baltimore, International Rescue Committee and other groups aid about 1,000 new refugees and humanitarian migrants per year. One of the great needs is for school supplies for Syrian refugee children. 

To help the meet the need, St. Ignatius Catholic Community will collect school supplies over the course of two weekends - April 3 & April 10. Won't you help us as we learn, Act, and Advocate? Come join us for the event. Come bring your donations. See the list of needed items below. To learn more about the event, click here. To download a list of supplies we are collection, click here...and bring them to Reeves Gallery when you come to church the next two weekends. 
It's Time to Bring Back Rice Bowls
   
Lent is Over...and so is CRS Rice Bowl Campaign

It's time to turn your Lenten alms into Easter joy! For those who participated in CRS Rice Bowl-a program of Catholic Relief Services that provides lifesaving aid to those in need around the world-now's the time to bring those bowls back!  You can give your box to an usher at Mass or drop them off at the parish office 9 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday or send us a check payable to Operation Rice Bowl. You can also continue to give on line by clicking here

And now...here's their "Thank You" video for your kindness and generosity.
Easter Joy
Video: Easter Joy

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 2 - 8:45 AM
Ignatian Morning of Reflection - These mornings are excellent opportunities to pull away from the hustle and bustle of daily life in order to "dial down" and quiet our hearts before God. The meeting runs from 8:45 AM - Noon. The Presentation is "He Is Risen!" presented by Fr. Bob Hamm S.J. and Ms. Toni Moore-Duggan.
Sunday, April 3 - After 6 PM Mass
Young Adults Easter Celebration - Join us for a Young Adult Easter Party on Sunday, April 3rd after the 6 PM Mass in Ignatian Hall. Bring a dish to share. We will discuss the joys of the Easter season and even have some fun Easter activities to participate in!


Monday, April 4 - 7:30 PM
Lecture by Mr. Timothy O'Brien, S.J -  
You've heard it, you've been told it, you may have even said it on occasion. "Everything happens for a reason." At first glance, this bit of pop theology may sound like the celebrated Ignatian ideal of "Finding God in all Things." But how similar are these ideas, really? What do they suggest about God, about our relationship with God, and about how we make sense of our own story? For more information on lecture, click here.


Friday, April 8 - 7:30 PM
Georgetown University Concert Choir - bringing a spring selection that includes music composed from the 9th Century to the present day. The choir will be performing selections from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gabriel Faur�, and other classic and contemporary works. Admission is free and donations are welcome. Parishioners, alumni of Jesuit Universities (esp. Georgetown University), and all fans of classical music in the area are highly encouraged to attend the concert. A beautiful evening is ahead!


Saturday, April 9 - 9:00 AM
Runners For Others: An Ignatian 5K - Show up and support your fellow parishioners as they help raise money for Jesuit causes. You can also be a virtual runner. For more information on the race, how you can participate, or how you can sponsor, click here.

Sunday, April 10 - following 10:30 Mass
Syria: A Faith and Justice ResponseOn Sunday, April 10 the Immigration Subcommittee of our Justice and Peace Committee will host "Syria - A Faith and Justice Response" - an opportunity to learn about the Syrian Refugee Crisis. This event will occur immediately after the 10:30 Mass in the Chapel of Grace. Facilitating the event will be Mr. Tom Smolich, SJ who is the International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service. To learn more about this event, click here.


Tuesday, April 12 - 6:30 PM
The Inigo Book Group will meet on Tuesday, April 12 in the Parish Offices at 110 E. Madison Street to discuss "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. The meeting begins with social time at 6:30 - 7:00 and is followed by the discussion until 8:30.  All are welcome.  On May 10 the group will discuss "The Sense of an Ending" by Julian Barnes.  Any questions?  Please contact Catherine Young at [email protected].


Thursday, April 14 - 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


Monday, April 18 - 7:30 PM
Lecture by William T. Miller, S.J., "Biblical Mercy"William T. Miller, S.J. is the Adjunct Professor of Theology and Scripture at Loyola University Maryland. On Monday, April 18 at 7:30 PM he will give a lecture entitled Biblical Mercy: The Basic Biblical Image of Mercy in the Second Covenant. In this lecture Miller will discuss how the references to mercy in the Old Testament and how they are often picked from the prophets or the psalms, but will explain why mercy should also be studied in larger contexts such as the book of Exodus. For more information, click here.


