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Centering Prayer
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 ”
Do you want more serenity and less anxiety in your life? Maybe you’ve been told you should meditate and don’t
know where to start, or you worry about how it fits with your Catholic beliefs and practice. Or are you simply looking for any tool that might help you cultivate your relationship with God? As the days stretch into summer, and work and social schedules slacken, now may be a great time to explore centering prayer.
There’s a famous exchange between Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Dan Rather. Asked what she said in prayer, she replied, “I don’t say anything. I listen.” Rather said, “Well, then, when you pray, what does God say?” She answered, “He doesn’t say anything either. He listens.”
I often describe meditation in this way: Imagine you and a loved one on the couch, each sitting quietly, not talking, just being in each other’s presence. Not thinking, simply loving. You don’t need to talk. Meditation in the Christian tradition is sitting in the presence of God — not expecting answers, just being. And like sitting with a loved one, this simple act is heartening and strengthening.
Many people see meditation simply as quiet time — a refuge from their hectic lives. They know they’re spinning out of control a bit and they want some relief or some help. It is relief and it will help, but that’s not really what meditation is about. Nor is it “Eastern” or self-centered.
The purpose of centering prayer is to cultivate one’s communion with God, to help you become more awake and aware, and more accepting of God’s Will as it unfolds. The Rosary, Adoration, the Ignatian Exercises, and Lectio Divina have deep contemplative components. Many people, when in prayer, drift into periods of silent presence. These are powerful and can be life-changing. But for centuries, the West forgot about intentional silence, except in monasteries. Centering prayer grew from a group of Trappist monks who wanted to share this gift with everyone. One of them, Fr. Thomas Keating, has a connection with our Parish: he held the first centering prayer introductory workshop right here at St. Ignatius in 1984.
The method is rooted in the 14th century classic, The Cloud of Unknowing, which explains that since God is unknowable, while it can be a worthy endeavor to think about God, the only way to know God is to love God. Since we tend
to think about things, we achieve this by detaching from the thinking process.While basking in the Love of God in meditation, we are also deepening our ability to practice obedience and nonattachment. If your happiness is dependent on things being a certain way, you will be unhappy a lot of the time. To find lasting peace with yourself and with God, follow Jesus’ example, expressed in the kenosis hymn found in Philippians 2:
“Though He was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself, and took the form of a slave.”
Kenosis, or self-emptying through meditation, teaches this attitude. You become less “grasping.” You take actions, but you let go of expectations and demands, even spiritual demands. So much focus in our culture is placed on problem solving, looking for answers, even in spiritual work. Centering prayer isn’t goal-oriented. Instead , it cultivates your spiritual well-being. By spending time in the presence of God, anxieties, fears, anger, and old hurts can heal gently. Often, they simply dissolve in the Light.
The benefits of meditation — greater communion with God, serenity, acceptance, healing, reduced anxiety and irritation — extend to all those you touch. I encourage you to try it. Meditate for 20 minutes every day for the next 40 days and see for yourself.
A centering prayer group meets here at St. Ignatius on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 PM. On Mondays, there’s a study group after the sitting; on Thursday, just sitting. You can find more resources at www.centeringprayerny.com
A perfect way to start is the upcoming introductory workshop on centering prayer,which will take place at the Parish House on Monday, May 17th, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM (pizza, 6:30 to 7:00 PM, workshop, 7:00 to 9:00 PM). In addition, for the next six weeks, the Monday night 6:30 PM group will focus on beginner’s topics.
Phil Fox RoseAssistant Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of NYC
Facilitator of the Centering Prayer Group Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
May 9, 2010Sixth Sunday of Easter
MONDAY, MAY 10thChildren’s Choir Auditions. 3:00 - 4:30 PM. Wallace Hall Music Room. For children rising into the 1st and 2nd grades. Details on page 3.
Lecture: Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 7:00 PM. Wallace Hall. Speaker: Mr. Ian Alteveer. Details on page 3.
