January 3, 2010 Solemnity of Epiphany A Light to the Gentiles CHURCH OF ST . IGNATIUS LOYOLA 980 PARKAVENUE AT 84TH STREET • NEWYORK, NEWYORK 10028 • (212)288-3588 WWW.STIGNATIUSLOYOLA.ORG “Building a Community of Disciples” T he feast of the Epiphany is one of the earliest feasts in the church. It was first celebrated in the East as the birthday of the Lord in the 5th century. As the West began to celebrate this mystery on December 25th, the Feast of the Epiphany took on a different meaning. It became the feast of the manifestation of the Lord. Jesus is revealed as king to the strangers from the East. They were astrologers from another culture who were there at the beginning of the greatest sign of God’s love. And in them we were also there, the people who are not Jews, but just as welcome at the celebration of the birth of God’s Son. They not only console us by their presence, but they also have much to teach us. Their journey to Christ was not easy. There was no choir of angels to announce to them the birth of a Savior. They had to discover this for themselves by a careful study of the stars, and the realization that something extraordinary was happening in Judea. And even when they did discover that something extraordinary was happening in Judea, they had no idea exactly where it was happening. Since they were strangers to the Jewish faith, they would not have known of the prophecies or understood the concept of the Messiah who was expected. And then, in their effort to discover where this king was to be born, they went to a king who was a ruthless man with a great love for power and a great fear of anyone who might threaten that power. In the process they unleashed in his mind the terrible plan to destroy any possible rival to his rule. Despite all their clumsiness and unintended part in the plot of the massacre of the innocents, they were welcomed at the house of Joseph and Mary, and their gifts were accepted. They must have returned very satisfied, though they could not return by the same known route on which they had first traveled. In their openness to God’s truth, they had come to acknowledge a future king who was from a culture totally different from theirs, and they humbly worshipped him. In this story we find many lessons for ourselves twenty centuries later. To discover God in our lives, and to make Him a more intimate part of those lives, we have to jour- ney, like the Magi. And the journey will not always be easy. It takes time and seriousness. Just as they had to study the stars and had to reflect on just what these stars were telling them, so we have to study the Scriptures and reflect and pray on just what they mean to the various experiences of our lives. At times we get discouraged because we are not quite sure what the Lord is trying to tell us. I am sure the Magi must have felt the same thing at times: wondering if they were not just chasing dreams that would never be realized. But they kept on with the journey in the hope that it would bring them all they could have desired. There are times when we consult people who do not have our best interests at heart. We share our dreams and our search with those who may only use that sharing to harm us or to harm others. They betray our secrets or abuse the trust we have put in them. This was the case with the Magi. Yet, God would not consider the mistake they had made in their ignorance. He would not see only the mistake; He would see their strong desire to find the one who had called them through the stars. None of us can be sure that we will not make mistakes in our search for God in our lives, but we can be sure that as long as we are sincere in that search, God will not frustrate our desire. Finally, the Magi arrived. They found a poor carpenter and his young wife and a newborn child. It must have taken great faith to accept that this was the goal of their journey. For all their troubles, they were faced with this simple familial scene. And yet they did not doubt or hesitate; they adored and offered their gifts. And so it is with us. We do not always easily recognize the goal of the journey to God. We may be disappointed and fail to recognize that this is it. It is here, as in every step along the way, that we need a guide, a spiritual person who can help direct us. Some experience this in the exercises of prayer and reflection offered in the Parish. Here at St. Ignatius we also have societies such as Ignatian Social Justice, St. Vincent de Paul, and Boomers & Beyond, to name a few, in which we can share our search with others, who can help to guide us from their own experiences in their search. It is in the community that the Spirit of Jesus is to be found. We have much to learn from our ancestors, the Magi, the first Gentiles to come to Jesus. They were completely sincere in their search for Him. They were open enough to all of the wonders of God to find Him in the unexpected scene of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. The Lord can be found in unexpected events, if only we are open to the possibility of experiencing His love in all the events of our lives. And they brought gifts. They did not come empty-handed. So let us offer to God all that we have and are. Let us sincerely seek Him throughout our lives. Let us never be discouraged by the difficulties of life’s journey. At the end of the journey we will go away satisfied. And we will return to our lives by another way. Our lives cannot be the same after we have found Him. May God bless each of you in your desire for Him, and may He satisfy that desire as only He can. - Rev. Ugo Nacciarone, S.J.
