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ISJ Essay: An Afternoon of Prayer and Discovery

In January, St. Ignatius parishioners and members of the Ignatian Social Justice Ministry, Jimmy Coffey, Laura Cronin, Laura De Boisblanc, Anne Melanson, Christine Meyer, and Regan Orillac, traveled to McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, to volunteer with Fr. Brian Strassberger, S.J., and Fr. Louie Hotop, S.J., in their Border Ministry.

Inspired by the plight of our neighbors at the Texas and Reynosa, Mexico border, Migrant Stations of the Cross were designed last year by a previous group who volunteered. On a recent Saturday in Wallace Hall, Fr. Mark Hallinan, S.J., led parishioners in these Migrant Stations of the Cross, and after, Laura Cronin led a panel discussion.

Rosayra Pablo Cruz and her now-19-year-old son, Yordy Michicoj Pablo, who were separated at the border in 2016, began with their stories. Rosy authored The Book of Rosy: A Mother’s Story of Separation at the Border and is part of the upcoming Netflix documentary Split at the Root with Julie Schwietert Collazo, who spearheaded the grassroots foundation Immigrant Families Together.

Rosy and Yordy gave a compelling brief synopsis of their journey. They left Guatemala after Rosy’s husband was murdered. She was paying money to a drug cartel for protection, and when she stopped, they threatened to take Yordy. Rosy, Yordy, and her youngest son, Fernando, had to leave quickly. She left her two daughters behind with her mother. Rosy, Yordy, and Fernando were separated at the border in Arizona. Yordy and Fernando were taken to New York while Rosy remained in detention, wondering how she would make the $12,000 bond.

Rosy and other moms separated at the border caught the attention of a group of moms from Queens, New York, who created a GoFundMe for these detained mothers at the border. The New York Moms posted bond and organized a caravan of drivers to bring Rosy from Arizona to New York City to find her sons, Yordy and Fernando. They are now thriving and living in The Bronx.

After their presentation, Jimmy Coffey and Anne Melanson shared their poignant reflections from the border volunteerism with Fr. Brian and Fr. Louie, and Pastor Abraham from a Baptist Church in Brownsville.

If you are interested in volunteering to help asylum seekers who are in New York City, The Migrant Center at St. Francis of Assisi Church seeks volunteers. St. Francis is located at 135 West 31st Street and needs assistance on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 AM to 3 PM.

— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate

ISJ Essay: Kino Border Initiative, Joanna Williams

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), shared her experiences in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, along the U.S. southern border with a group of 18 St. Ignatius Loyola parishioners. What an inspiration and a delight to hear from such an accomplished Georgetown graduate about how KBI embodies “Migration with Dignity.”

The Kino Border Initiative, a bi-national organization that is affiliated with the Jesuits, provides humanitarian assistance, education and encounter between migrants and others, and advocacy to promote humane, just, and workable migration. Joanna has been the Executive Director since 2021, but her affiliation with the organization goes back more than a decade. She learned about KBI through an immersion trip organized by Georgetown University while she was a student there.

Because the Kino Border Initiative shelter’s physical location is on the Mexican side of the border, Joanna has a unique window into the hopes and dreams and the fears and challenges of many who migrate from Latin America. She shared the stories of several migrants with the group, including the story of Walter from Honduras. Walter lost his job when his company laid off most workers during the pandemic. Then, two terrible hurricanes wiped out his house and much of the infrastructure in his community. When he tried to rebuild, the area had been taken over by gangs and cartels. His brother-in-law was murdered, and Walter was told he was next. After several months of extortion and threats of violence, Walter felt as though he had no choice but to undertake the dangerous trek and seek asylum in the United States.

Stories like Walter’s are quite common along the border. The push of forced displacement often comes from several factors. In Walter’s case, a climate disaster, poverty, and gang violence all combined to make staying in Honduras impossible.

The Kino Border Initiatives’ current advocacy priorities suggest that we look for ways to meet with local representatives, write “Letters to the Editor,” and otherwise look to tell the story of the borderlands in our local communities. The two priorities that she stressed were (1) allowing those fleeing dangerous circumstances to access asylum at the border and (2) holding government agencies active at the border accountable for the humane treatment of all migrants.