TUESDAY, MAY 11thChildren’s Choir Auditions. 3:00 - 4:30 PM. Wallace Hall Music Room. For children rising into the 3rd to 8th grades. Details on page 3.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12th Society of St. Vincent de Paul Meeting.7:00 PM. Conference Room.All are welcome.
THURSDAY, MAY 13thSee page 5 for Ascension Thursday Mass Schedule.
God’s Club. 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Parish House.A place for children 3-5 years of age and their parents or caregivers to enrich their faith through art, stories, and songs.
Scripture Reflections Group. 7:00 PM. Conference Room. Led by Fr. Robert O’Brien, S.J., of the St. Ignatius Jesuit Community. All are welcome.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
PLEASE OPEN FOR PAGES 3 AND 4
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OF INTERESTThere will be a Special Collection at all Masses this weekend for Catholic Relief Services . CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Thank you for your generosity!
Parishioners are invited to attend the Seventh Annual
Jesuit Volunteer Corps Benefit
Wednesday, May 12th from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Regis High School Courtyard
The event will benefit the work of the JVC, which comprises 350 volunteers working with poor
and marginalized populations across the United States and in seven countries around the world.
Jackie and Chris Keber, St. Ignatius parishioners, will co-chair this year’s benefit.
For more information, please call 410-244-1744 or register at www.jesuitvolunteers.org/donate
Assisted listening devices are available for use in the Church and Wallace Hall. Please speak to a member of the Hospitality Ministry before Mass if you would like to use one.
We extend a warm welcome to Bishop Robert Brucato, who will be presiding at
the Confirmation of our IREP students on Wednesday, May 19th at 5:00 PM
Please pray for all of our Candidates.
THANK YOU… for responding so generously to Haitian Earthquake Relief earlier this year.
A donation totaling $10,167 was sent to Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, which for many years has had a grassroots presence in Haiti. We received a letter this week from Cindy Rice, JRS Development Director, thanking the Parish community for this donation, which “declares your concern for the millions of our world’s refugees and displaced persons.”
in the Metropolitan Museum of ArtMonday, May 10th
7:00 PM in Wallace HallLecturer: Ian Alteveer, Research Associate Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern,
and Contemporary Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This landmark exhibition is the first to focus exclusively on works by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) in the Metropolitan’s collection. Using key works from among the Metro-politan’s remarkable holdings as a guide, this lecture will explore Picasso’s long and fascinating career as it is so richly displayed on the Museum’s walls.
The Picasso exhibit will be on view at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art from April 27th – August 1st, 2010.
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LECTURE
P i c a s s oTake Note! Children’s Choir Auditions Auditions for the St. Ignatius Loyola
children’s choir program will be held in the Wallace Hall Music Room on the following dates and times:
Monday, May 10th from 3:00 - 4:30 PM For children rising into the 1st and 2nd grades
Tuesday, May 11th from 3:00 - 4:30 PM For children rising into the 3rd – 8th grades.
No appointment or preparation is necessary. Parents or caregivers should attend with their children.
Call 212-288-3588 x633 or email [email protected]
with any questions.
MUSIC
Discover “The Harlem You Never Knew”
on our private walking tour Sunday, May 16th
from 2:45 to 5:00 PMHistory, architecture, arts and more await us. We will meet at Starbucks
(125th Street/Lenox Avenue at #2 and 3 subway), rain or shine.
Reservations are required. Cost: $22. May be paid online at www.boomersandbeyondnyc.com
Or, send check payable to Boomers & Beyond (Parish House, 980 Park Avenue).
RSVP by Thursday, May 13th. Tickets are limited. For additional information please email:
[email protected] (preferred)
or call 646-241-1332. An inter-parish social and community
service organization for single Catholics who are over 50
BOOMERS & BEYOND
Tuesday, May 18th at 7:15 PM in the Parish House
Please read the first half of “Meetings With Remarkable Men”
by G.I. Gurdjieff in preparation for our discussion.
For additional information, contact Jane Campbell at [email protected] or 212-536-7746
New members are always welcome!
