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SAINT IGNATIUS PARISH MINISTRIES
Experience spiritual growth and educational enrichment through the many opportunities to volunteer at Saint Ignatius.
PRAYER AND LITURGY
LITURGICAL MINISTERS are lay parishioners who assist at the weekend Masses as acolytes, lectors, greeters, ushers, and Eucharistic ministers. Volunteers are welcome, and training is provided for anyone interested in serving as a liturgical minister.
Contact: Father Bill Watters, S.J., billwatters@st-ignatius.net
LENTEN DEVOTIONS are held Friday evenings during Lent from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Each evening begins with Mass followed by the Stations of the Cross, after which there is a light supper and faith-sharing conversation in Ignatian Hall.
Contact: Deacon Paul Weber, paulweber@st-ignatius.net
RADIO MASS OF BALTIMORE broadcasts the parish's 9:30 Mass live each Sunday over WBAL 1090AM and provides periodic newsletters for those who are homebound, hospitalized or imprisoned.
Contact: Carolyn Dunne through www.radiomass.org.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER HOUSE is a resource in Baltimore City for spirituality in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, offering spiritual direction and individual retreats.
Contact: Father Bob Hamm, S.J., hamster.hamlet@yahoo.com
FAITH FORMATION
ADULT FAITH FORMATION offers religious education for adults.
Contact: Father Bill Watters, S.J., billwatters@st-ignatius.net
LECTURE SERIES invites Jesuits and other distinguished speakers to the parish for presentations on various topics of interest. The recent Woodstock Series at St. Ignatius featured four lectures by research fellows at Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center. The 17th Annual St. Ignatius Day Lecture was presented by award-winning author James Martin, S.J.
Contact: Father Bill Watters, S.J., billwatters@st-ignatius.net
MARRIAGE PREPARATION offers weekends for engaged couples and one-on-one meetings to prepare couples for the Sacrament of Marriage.
Contact: Mary & Richard Gorman, mgorman137@aol.com; rgorman137@aol.com.
PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) offers religious education for children, including preparation for the sacraments of First Communion, First Penance and Confirmation. Classes meet on Sunday mornings from September through May.
Contact: Duarte Aguiar, duarteaguiar@st-ignatius.net
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) provides instruction in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church to prepare adults for the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Meetings are generally held on Monday evenings.
Contact: Ted & Mary Jo Wiese, tedwardwiese@gmail.com; maryjowiese@gmail.com
SPIRITUALITY COMMITTEE recommends and implements programs designed to assist parishioners in the development of their prayer lives and their understanding of Ignatian Spirituality.
Contact: Deacon Paul Weber, paulweber@st-ignatius.net
WEEKEND RETREAT provides parishioners and friends the opportunity to spend a weekend in prayer at least annually at a Jesuit retreat house in Faulkner, Maryland or Wernersville, Pennsylvania. The 2013 Spring retreat was held April 26-28 at Loyola-on-the-Potomac in Faulkner.
Contact: Frank Fox, foxfrank@aol.com
WOMEN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT explores the diverse roles of women in the early church by studying and sicussing the New Testament, other writings and practices of the early church, and scholarly commentary on these sources. In the light of this process, the group - women and men - pray to discern the roles to which women (and men) and being called in the contemporary church.
Contact: Melody Gordon-Healy, mghealy@att.net
OUTREACH TO THE POOR
ANGEL TREE ministry arranges for and delivers Christmas gifts for children whose parents are in prison.
Contact: Dan & Brandi D’Orazio, dgdorazio@gmail.com
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY PROJECT offers overnight retreats and days of recollection for homeless men and women who are in transition.
Contact: Marilyn Dunphy, mdunphy1974@gmail.com and George Schuette, gmj.schuette@gmail.com
JESSE TREE ministry provides warm gloves, hats, sweaters, scarves and other essentials which are given to homeless men at Christmastime, and grocery gift certificates for the women and children of My Sister's Place.
Contact: Norma Hyder, shawgas29@verizon.net
JUSTICE & PEACE: The Justice & Peace Committee is chiefly engaged in education and advocacy. It educates parishioners by circulating materials or organizing events that clarify and advocate the Church's social teaching on economic and political issues that impact peoples and cultures throughout the world. It also identifies particular programs or organizations working for domestic or international peace and justice in which St. Ignatius may actively participate. The Committee organizes periodic collections of groceries for the Catholic Worker Viva House. It sponsors Movie Nights with free screenings of films with social justice implications.