She also welcomed all St. Ignatius Loyola parishioners to learn more about KBI, to partner with them in their amazing work, and to “come and see” how Catholic Social Teaching is put into action. If you would like more information about the Kino Border Initiative or about the parish’s work to support migrants in NYC, please contact [email protected].

— Christine Meyer

From the Pastor: February 26, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Let’s get back to basics.

It is time for us to refresh our understanding of matters of faith and religion. There is a growing trend in the universal church that people in the pews are increasingly “religion illiterate,” that many Catholics have either forgotten or never learned the fundamental concepts of Catholicism, of why we do what we do and the significance of what we do. Sometimes habit dims our understanding of why, for example, we attend Mass, receive Holy Communion, are baptized, engage in devotional practices, and so on.

Beginning on Wednesday, 19 April, the priests of the parish will offer an opportunity to learn more about what it means to be Catholic. Back to Basics will be presented on four consecutive Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Carlos Cuartas Parish Lounge. The four topic areas that will be covered are:

Faith and Religion 101. An overview of faith and how it is manifested in religion. Fr. Yesalonia (19 April)
Catholicism 101. What distinguishes Catholicism from other religions. Fr. Casciotti (26 April)
Ignatian Spirituality 101. Fundamental principles. The Examen. Discernment. The meaning and significance of AMDG. Fr. Hilbert (3 May)
The Liturgy of the Mass 101. Each part of the Mass will be explained, along with its accompanying prayers. Fr. Hallinan (10 May)

There is no need to worry. There will be no quizzes or exams. The goal is to learn more about (or re-learn!) what we believe as Catholics and how we manifest that by the ways we pray and worship. Registration is required. To register, click here.

God bless you!

Sincerely in the Lord,

Fr. Yesalonia

ISJ Essay: To Witness and Accompany

Anyone who’s ever searched for a rainbow knows that’s not the way to go about it. You don’t find them; they find you.

When six of us from Ignatian Social Justice left at the end of January for a week at the US-Mexico border, I honestly wasn’t quite sure what we were looking for or exactly what we were going to find, but I knew that it was time for me to learn more about one of the greatest humanitarian crisis our world faces. Every corner of the world is affected by some type of migration crisis. Our response to these displacements shapes our countries, communities, and humanity.

Our overall goal, as I understood it was to ‘witness and accompany.’ What would that look like?

In Reynosa, Mexico, we brought a carload of toys and coloring kits for the children living with their mothers in dormitory-style rooms. They all wore everything they could get their hands on against the cold winter da: sockss and sandals, a snowsuit, a sweater, or a light coat over a t-shirt.
Later that day, in the Senda 2 camp, we saw many people living in plastic-covered tents in tidy rows. A group of Mormon volunteers were building casitas that housed three and four families in one-room structures. Everywhere the migrants were organizing themselves into work units—caulking around the casitas, securing the gate, cooking for the thousands in impossibly large pots in the open kitchen, cleaning the latrines, distributing donated diapers, cleaning supplies, and food. When we asked how they got people to volunteer for the less savory jobs, one responded with a sly smile, “We unplug the phone chargers until someone volunteers.” The phones are their lifelines. They make hasty phone calls to loved ones at home. They WhatsApp their sponsors in the US. They load and reload the new CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) app, which God-willing will one day tell them they are confirmed for an appointment at the border—the answer to their prayers.

In a car loaded with rice and corn flour, we joined a Baptist pastor in Matamoros, Mexico. No walls surrounded this camp. The ground was uneven; there were muddy puddles though the last rain was days before, and the ‘tents’ were often made from bits of plastic and tarp. Amenities include four water stations, a handful of port-o-potties, and makeshift showers for thousands of migrants. After the food was gone, a line formed for the cardboard boxes the rice came in. They’re used to sleeping on to protect them from moisture, uneven terrain, and filth. Plus, the kids found them highly entertaining.
These are just a few of the visits we made.