ST. IGNATIUS SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY READING GROUP
JUSTFAITH“Act, Reflect, Transform” Workshop
Saturday, May 22nd9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Parish Lounge
Interested in learning more about Catholic Social Teaching and how it applies to your living faith? Join us on May 22nd for the JustFaith “Act, Reflect, Transform” Workshop.Through prayer, readings, activities, and discussion we will explore important social issues and how we, as Catholics, are encouraged to respond to them.
Please call the Parish House to register: 212-288-3588.
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Share the Blessings of Your Marriage
The Archdiocesan Marriage Preparation Program is seeking married couples to help engaged couples as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. The commitment is flexible, training is provided, and the experience is rewarding.
For more information, contact Lisa Dunleavy-Jennings at 212-371-1011, x3189 or
Calling all Teens (grades 9-12) May Service Opportunity To register, please call 212-288-3588 x610 or email: [email protected]
Meals-on-Heels, Saturday, May 22nd Meals-on-Heels works out of the Carter Burden Center, 351 East 74th Street. Meet at 9:00 AM in the Parish House and go as a group to the Carter Burden Senior Center. After a brief orientation, we will help deliver meals to homebound seniors in the neighborhood. Meals are delivered from 10:00 AM until about noon. We will return to the Parish House after all deliveries have been completed. Register by Thursday, May 20th.
IGNATIAN TEENS
Calling all Alumni…St. Ignatius Loyola Day Nursery
is celebrating its Centennial Anniversary in 2010
What is Your Wish for the Day Nursery for the next 100 years?
Together, let us Honor our Past, Celebrate our Present, and Embrace our Future
We encourage you to share your Day Nursery stories, experiences and photographs. Also, if you attended the Day Nursery, we would very much appreciate having your contact information (name, address, telephone, email, and the year(s) that you were enrolled).
Please send information to the Development Office at 212.734.0372 or via e-mail:
EVENT OF THE CENTURYFriday, May 21st
7:00 PM to MidnightThe Central Park BoathouseCocktails, Dinner, Dancing, Raffle,
Live and Silent AuctionsCost: $175 per person
Invitations are available at the Parish Houseand at the Day Nursery, 240 East 84th Street
For further information, please call 212-734-0372.Persons over 21 are welcome to attend
Save-the-date…Saturday, September 25th, 2010Centennial Anniversary Mass
for the St. Ignatius Loyola Day NurseryChurch of St. Ignatius Loyola
DAY NURSERY
SVdP Blood DriveSunday, May 23rdMcKinnon Hall9:00 AM – 2:00 PMEvery two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. The New York Blood Center requires 2,000 donations daily to meet the transfusion needs of our community. Please be a part of our Blood Drive on May 23rd. Your donation may enable a premature baby to live, a burn victim to recover, a cancer patient to be treated, an accident victim to survive, or a transplant candidate to have life-giving surgery.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:
Sunday, June 20th at 2:00 PM Cathedral of St. Patrick Couples celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary anytime during 2010 are invited to attend the Annual Golden Wedding Jubilee Mass with Archbishop Dolan at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. Pre-registration is required.
To register, contact Diane Boyle at the St. Ignatius Parish House, [email protected] or 212-288-3588 x618, by Tuesday, May 25th.
On Sale at the Parish House:
How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents
by Joseph A. Califano, Jr. Price: $10.00
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Announced Masses and Scripture Readings for the WeekMonday, May 10th(St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka’i)Acts 16:11-15 Psalm 149 John 15:26 – 16:4a 8:30 MEM James Johnson 12:10 MEM Valentino Mazzia 5:30 MEM Catherine Scanlon
Tuesday, May 11th(6th Tuesday of Easter)Acts 16:22-34 Psalm 138 John 16:5-11 8:30 MEM Johston & McCormack Families 12:10 MEM Mimi F. Meehan 5:30 MEM Richard Stehlik
Wednesday, May 12th(SS. Achilleus, Nereus, and Pancras)Acts 17:15, 22 – 18:1 Psalm 148 John 16:12-15 8:30 MEM Caroline Choix & Joan Gordon 12:10 MEM Adrienne Soroff 5:30 LVG Special Intentions of the Commisso Family
Thursday, May 13th(Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord)Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:17-23 Luke 24:46-53 Friday, May 14th(St. Matthias)Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Psalm 113 John 15:9-17 8:30 MEM Choix, Gordon & Zullo Families 12:10 MEM McCormack & Raedar Families 5:30 MEM Louis Gelsomino
Saturday, May 15th(St. Isidore the Farmer)Acts 18:23-28 Psalm 47 John 16:23b-28 8:30 MEM Jack O’Leary
Sunday, May 16th (7th Sunday of Easter)Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 97 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26
First Communion Sunday: May 16th11:00 AM
Wallace Hall Family MassWe will acknowledge all of the boys and girls who made their
First Holy Communion this Spring.