Transcript
January 3, 2010 Solemnity of Epiphany
A Light to the Gentiles
ChurCh of St. IgnatIuS LoyoLa 980 Park avenue at 84th Street •new York, new York10028 •(212)288-3588 www.stignatiusloyola.org
“ B u i l d i n g a C o m m u n i t y o f D i s c i p l e s ”
The feast of the Epiphany is one of the earliest feasts in the church. It was first celebrated in the East as the birthday of the Lord in the 5th century. As the West began to celebrate
this mystery on December 25th, the Feast of the Epiphany took on a different meaning. It became the feast of the manifestation of the Lord. Jesus is revealed as king to the strangers from the East. They were astrologers from another culture who were there at the beginning of the greatest sign of God’s love. And in them we were also there, the people who are not Jews, but just as welcome at the celebration of the birth of God’s Son. They not only console us by their presence, but they also have much to teach us. Their journey to Christ was not easy. There was no choir of angels to announce to them the birth of a Savior. They had to discover this for themselves by a careful study of the stars, and the realization that something extraordinary was happening in Judea. And even when they did discover that something extraordinary was happening in Judea, they had no idea exactly where it was happening. Since they were strangers to the Jewish faith, they would not have known of the prophecies or understood the concept of the Messiah who was expected. And then, in their effort to discover where this king was to be born, they went to a king who was a ruthless man with a great love for power and a great fear of anyone who might threaten that power. In the process they unleashed in his mind the terrible plan to destroy any possible rival to his rule. Despite all their clumsiness and unintended part in the plot of the massacre of the innocents, they were welcomed at the house of Joseph and Mary, and their gifts were accepted. They must have returned very satisfied, though they could not return by the same known route on which they had first traveled. In their openness to God’s truth, they had come to acknowledge a future king who was from a culture totally different from theirs, and they humbly worshipped him.
In this story we find many lessons for ourselves twenty centuries later. To discover God in our lives, and to make Him a more intimate part of those lives, we have to jour-ney, like the Magi. And the journey will not always be easy. It takes time and seriousness. Just as they had to study the stars and had to reflect on just what these stars were telling them, so we have to study the Scriptures and reflect and pray on just what they mean to the various experiences of our lives. At times we get discouraged because we are not quite sure what the Lord is trying
to tell us. I am sure the Magi must have felt the same thing at times: wondering if they were not just chasing dreams that would never be realized. But they kept on with the journey in the hope that it would bring them all they could have desired. There are times when we consult people who do not have our best interests at heart. We share our dreams and our search with those who may only use that sharing to harm us or to harm others. They betray our secrets or abuse the trust we have put in them. This was the case with the Magi. Yet, God would not consider the mistake they had made in their ignorance. He would not see only the mistake; He would see their strong desire to find the one who had called them through the stars. None of us can be sure that we will not make mistakes in our search for God in our lives, but we can be sure that as long as we are sincere in that search, God will not frustrate our desire. Finally, the Magi arrived. They found a poor carpenter and his young wife and a newborn child. It must have taken great faith to accept that this was the goal of their journey. For all their troubles, they were faced with this simple familial scene. And yet they did not doubt or hesitate; they adored and offered their gifts. And so it is with us. We do not always easily recognize the goal of the journey to God. We may be disappointed and fail to recognize that this is it. It is here, as in every step along the way, that we need a guide, a spiritual person who can help direct us. Some experience this in the exercises of prayer and reflection offered in the Parish. Here at St. Ignatius we also have societies such as Ignatian Social Justice, St. Vincent de Paul, and Boomers & Beyond, to name a few, in which we can share our search with others, who can help to guide us from their own experiences in their search. It is in the community that the Spirit of Jesus is to be found. We have much to learn from our ancestors, the Magi, the first Gentiles to come to Jesus. They were completely sincere in their search for Him. They were open enough to all of the wonders of God to find Him in the unexpected scene of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. The Lord can be found in unexpected events, if only we are open to the possibility of experiencing His love in all the events of our lives. And they brought gifts. They did not come empty-handed. So let us offer to God all that we have and are. Let us sincerely seek Him throughout our lives. Let us never be discouraged by the difficulties of life’s journey. At the end of the journey we will go away satisfied. And we will return to our lives by another way. Our lives cannot be the same after we have found Him. May God bless each of you in your desire for Him, and may He satisfy that desire as only He can.
- Rev. Ugo Nacciarone, S.J.
Monday, January 4th at 7:00 PM Meeting Room - Voice of the Faithful monthly meeting. Social hour begins at 6:00 PM. All are welcome.
Wednesday, January 6th at 7:00 PM Conference Room - Society of St. Vincent de Paul Meeting. All are welcome!
Thursday, January 7th, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Parish House - God’s Club. A place for children 3-5 years of age and their parents or caregivers to enrich their faith through art, stories and songs.