Oh, and the rainbow appeared. Twice.

Working in Brownsville with the newly arrived, a couple recognized us from the camp. They fell into our arms like long-lost friends. We literally danced and laughed and got them in contact with volunteers in DC.

Then, on our last day, when there was nothing left to do but fly home and ponder all that we’d seen and heard, we noticed the lost and confused migrants trying to find their way through Houston airport. We gathered them, and bought them breakfast. We held hands, and explained gates, airport names, and boarding groups. Until finally, at baggage claim in LaGuardia, we watched them fall into the arms of their family members, sobbing with tears of joy and relief.

Back to the original question of what we were doing. We did witness and accompany. We saw lots of pieces of the puzzle—both sides of the border.

Unaccompanied minors, single moms, and young solo men. We heard heart-rending stories alongside humor, joy, and faith. The more we understood, the more each story revealed its uniqueness. We came to know people, religious and otherwise, dedicating much of their lives to tending to those in dire circumstances. Altogether it was humbling and eye-opening—a call to action.

— Regan Orillac

Earthquake Relief: Donation Resources for Turkey And Syria

Last week, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake ravaged Turkey and Syria, which has taken thousands of lives and caused significant damage across the region.

If you want to provide aid or support to affected communities in:
– Turkey: Visit amo-fme.org
– Syria: Visit jrsusa.org

From the Pastor: February 19, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

As we settle into the beginning of a new year, I think it is time that I update you about what has been happening at the parish and what is being planned.

1. Parish Ministries. I am happy to report that the programming and activities of the various ministries of the parish are as robust as they were prior to our Covid interlude; most are in-person events, a few continue to meet or have programming via Zoom. We have more than 400 individuals who are regularly engaged in parish ministries, programs, volunteer service projects, and sponsored activities. The Ministry Council, made up of the leadership of all the ministries of the parish, meets on a quarterly basis to report on their respective works. The most recent meeting of the Ministry Council was in December. The Minutes of all its meetings may now be found on the parish’s website.

2. Livestreaming of Mass. The livestreaming of our weekday and Sunday liturgies is a very important and necessary ministry that allows us to accompany those who otherwise are unable to be physically present. However, livestreaming of our Masses is very expensive. In January, we moved the weekday livestreamed Mass, on an experimental basis, into the Lady Chapel as a cost-saving measure. That proved to be unsuccessful because of repeated interruptions of service and the number of people who regularly attend weekday Mass. On February 1^st, the weekday livestreamed 5:30 PM Mass returned to the church.

3. Parish Finance and Investment Committees. These committees meet on a quarterly basis to monitor the financial condition of the parish and to review the performance of the modest investment portfolio of the parish. I am happy to report that the parish continues to be in strong financial condition. However, that is not to say that there doesn’t remain constant pressure on the parish’s operating budget because of a downturn in weekly Offertory and special collections. Prior years’ shortfalls have been met through our investments, but that trend is not sustainable.

4. Parish Lay Trustees. The lay parish trustees meet annually to review the audited financial statements of the parish and all major expenditures of parish funds. The next meeting of the lay parish trustees will be in the early Spring, upon the completion of the work of our outside independent auditor.

5. Parish Council. Acting as advisers to the Pastor, the members of the Parish Council meet on a monthly basis. The Minutes of their meetings are published on the parish’s website.

6. Christmas 2022. The Christmas concerts and the grammar school Christmas pageant were smashing successes. The spirit and joy of Christmas were very much alive this past year, as indicated by the number of people who attended the Masses of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, both in-person (2,920) and via livestream (1,049). Encouraging though these numbers are, they are a far cry from years past when, in 2017, more than 5,000 people attended in person, 4,838 in 2018, and 4,670 in 2019.

While the number of people regularly attending Mass steadily increases and hopefully approaches pre-Covid attendance, the amount received in contributions during the Offertory collections has not kept pace with it. The primary source of funding for the annual operations of the parish comes from the Offertory collections and Annual and Spring Appeals. The use of recurring electronic transfer of funds through checking/savings accounts and credit cards for the weekly Offertory collection would allow us to prepare an operating budget that keeps expenditures in line with revenue.