Communion outfits should be worn.
We have the privilege at St. Ignatius of welcoming many visitors and new parishioners. We
especially welcome those who may be thinking of becoming Catholic. If you feel attracted to the Catholic faith, we want you to know about a program at the Parish which will begin in September. A group will meet here during the year to inquire into the Catholic faith, to come to know Jesus through the Gospels, and to pray and to prepare for the Easter Sacraments. This process is also open to those Catholic adults who have not received the Sacraments of First Communion or Confirmation.
For more information about this process, which is called the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), contact Maureen Fullam at 212-288-3588
or email [email protected]
Interested in Becoming Catholic? ASCENSION THURSDAY - May 13th Anticipated Mass Wednesday, May 12th at 5:30 PM in the Church Thursday, May 13th:The following Masses will be celebrated in the Church:
8:30 AM (Grammar School will be attending) 12:10 PM (organ and cantor) 5:30 PM (organ and cantor)
Have you seen…the new Stations of the Cross that were recently added to our Lady Chapel? Thanks to a generous benefactor, these paintings, created by an artist in Guatemala, beautifully enhance our Lady Chapel. Be sure to stop in for a visit!
The final IREP Mass of the academic year will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 12th at 4:00 PM in the church. (This will be an anticipated Mass for Ascension Thursday.)
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
Music Information: (212) 288-2520 E-mail: [email protected]
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
PARISH STAFF
Weekday Masses Monday-Friday 8:30AM,12:10PMand5:30PM
Saturday:8:30AM
Masses for Next Weekend:
SaturdayVigil:5:30PMFr.UgoSunday:8:00AMFr.Ugo9:30AMFr.WittWallaceHall11:00AMFr.BergenSolemn11:00AMFr.Ugo7:30PMFr.Witt
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 Baptism 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.
A Lutheran View of W here the Ecumenical Movement Stands in Spring 2010: The Fifth Graymoor Lec-ture. Speaker: Rev. Dr. William G. Rusch, Lutheran pastor, ecumenist, educator, and author. Thursday, May 13th at Church of the Holy Family Parish Hall, 315 East 47th Street. 5:30 – 6:00 PM: Reception/Gathering. 6:00 – 7:30 PM: Lecture, followed by discussion. RSVP: [email protected] or 212-870-2330.
Help for Haiti Benefit: An evening of Music, Magic, and More! Location: Feinstein’s at Loew’s Regency Hotel, 540 Park Avenue. Two performances, Saturday and Sunday, May 15th and 16th. Proceeds to benefit the Global Medical Relief Fund. For additional information and reserva-tions, call 212-339-4095. (Mention SIL for better seating.)
Spiritual Direction Training Program: Developed and used for over 30 years at the Center for Spirituality and Justice in New York. Now offered at Carmel Retreat in Mahwah, NJ. Applications are being accepted for Fall 2010. If you sense the call to the contemplative ministry of spiritual direction, visit www.carmelretreat.com or call 201-327-7090 for information.
Carnegie East House is an enriched housing residence for older adults at Second Avenue and 95th Street. It offers seniors independence, security, and the comfort of services when needed. Tempo-rary, trial, or respite stays are also offered. Contact Bill Patterson at 646-438-8009 to request a tour or for more information. Or visit the website: www.carnegieeast.org