THIS WEEK
Have You Registered? If St. Ignatius Loyola is where you regularly worship, we invite you to fill out a Parishioner Registration Card located in the pew racks, at the Parish House, and online at:
www.stignatiusloyola.org Having your name in our records is the only way we can certify that you are a practicing Catholic. If you move or if your email address changes, please be sure to notify us so that we can update our records.
LOOKING AHEAD
IGNATIAN YOUNG ADULTS “Laughing with the Saints: Recovering Joy, Humor and Laughter in Your Spiritual Life.”
A talk by Fr. James Martin, S.J. Wednesday, January 13th
7:30 PM in Wallace HallWho says that being religious means being deadly serious? Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and bestselling author of My Life with the Saints, will show you why joy is an essential element of a healthy spirituality.
An inter-parish social and community service organization for single Catholics who are over 50.
FINIAN’S RAINBOWSunday, March 14th at 3:00 PMBoomers go to Broadway! A limited number of orchestra seats are available for this hit musical. Cost: $60 ($55.00 + handling)
Check deadline is Wednesday, January 6th.
Make checks payable to: Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (write Boomers & Beyond in the memo sec-tion). Mail or hand deliver to: Boomers & Beyond, Parish House, 980 Park Ave.
For further information: www.boomersbeyond.blogspot.com or
Thursday, January 7th at 10:30 AMParish Lounge - Ignatian Volunteer Corps Information Session. IVCprovidesmenandwomen,age50andover,theopportunitytoservetheneedsofthosewhoareeconomicallypoor,toworkforamorejustsociety, and to grow spiritually by reflecting and praying intheIgnatiantradition.For more information, or to confirm your attendance, please contact IVC Regional Director Liz McMahon at [email protected] or 201-618-6924.
Special Collection Next Weekend, January 9th and 10th
Office of the Archbishop 1011 First Avenue New York, NY 10022 January 2010
Year for Priests
Dear friends in the Lord:
At this time each year in January, the Archdiocese of New York is asked to take up a collection to support The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the Catholic Communication Campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Founded in 1887, The Catholic University of America is a pontifical university (recognized by the Holy See) that has been educating students from all fifty states of our nation in philosophy, theology, and the arts and sciences. It has likewise educated many of the clergy and religious serving the Church in the United States and throughout the world as well (including myself!) As a pontifical university, the Holy Father asks that the Catholic faithful of the nation support the CUA’s commitment to providing the best in academic training and religious formation.
The Catholic Communication Campaign enables the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to partner with (arch)dioceses throughout the United States in producing educational, entertaining, informational, and inspiring programs for radio and television. One half of your gift to this campaign remains with us here in the archdiocese to assist our own communications office.
Your generous support of these two worthy causes will be deeply appreciated.
With prayerful best wishes, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan Archbishop of New York
LOOKING AHEAD
ST. IGNATIUS SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY READING GROUP Tuesday, January 19th 7:30 PM in the Parish House Our first selection for 2010 is The Language of God...A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins. We will read the first half of the book in January and the second half for our meeting on February 16th. New members are always welcome!
IGNATIAN SOCIAL JUSTICEWednesday, January 20th at 7:00 PM Meeting Room Monthly meeting. New members are welcome!
LAY MINISTERS’ ENRICHMENTCatholic Christians: People of Action Reaching for Social JusticeSaturday, January 30th9:30 AM – 3:00 PMwith Rev. Francis Gargani, CSsR Rector, Redemptorist Parish Houseand Rev. Mark Hallinan, S.J. Assistant to the Provincial for Social MinistriesLay Ministers’ Enrichment is a program designed by Parish Staff and Lay Ministers in response to Lay Ministers’ requests for additional opportunities to explore their ministry and their identity as ministers.The program begins with a continental breakfast and includes lunch. Morning and afternoon sessions will focus on spirituality and teachings of social justice.
or leave a message for him at 212-288-3588.All Lay Ministers are invited to attend this program.