7. Lecture Series. This year’s lecture series, Blessed Are The Peacemakers, is off to a strong start with the recent presentation of Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., who spoke of his ministry among former Los Angeles gang members. As part of the lecture series, The Loyola Medal will be conferred on Professor Kim Daniels in conjunction with her delivery of the Laetare Lecture on 27 March. Prof. Daniels is the Director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University.

8. Action Plan Committees. The parish action plan committees, whose task is to propose practical ways for us to implement the parish’s Vision Statement, have been meeting on a monthly basis since November. In the early Fall, their recommendations will be disseminated to all parishioners. It is my hope that we will join in common purpose and integrate their recommendations into our personal lives and as a parish.

9. Physical Plant of the grammar school. The elevator at the Lower Campus building (formerly, The Day Nursery) needs to be upgraded to comply with the current building code, and the roof of the Upper Campus building (the grammar school) appears to be in need of replacement. We have retained the services of an engineer to evaluate what should be done at both locations. The financing of these projects will be reviewed by the Parish Finance Committee.

10. Loyola School. Our neighbor to the south is about to begin a construction project that will be ongoing for approximately 18 months, beginning March 2023. The area that will be impacted is the courtyard between the church/Parish House and Loyola School. Access to the church from the rear of the Parish House will be blocked during this time.

11. This year, the theme for observing the season of Lent is “Forgiveness.” As we begin the season of Lent on February 22nd with the celebration of Ash Wednesday, let us reflect upon our need for forgiveness, from God and of one another. Without forgiveness in our lives, love would suffocate and peace be elusive.

God bless you!

Sincerely in the Lord,
Fr. Yesalonia

The Road to College was the title of a presentation that Maura Brennan, Director of College Counseling at Loyola School, gave to a group of LSA (Little Sisters of the Assumption) Health and Family Services high school students and their parents. The audience was made up of eighteen students, predominantly sophomores and juniors, who are the first generation in their families to apply to college.

FAFSA, CUNY, SUNY, PELL, HEOP, EOP, SEEK, IEP, Questbridge, Posse, and Excelsior are but a small subset of a daunting barrage of acronyms, programs, and organizations that the college application machine spits out. Families are expected to know that they exist, not to mention to understand how each one of them plays a vital role to assist them in preparing their children for college.

In my experience, the road to college is daunting at first. Still, it becomes clearer if you yourself have attended college and, more importantly, if you have participated at one time in the decision-making process. I was an emigrant without family ties that attended college here in New York City, and years later, as a parent, I was fortunate that my children attended Loyola School and Regis High School. Both schools provide excellent college guidance services to their students and their parents. I am passionate about seeing that all families, irrespective of their status, have access to the same level of college guidance that I have grown accustomed to.

We are blessed in our partnership with Loyola School because Maura shares the same passion, and she welcomed the opportunity to give this presentation. The families of the high school graduating classes of 2024 and 2025 took the first steps on a journey with Maura on January 21st. With her at the wheel, and with Melina Gonzalez, LSA Community Engagement Manager, as her guide and translator, the acronyms became details, the roles of the organizations were explained, college names in both city and state were becoming familiar, programs and organizations became welcome allies, scholarships and expected family contribution figures eased financial worries, and advice on how to select a college was shared. The opportunity to attend college became real and attainable.

The parents described the presentation as being very helpful. The families LSA is connected to within their community have no experience with the college application process. Students with younger siblings will also benefit from the presentation as their parents are learning the tools to help plan for their college education in advance. This is our second year providing this type of presentation to LSA. Last year, we were of the mindset that we were supplementing the sparse and sometimes unhelpful college guidance currently available to these students in school. We were pleasantly surprised in our feedback to discover that we were also providing a tremendous benefit to the parents in attendance, as they were excluded from the college guidance process provided by their children’s high schools.

