December 8 ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent

Over the past several weeks, I have been sharing a lot about my vocation story, but this week, we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming, for some important announcements.

First, our new Ignatius Center has opened. Hopefully, many of you were able to see the new meeting spaces last weekend at the Open House. Our Youth Minister, Emily Branscum, is particularly excited to have some dedicated space for our young people. The RCIA Team and our candidates and catechumens have already benefited from the space too. I am grateful to all who helped bring the project to completion.

Second, as I announced last weekend at the Masses, a comprehensive financial report from the parish will be sent to all registered families this month. As your new pastor, I am very impressed with the many ministries offered here at St. Ignatius. Your sacrificial giving, along with your generosity with your time and with your gifts, helps bring the Gospel to those in our community and beyond. For that, I am grateful. As you have sustained this parish, the Finance Council and I believe that we should be both accountable and transparent in informing you of where the parish stands financially. During this season of giving, I ask you to prayerfully consider increasing your weekly offerings to support our parish and its many ministries. I want to strongly encourage “e-giving” through WeShare. We have a shared mission – to set the world on fire with the love of Jesus – and your generosity makes it possible.

Third, I want to thank you for your support of St. Ignatius Parish and School on Giving Tuesday. Once again, your generosity is greatly appreciated in helping us to make capital improvements to the church and to replace furniture in the school. This is the first time we have tried to promote #iGiveCatholic in the parish, and we are pleased with the results. Through your iGiveCatholic contributions and the $2,000 in prize money awarded for winning the number of donation competitions for both Top Parish and Top Elementary School, you helped raise over $52,000 for our church and school combined, or $36,641 and $14,303.50, respectively.

Fourth, a parish, however, is more than bricks and mortar. We are a community of faith, and we are all in need of spiritual renewal. Above all, we need the sacraments. We will have our Advent Penance Service on Wednesday, December 18th, at 7 PM. In the days leading up to Christmas, I have added many extra hours of confessions, wanting to be radically available to you, so that having heard the call to “prepare the way of the Lord” you and your families might experience the joy of Christmas. I am especially proud of our 2nd graders who made their First Reconciliation this Saturday; they are leading us by example.

While receiving the Sacrament of Penance and coming to Mass regularly are essential to the spirit of the season, there are many people in the parish who would love to join us for Mass but are unable to come to church. If you know someone who is homebound and would like a visit from the priest, or who would like anointing of the sick, confession, or Communion prior to Christmas, please let me know. While the home visits are life-giving for me as a priest, the sparkle in the eyes of those who receive Jesus through the priestly ministry is a sign of what Christ can accomplish in those disposed to welcome Him as a Guest in their hearts. The sick and homebound are part of our parish and continue to pray for us.

Part of this spiritual renewal will come about through greater reverence for and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I invite as many of you as possible to join in our National Night of Prayer for Life on Dec. 8, which begins with Exposition following the 7:30 PM Mass and continues through 1:00 AM, with the Rosary prayed each Hour. The event coincides not only with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the patronal feast of our country, but also with the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego. These feasts remind us that Advent is not only a Marian Season but a season to celebrate life. We are a people of Life.

Fifth, I thank all those who came for the Holy Hour of Reparation last Thursday. Prayer is an essential part of overcoming the scourge of abuse and building a firm foundation for the future of our parish. Still, other concrete actions can be taken. To that end, we have initiated a Parish Safe Environment Committee not only to make sure we comply with the Decree on Child Protection but to ensure the safety of all of our parishioners through greater vigilance. The committee members are Deacon Mike Erb; Barb Campbell; Laura Sieve; Nick Roos; Brian Bamberger; and Erin Hazelbaker. Having differing perspectives (clergy, school, athletics, emergency services; and mothers) can make us more effective and attentive to the needs of our parish.

Fr. Fernandes

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