Vatican II, Women and the Church Today Thursday, February 11th at 7:00 PM in Wallace Hall
Keynote Speaker: Margaret O’Brien Steinfels, co-director of the Fordham University Center on Religion and Culture and former editor of Commonweal.Panelists: Rev. James Dugan, S.J., Associate Pastor, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola Vivienne Joyce, SC, Adjunct Professor, Fordham University Spiritual Direction Program Karen Sue Smith, Editorial Director of America magazine, St. Ignatius Loyola parishioner
Announced Masses and Scripture Readings for the WeekMonday, January 4th(St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)1 John 3:22 - 4:6 Psalm 2 Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 8:30 MEM Kathleen Jarvis 12:10 MEM Michael Conlon 5:30 MEM George CarusoTuesday, January 5th(St. John Neumann)1 John 4:7-10 Psalm 72 Mark 6:34-44 8:30 MEM Hilda Handal 12:10 MEM Mary Edmondson 5:30 MEM Dolorita WallaceWednesday, January 6th(Bl. André Bessette)1 John 4:11-18 Psalm 72 Mark 6:45-52 8:30 MEM Elizabeth Ryan 12:10 MEM William M. Meehan 5:30 MEM Dolores O’Neill Ventura
Thursday, January 7th(St. Raymond of Peñafort)1 John 4:19 - 5:4 Psalm 72 Luke 4:14-22a 8:30 MEM Peter Burke 12:10 LVG Clare Monardo 5:30 MEM Helen LipskiFriday, January 8th(Friday after Epiphany)1 John 5:5-13 Psalm 147 Luke 5:12-16 8:30 MEM Mae Corrigan 12:10 MEM Shane O’Reilly 5:30 MEM Catherine Scanlon Saturday, January 9th(Saturday after Epiphany)1 John 5:14-21 Psalm 149 John 3:22-30 8:30 MEM Denis Casey
Sunday, January 10th(Feast of the Baptism of the Lord)Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Psalm 104 Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
ChurCh of St. IgnatIuS LoyoLa 980 Park avenue at 84th Street •new York, new York10028 •(212)288-3588
Fax: (212) 734-3671 www.StignatiuSloYola.org
Religious Education for Children
Joanne Cunneen, M.A., M.S. Director
(212) 861-4764 •
St. Ignatius Loyola Grammar School
Ms. Mary Larkin, M.S. Ed.Principal
48 East 84 StreetNew York, NY 10028
(212) 861-3820 Fax: (212) 879-8248•
St. Ignatius Loyola Day Nursery
Ms. Theodora Crist, M.S.Executive Director240 East 84 Street
New York, NY 10028 (212) 734-6427 Fax: (212) 734-6972
Pastor Rev. George M. Witt, S.J.Pastoral Associates Joanne Cunneen Kathryn King, F.S.P.Associate Pastors Rev. William J. Bergen, S.J. Rev. James L. Dugan, S.J. Rev. Ugo R. Nacciarone, S.J.Assisting Priests (Sunday) Rev. Philip G. Judge, S.J. Rev. Stephen Katsouros, S.J. Rev. James Martin, S.J.Music Ministries Kent Tritle, Director Nancianne Parrella Renée Anne Louprette Robert Reuter Mary Huff Philip Anderson Erin Acheson, Administrator Staff information: on the website at music/music staffAssistant to the Pastor Diane M. BoyleAdministrative Assistant Patricia SchneiderDirector of Facilities Sona M. OlsonEvents Coordinator Emily HoltzTreasurer Fernando Castro
Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Sundays at the 9:30 AM Mass and the 11:00 AM Mass in Wallace Hall. Eucharistic Adoration: Fridays and First Saturdays at 9:00 AM (Lady Chapel)
Centering Prayer: Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 PM Confessions: 5:00 PM Saturday or by appointment. Communal Penance Services are celebrated during Advent and Lent.
Baptisms: Please call Joanne Cunneen at the Parish House to arrange for a Bap-tism and the preparation given prior to Baptism.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: Contact Maureen Fullam, M.A., Director, at the Parish House.
Marriages: The Bride or Groom should call Joanne Cunneen at the Parish House to begin preparation for Marriage, normally one year in advance.
Visits to the Sick: Please contact the Parish House between 9:00 AM-9:00 PM.
Individual Spiritual DirectionWould you like to nourish your faith, grow in prayer, and clarify God’s action in your life with an attentive listener? Then consider the individual spiritual direction sessions being offered by advanced candidates in Fordham’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education in January 2010. For more information, or if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, call 212-673-0497 or email:
between January 4th and 15th and leave a message with your name and telephone number.
There is no fee. Time and place of sessions to be arranged.
An Interfaith Service Gathering as a People of Light and Hope: Casting Out the Darkness of Torture and Guantanamo Forever
sponsored by Metro NY Religious Campaign
Against TortureMonday, January 11th at 6:30 PM
Wallace HallParishioners are invited to attend this interfaith service, which marks the 8th anniversary of the first arrival of detainees at Guantanamo. As the administration seeks to close Guantanamo, it is important for persons of faith to gather in prayer to remember the stain that torture leaves on our nation’s character and to continue the work of restoring America’s commitment to the values that we hope identify us as a nation. For more details, contact Fr. Mark Hallinan, S.J., at [email protected]