Tuesday, April 19 - 6:45 PM
The Women of the New Testament group, which meets on the third Tuesday of the month, is concluding the discussion of Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories by Tikva Frymer-Kensky. This book address�es 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).


Thursday, April 21 - 7:00 PM
Baltimore Local Food & Brew - Young Adults are invited to an evening of local food and beer tasting on Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 PM! During this event, we will talk about Baltimore's strengths and hopes as we near the one-year anniversary of Freddie Gray's death and learn about how we as Catholic young adults can become more involved in promoting justice in our city. Location: Ignatian Hall.


April 22 - 24
Weekend Retreat at Loyola on the PotomacJoin our parishioners for the April 22-24 weekend retreat at Loyola on the Potomac, Faulkner, MD, for "The Way." 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. For more information, click here.


Sunday, April 24 - 2:30 PM
Cracking the CodesThe St. Ignatius Catholic Community Racial Justice Forum and the Young Adults Ministry will host an encore event in presenting the documentary Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity as an opportunity for a Racial Justice Dialogue Event. For more information, click here.


Tuesday, April 26 - 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
[email protected]. To learn more about the Embracing God's Gifts Ministry click here
ANOTHER GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church to protest abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. This defining moment is widely regarded as the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. 

For 500 years, Protestants and Roman Catholics have been locked in divisive debates that have all too often resulted in a Church at war with itself. Join Dr. Christopher M. Leighton and Dr. Rosann M. Catalano as they explore some of the core issues that differentiate Roman Catholics and Protestants, in order to better understand the ways in which these disputes have both radically reshaped Western culture and influenced the Church's relations with Jews and Muslims.

Tuesday Morning Classes:
March 29, April 5,12 and 19, 2016 (9:30-11:30 AM)

Cost: 
$75

Location:
ICJS Study Center (956 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR CLASS,  CLICK HERE
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 to
The Starfish Foundation.


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



PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN REPORT
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is happening with your brothers and sisters!

In the Media


Rome Reports
'Homeless Jesus': The New Statue Installed in the Vatican - 
You will not recognize his face. He could be one among many who roam the streets without a roof for the night. However, he is nothing less than Christ. The remains of the crucifixion are what the holes in his feet reveal. Read More






Sojourners Magazine   
Pope Francis to Priests: Embrace Outcasts, Not 'Complicated Theology'As the death toll from the Brussels terror attacks continued to climb March 24, Pope Francis began three days of solemn observances leading to Easter Sunday with a call for mercy and forgiveness. Read More 

Pope Francis Makes Emotional Appeal for Global Peace in Easter Message - Pope Francis made an emotional appeal for global peace during his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) Easter blessing, urging people to remember victims of the "blind and brutal violence" in recent terrorist attacks, such as last week's Brussels bombings that killed 31 people. Read More

 
America Magazine   
Nine Justices Needed - As the fight over Judge Merrick B. Garland's nomination demonstrates, the Supreme Court is not free from politics. Nevertheless, since Marbury v. Madison (1803), the court has asserted itself and been accepted as the nation's impartial referee. Read More

'Ghetto Gospel': 
Life lessons from street scriptures 
At first glance, God and hip-hop must seem like odd bedfellows, like mixing together the sacred and profane, the sublime and the vulgar. If we dig deeper, however, there are some surprising points of compatibility, especially when considered in light of the Christian story, where God appears sub contrariis, at the "opposite" of the world's expectations and values. Read More

 
Relevant Magazine 
How the Gospel Frees Us From the American Dream - 
 
I think most of us grew up with a dream-a dream to become someone others admire, to do something incredible and to change our broken world. 
But, sometimes we grow up, and our lives don't look exactly like they were "supposed" to look. We're sitting in a job that doesn't seem meaningful, feeling lost in the search for our calling. That's certainly how I've felt in the past, until my prayers were answered.
 
Read More

AP: The Big Story  
Pope Decries Vile Bombing in Pakistani Park on Easter
 
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Monday denounced the "vile and senseless" bombing in a Pakistani park targeting Christian families celebrating Easter and pressed for protection for religious minorities in the largely Muslim nation. 
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