We are fortunate to have a similar relationship with Lisa Peterson, Director of College Counseling

Guidance Counselor and College Advisor at Regis High School and her colleague Elena Troy. Both will be making a similar presentation to another group of LSA families later this year.

— Jimmy Coffey

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year!

I am delighted to report on the progress of the work of the Action Plan Committees whose task is to lay the foundation for the implementation of the Parish Vision Statement.

The week before Christmas I met with the four committee chairs who provided a status report of their respective committees. As you will recall, the four committees, reflecting the key components of the Parish Vision Statement, are: We Welcome All, We Worship With Joy, We Walk With Those in Need, and We Reverence God In The Wonder Of Creation. Each chair commented both on the enthusiasm and the heartfelt commitment of all the members of the committees to the task before them.

In the Fall of this year, I will share with you the recommendations of each committee. They will be the starting point to the road map that will offer practical ways for us to implement the vision that we share as members of this parish and joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to have our actions reflect what we profess as a Catholic, Jesuit parish in the context of today’s world.

Let us continue to join in prayer for the success of the discernment process in which the Action Plan Committees are now engaged. May all that we, as church, do now and in the future redound to the greater glory of God and the salvation of all humanity.

Sincerely in the Lord,
Fr. Yesalonia

A group of seven volunteers from St. Ignatius Loyola joined 17 others in Wave 5 of the National Y Service project to the Cheyenne River Reservation in Dupree, South Dakota. It is here on the YMCA Council of the Seven Fires site where these much-needed four tiny homes will be built.

No special skills are needed to construct these SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) tiny homes. Under the direction of the Y Volunteer Construction manager, George Painter, from Lake George, New York, the panels were caulked, aligned, and nailed in place by 24 volunteers from around the United States. Some of us stayed in a bunkhouse on the Y site, and others stayed in a motel about 20 minutes from the site. Workdays began around 9 AM and lasted until 4:30 PM, with a lunch break from Noon-1 PM. The first day on-site, we were welcomed with snow and a fierce wind. Undaunted by the weather, everyone kicked into gear to begin the task of unloading panels from the container storage onto the foundations of the tiny homes not yet built.

The rest of the week was warmer yet windy, and work was paused during high-wind afternoons. We visited Camp Marrowbone, the YMCA camp about 45 minutes from Dupree, and then off to the Four Bands Community Council, where Alysa and Lakota explained how infrastructure works on the Reservation. They both went away to college and came back to the reservation to help their community. Alysa has an MSW, and Lakota has an MBA, and they help people obtain mortgages to build or buy homes on the Reservation.

Before dinner one evening, we had a visit from Dana Dupris, a Lakota elder. Dana is the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Cultural Preservation Officer, and he shared his story with us.

Dana persevered through difficult years of acculturation by the U.S. government and church-run schools by the grace of his deep spirituality and his resilient core that propelled him to stay centered and not become an angry man. The Lakota are resilient. There is no room to be angry; that is not productive in their eyes. Their culture and spirituality remain alive and well.

Volunteers from St. Ignatius look back on their experiences on the Reservation. Regan Orillac reflected, “The leadership of the YMCA of the Seven Councils and this National Service Project were so passionate and dedicated. The people we were introduced to on the reservation were incredibly inspirational, from a Lakota Elder laying bare the historical challenges of growing up Lakota, to a group of young women working to bring economic opportunities to the native population. And, lastly, the people who joined us as volunteers for the week were some of the most interesting, generous, and kind people I’ve had the opportunity to get to know.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken this trip. I found it incredible that Dana did not retain anger over his boarding school years. In fact, his sense of humor and his gentle way of speaking quieted the room and drew us to him,” said Maureen Haley.

