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Faith Life

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

C.S. Lewis

On Faith

One in a series of spiritual reflections on our lives together as a Parish.

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These turbulent times have inspired many to return to their faith or to discover a new way to find prayer, community, and service through religion. We have the privilege at St. Ignatius to welcome many guests who may be thinking about becoming Catholic, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the ordinary way the Church reaches out to adults who inquire into the Catholic faith. Since the beginning of the Church itself, adults have been welcomed to it through Baptism after a period of instruction, prayer, and reflection. We at St. Ignatius are continuing this tradition.

If you feel drawn to the Catholic faith, we invite you to join us! Participants inquire into the Catholic faith, come to know Jesus through the Gospels, pray and prepare for the Easter Sacraments. This process is also open to Catholic adults who have not received the Sacraments of First Communion or Confirmation.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults includes formation, prayer and liturgical rites and is a vital part of the parish and the universal Church. There are several stages in the process and each phase recognizes that every Christian life is, in fact, a journey. Although the conversion journey begins formally when the RCIA inquirers and parish team first begin meeting, the real conversion journey begins earlier from the heart. God calls us by name. The appeal of Christ’s fundamental message is ongoing and is experienced by a diverse group. To explore this path further, please email [email protected] or call the Parish House at 212-288-3588.

Attending RCIA at St Ignatius Loyola allowed me to delve more deeply into the teachings of the Catholic Church, increased my exposure to the variety of ministries and programs that St Ignatius offers, and expanded my community.  These experiences deepened my faith and opened doors for me to actively engage in meaningful relationships through committees such as Family Ministry and the Ignatian Social Justice network.

Sarah Tintle

Reflections with Jean Santopatre: Gratitude

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Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate and award-winning photojournalist, shares her Reflections feature each month, selecting an image or short video from her extensive personal photo archive and gathering reading excerpts from theologians, spiritual authors, monks, priests, poets, songwriters, and Pope Francis that speak to themes ranging from gratitude, grace, resilience, encouragement, hope, care of creation, and social justice.

View Past Reflections

Parish Lecture Series 2021

The United Nations has designated 2021 as The International Year of Peace and Trust, and we have made this the theme for our annual lecture series this coming year, focusing on the energies, talents, and contributions of Catholic women as agents of peace and trust in the Church and the world. Each of the four lectures in the series will explore critical areas of public service where Catholic women are taking leadership roles, changing lives, inspiring their colleagues, and living the call to discipleship. Our speakers will be informative, personal, inspiring, and catalyze conversations on health care (both local and global), homelessness, and the changing environment as threats to local and global peace now and in the years ahead.

For more information, please contact Communications Director Elizabeth O’Sullivan at [email protected].

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 7 PM

Webinar: “At Work I’m In Charge, in Church I’m Invisible”

Moderator:

Dr. Paula Olsiewski, Ph.D., Contributing Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Panelists:

Dr. Maria Jasin, Ph.D., Researcher, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dr. Mary Brady, MD, FACS, Surgeon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dr. Sarah Lilly, MD, Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital

Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7 PM

Catholic Women in Global Health: Mothers and Children

Moderator:

Jana I. Cuggino, Head of Strategy and Marketing, KPMG Healthcare and Life Sciences

Panelists:

Mary Beth Powers, President and CEO, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)

Darnelle Bernier, Vice President, Medical Donations Program, CMMB

Dr. Claudia Llanten M.D., Senior Maternal and Child Health Care Specialist, CMMB

Monday, April 19, 2021 at 7 PM

Webinar: “Journeying with Youth: From Homelessness to Hope"

Almost 12 million children in our nation are currently living in poverty. Sadly, approximately 4.2 million young people under the age of 24 experience homelessness. This webinar will draw upon the many years of experience of women leaders from both the Harlem Children’s Zone and Covenant House, two large non-profit organizations whose goal is to achieve positive outcomes for young people by journeying with them from traumatic experiences to hope and healing.

The panelists will discuss the challenges that these young people face including how the pandemic has exacerbated already existing disparities. We will explore together how each of us can play a part in supporting the most vulnerable among God’s children to fulfill their great promise.

Panelists

  • Sr. Nancy Downing, CND, Executive Director, Covenant House
  • Professor Anne Williams-Isom, James R. Dumpson Chair in Child Welfare, Fordham University; former CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone

To register, click here

Monday, May 17, 2021 at 7 PM

Catholic Women in International Climate Change Policy

Dr. Bonizella Biagini, Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 Lectures

Celebrating the Women of St. Ignatius: Past. Present. Future.

At this Thursday, March 11th event, we recognized four women of the parish for their decades of service.

That same evening, Kerry Robinson, founding executive director and global ambassador of Leadership Roundtable, presented the Laetare Lecture.

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Painting and Patriotism

Join Fr. Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., in visiting American paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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"A Short Word" Podcast

A regular podcast exploring our individual spirituality and faith lives in turbulent times, hosted by Pastoral Associate Brian Pinter

The Ashes of Lent: When the Blaming Stops

How do we know our grief work is bearing fruit? One infallible sign is when we don't feel the need to blame anyone anymore.

Statement of Solidarity with LGBT Catholics

Many of our LGBT+ brothers and sisters are feeling offended and hurt by the Vatican's announcement prohibiting the blessing of same-sex unions.

The Ashes of Lent - Communal Griefwork

Communities suffer traumas and wounds just as individuals do. This episode explores why and how we can collectively do griefwork.

FORMED: The Catholic Faith, on demand

FORMED is often called “The Catholic Netflix” because it offers high-quality, Catholic-friendly content—on demand— from more than 60 organizations to help parishes, families and individuals explore their faith anywhere. Register for FORMED and gain free access to thousands of movies, children’s programs, e-books, audio, parish programs and studies direct to your browser, mobile or connected device.

Learn More

Got a list of recent FORMED favorites you’d like to recommend to your fellow Parishioners?

Email your suggestions to Communications Director Elizabeth O’Sullivan at [email protected] and we’ll share your favorites in upcoming Parish newsletters.

Weekly Wisdom

Select homilies from our 5:30 PM Daily Masses

Do Not Be Afraid

In his Wednesday, January 6th homily, Fr. Bergen highlights that, during these times of uncertainty and turmoil, we should be buoyed by Jesus' words to the disciples after he walked across the Sea of Galilee: "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid." For, no matter what, God is always present, because "[w]hen we're living the right kind of life, God is living within us; making his temple within us."

Be a Light

In his Thursday, January 28th homily, Fr. Hallinan challenges us to look at ourselves and not to God when seeking to understand the "sorry shape" of our world: "We as human beings so often shake an angry fist at God and complain about the condition of our world: "Why do You allow this?" And, God shakes His head and says, "Whose fault is this? It's not My fault. It's your fault. You have been told what to do: 'Be a light that will scatter the darkness of the world.' Now, go do it. Be the persons of love you are commanded to be."

Extraordinary Power of God

In his Tuesday, January 12th homily, Fr. Yesalonia counsels us not to lose sight of the "extraordinary... power of Jesus Christ. [For] our belief in him will bring us to places, to people, to experiences that will bring forth the glory of God by the ways in which we will witness to our faith."