Contact: Mark Smith, markcsmith@yahoo.com
LOAVES & FISHES prepares and delivers meals and warm clothing to the poor and homeless in downtown Baltimore on Saturday and Sunday evenings from November to April. Volunteers are needed to (1) shop for groceries, (2) prepare the soup and sandwiches, and (3) go out on the van to serve the food to people living on the streets.
Contact: Vincent Tobin, vincetob@aol.com and Amy Petkovsek, amy.petkovsek@gmail.com
COMMUNITY BUILDING
ALTAR FLOWER ministry includes the individuals who arrange the flowers on the altar throughout the year and decorate the church at Easter and Christmas.
Contact: Cathy Baldwin, cathygramsbaldwin@comcast.net
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE organizes periodic exhibits, programs and concerts relating to the cultural expression of faith, and in the REEVES GALLERY displays artwork by parishioners and other artists in the Baltimore community.
Contact: David Cunningham, davidcunninghamarts@juno.com
ELIZABETH'S CLOSET is a maternity clothes exchange. Please "like" us on Facebook to help to spread the word about this ministry. Expectant mothers can borrow from a large selection of clothing for all seasons and all occasions. This ministry is grateful for gently used maternity clothes which may be loaned and returned later or donated permanently.
Contact: Stephanie Holtz, elizabethsclosetministry@gmail.com
EMBRACING GOD'S GIFTS is a relatively new ministry at St. Ignatius. As members of Christ’s Body, the Church, we are called to acknowledge the diverse expressions of human sexuality found within the human family. Our ministry, Embracing God’s Gifts, is a movement that recognizes these gifts and incorporates them into the life of our parish. Our hope and mission is to create opportunities for spiritual growth, openness to diverse individuals, and promotion of community among our members while being informed by Church teaching. We achieve these goals through prayer, fostering support, maintaining communications and encouraging social activities. All parishioners who are sensitive and compassionate are welcome to share in this movement.
Contact: Gordon Creamer, rockvillefly@yahoo.com
HOSPITALITY committee provides and serves refreshments in Ignatian Hall every Sunday after the 9:30 and 10:30 Masses, as well as receptions following lectures and other special parish events. There is also a reception after the 6pm Mass on the second Sunday of every month.
Contact: Michele Lane, mlane@pbi.org
IGNATIAN HELPERS provide services for those who are recovering from surgery or otherwise incapacitated, including grocery shopping, meals and transportation to physical therapy.
Contact: Norma Hyder, shawgas29@verizon.net
IÑIGO BOOK GROUP meets in the Ignatian Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month except December. All are welcome to attend at any time.
Contact: Catherine Young, pianocate2@gmail.com
INTERFAITH/ECUMENICAL ministry coordinates a city-wide interfaith prayer service each year on New Year's Eve and plans an ecumenical service during the Octave for Christian Unity in January. Members of the committee also participate in other interfaith events throughout the year.
Contact: Donna Price, dprice4270@gmail.com
MT. VERNON CHURCH TOURS gives guided tours of our church. Docent training is provided for volunteers.
Contact: Annette Nagler, asn6547@aol.com
PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY brings Eucharist to the homebound and hospitalized.
Contact: Deacon Paul Weber, paulweber@st-ignatius.net
WELCOMING COMMITTEE strives to provide a welcoming environment by reaching out in a friendly and more personal way to all parishioners and visitors of the Saint Ignatius faith community. The committee especially hopes to encourage new parishioners in becoming full and active members of the parish. A welcoming minister is available in Ignatian Hall, usually after each weekend Mass, to assist new parishioners and help them get acquainted with the parish.
Contact: chealy@loyola.edu
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY plans and hosts events for young adults, including monthly holy hours of adoration, as well as periodic social events.
Contact: Duarte Aguiar, duarteaguiar@st-ignatius.net
YOUNG COUPLES MINISTRY holds periodic outings, pot luck dinners, talks and various social events for fellowship, fun and discussion of relevant topics of interest.
Contact: Scott & Francesca Muhlbaier, smuhlbaier@bedrockotc.com; francesca.muhlbaier@sylvanlearning.com