Rick Scott added, “I came away with a new perspective on a few things: the vastness of South Dakota plains, the incredible work the YMCA does, and the challenges faced by the Lakota people. I felt embarrassment and shame for the behavior of our forbearers as it relates to the Native Americans. But in seeing the work of Andy and his staff, along with the women at Four Bands, I found reasons to be hopeful that life in Dupree will improve. And I came away proud of the work we did. It was quality work for a good cause. “

Xiomara Larios reflected on the trip’s highlights, “There were many, but the brightest highlight for me was the presentation at the Four Bands Council. Those two young, intelligent, eloquent women left me with tremendous hope for the people of the Cheyenne River reservation. It happened to follow a truly sad conversation with Sasha, whose struggles and pain are a product of the harsh life and limited opportunity for the young people of Dupree. Crazy Horse was both a learning and heartbreaking experience. Seeing that awe-inspiring memorial and the portraits of all those fearless dignified warriors was powerful. It gave context to all that Dana had shared with us about the Lakota people’s values. It shamed and humbled me.”

The young adult in our group, Dylan Freeman, said, “I learned a lot about Lakota culture and spirituality while also learning how to put up walls in the construction of a Tiny Home. The best memory of the trip was seeing that last wall panel slide into place, solidifying our trip as a success and a great starting point for future service trips to the Cheyenne River Reservation.”

Philip Anderson had a profound experience on this service trip and shares his longer reflection with us. “My father was a dedicated volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, so when I heard about the National Y service trip to South Dakota to help build tiny homes, it did not take me long to decide to go. This seemed like a way to pay tribute to him. Even though my mother has often said, ‘Philip doesn’t know one end of the hammer from the other.’ I did not let that stop me. And, on this trip, I learned how to use a nail gun!”

When I was 12 years old, South Dakota was the most memorable stop on a cross-country camping trip. This time, I wanted to learn about the Native Americans who live there, the Lakota. We met several Native Americans in Dupree and Eagle Butte who are working to help keep their culture and language alive and helping their people survive and hopefully thrive.

A tribal elder named Dana spoke to us at length about his personal experience of being taken from his family when he was a young boy. He was sent to a boarding school where the teachers tried to strip the children of their culture and language in an effort to make them “American.” Yet, he seemed to hold no particular feeling of anger or remorse. We were all struck by that fact. When asked why he is not angry, he simply said, “What is the point of being angry?”

It was inspiring to work with people aged 17 to 77 and realize that we can work together and get along with each other. There were some hardships, of course, but I will remember the benefits and cherish these memories for many years. Helping others, making new friends, seeing a new place, and learning about another culture and way of life will remain a highlight in my life journey.”

If you would like to donate to the Y National Tiny Home Service Project, visit https://national-service-project.constantcontactsites.com/giving.

— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate

On a chilly November evening, around 40 people braved the weather to attend the Refugee Prayer Service in the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola. This prayer service was a collaborative effort by Ignatian Social Justice, St. Vincent de Paul, and Interfaith Ministries to ask neighboring clergy, faith leaders, and community leaders to come together in story and prayer.

The pastor, Rev. Dennis Yesalonia, S.J., welcomed all to the church for an evening of prayer and reflection. Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate for Ignatian Social Justice, offered opening remarks and a prayer by Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

Melina Gonzalez, Community Engagement Manager/Immigration Services, Little Sisters of the Assumption, East Harlem, began with her own story as an immigrant from Mexico. Melina’s story and prayer in her native tongue of Spanish were heartwarming and inspirational. Meditative music inspired and improvised from each speaker’s talk was played on piano by Bobby Reuter, Associate Director of Music and Technical & Logistics Coordinator at St. Ignatius Loyola.

Then, Kaji Dousa, Senior Pastor from Park Avenue Christian Church, gave a spirited and engaging theological reflection and prayer in a Baptist tradition. Venerable Chang-Hwa Shih, and a Buddhist sister from the Chan Meditation Center in Queens, performed a beautiful chanting prayer. Emre Celik, Executive Director of Peace Islands Institute, gave a reflection from the viewpoint of his religion, Islam. Our final speaker was Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, St. Francis of Assisi, Director of Migrant Center, who offered his reflection through the lens of St. Francis of Assisi.

The speakers’ stories and prayers, along with the meditative music, transcended throughout this sacred space. And as Rev. Mark Hallinan, S.J., closed the eveningwith a prayer, we were left with a peaceful and hopeful outcome.

— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate

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