It is with great concern for the ongoing crisis in Gaza that we share this appeal for urgent relief for survival in Gaza and recovery across the Holy Land. Our Church mourns the terrible suffering of innocent victims of violence in Gaza and surrounding areas. The Holy Father notes with great sorrow that “Gaza is starving.” He continues to call for a cease fire and for aid to enter the territory. Thousands are struggling to survive, protect their children, and live with dignity in dire conditions.

Mary Jo "MJ" McConnell: "For three years I have been honored to be a music minister here at St. Ignatius. We have experienced change, but what keeps us resilient is our love for music and each other. This NYC transplant is truly grateful for the warm embrace of this community, and for the opportunity to grow as a musician. If you are called to make a joyful noise, join us. There are many levels of participation: Sunday worship, Easter week and Christmas celebrations with more challenging repertoire, and our signature annual requiem, which is the most demanding. Come as you are, stay for the joy." Thank you, Mary Jo!

Please join me and my brother Jesuits as we pray in gratitude for the life and ministry of Father Al Grosskopf, S.J., who, at age 94, died peacefully on August 25 at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos. Most of us came to know and love Father Al through his ministry as Associate Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish from 1997-2008.

New this year! We’ll have monthly gatherings after the 5:00 PM Mass for discussion, games, and PIZZA. Our first gathering will be Sunday, September 14th—don’t miss it! Here are some upcoming opportunities for youth to get involved:

Stephen St. Marie "I joined the St Ignatius Parish choir nearly 30 years ago, and I have found it to be a profoundly satisfying way for me to be part of our parish. It was partly for the opportunity to sing aloud and to participate in a musical group, and partly for the companionship with my fellow choristers. But much more for the benefit of a deeper feeling of participation in the Mass and in prayer.

From September 1 (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) through October 4 (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), Christians worldwide celebrate the Season of Creation. For us in the Ignatian tradition, this sacred time is an invitation to “find God in all things” by noticing God’s presence in the beauty of creation and in the cries of the earth and the poor. Rooted in Laudato Si’ and the Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preference of “Caring for Our Common Home,” this season calls us to conversion of heart and to daily choices that embody cura personalis—care for one another and for our common home. Like the Examen, it is a time to pause, give thanks, and discern how God is inviting us to live in deeper harmony with creation. This year, we invite each parishioner to choose one simple practice for one month.

“Our response to the arrival of migrating persons can be summarized by four words: welcome, protect, promote and integrate.” - Pope Francis. Today, this response to a migrating person – welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating them into the United States – also needs to include migrants who may have been here for years or even decades. One way to offer protection is to share information about certain rights and protections that all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have under the Constitution. That's where red cards come in. Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s (ILRC) red cards give examples of how people can exercise these rights, for instance when interacting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement agencies.

What a game! Fr. Jerry suggested we all pray a few rosaries before heading out—and it worked. Baseball, like sports in general, can feel like an act of faith: we show up, we hope, and we trust that something good will unfold. This past Sunday, that faith was rewarded with sunshine, great pitching, timely hitting, and even a once-in-a-decade catch.

Teri Stanul "I joined the choir about eight months ago after much prayer, asking God if this is where He wanted me. It was a decision I am very comfortable with, as I’ve always loved worshiping God in Song. Patrick Hagen, our amazing leader, and director is a man of God, and he is very talented in leading us in songs of praise. He is welcoming and very encouraging, as he teaches us with much patience to sing to our Savior. We are a family of believers, who through singing, glorify and praise. Please join us as we pray through song to our adoring God!" Thank you, Teri!

For thousands of years, the Catholic Church and organizations associated with it have met the needs of families and the vulnerable. It is part of who we are. This parish helps people, parishioners as well as those in need who might not be associated with the parish, through "corporal works of mercy." Here are a few examples.

Students are coming back to school, those fortunate enough to have summer vacations are returning to a more traditional schedule . . . For a variety of reasons, the "fall of the leaves" presents a time of renewal for our community. Whether it is being together again in meaningful ways, continuing to live God's love as expressed in the Gospels through Mercy & Justice, or a renewal of responsibility of being the primary catechist for your children, the time is always ripe, but especially so in fall.

For the last 16 years, together with Dr. Mary Romo, I have had the privilege of accompanying hundreds of adults on their journeys to become Catholic through St. Ignatius’ Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, (previously known as RCIA). My faith has emerged to be the central axis of my life. It has shaped me, guided me, inspired me, and comforted me. My faith is a treasure that has come to touch each facet of my life. Throughout my time with the this community, I have seen the enrichment of so many people who have let faith become their beacon too. At the heart of any Christian endeavor is coming to the understanding that Jesus’ teachings about love can be applied to any situation or circumstance. And as we introduce folks to the Catholic tradition, we do so with this notion in mind. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program is ultimately a pathway to discovery and serving as a catechist means we get to participate in the spiritual growth of people who continue to search for God’s presence. As a lifelong Catholic, sharing our faith this way is truly inspiring because we get to see the fruits of our tradition take form.

My first exposure to the slave trade outside of something I read in a textbook was a visceral experience I had when I visited the Slavery Memorial at the Christiansted National Historic site when I lived on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. St. Croix was a Danish territory from 1733 to 1917 and one of the centers of slave trading in the Caribbean. There are records of more than 100,000 slaves that were brought, confined, auctioned and sold in St. Croix from 1734 to 1803. The Danish West India Company kept meticulous records of the origin, family composition and disposition of each slave which were mostly sourced from what is now modern Ghana in West Africa which was also a Danish colony.

Lynn Powe, from Mission Doctors Association, will speak at all Masses August 2 and 3. The second collection at these Masses is for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which supports missions such as Mission Doctors Association. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is part of the Pontifical Mission Societies, a worldwide network that supports the missions and the Young Churches with prayer and charity.

Are the 300 or so people who regularly participate in Mass online, through the livestream, simply watching Mass? No. Although the homilies are enriching and the music and liturgical environment are beautiful, these people don't just watch but participate by actively praying and are part of our worshiping assembly. Most are parishioners and all part of our community. Many of the people who participate in Mass online are unable to be physically present in the church. In a recent survey, some of these people described themselves as legally blind, disabled by Alzheimer's disease, ho

My mother and I met in Romania this summer to prepare a memorial service for my uncle’s one year death anniversary and to put the home I grew up in for sale. I was not able to attend the funeral, so it was a particularly solemn visit for me. We wanted the presence of an elder, Mihai, the last surviving sibling of my grandmother at the memorial, so we went to our ancestral village to pick him up. At 85, he was jovially riding his bicycle on the unpaved medieval road.

St. Ignatius Parish 8th Grade Girls’ Basketball Team Celebrates with WNBA Valkyries Game This year’s 8th grade girls’ basketball team didn’t just compete—they triumphed. After an unforgettable championship season defined by grit, teamwork, and heart, it was clear they deserved a celebration as bold as their accomplishments. Last year’s teams had the exciting opportunity to play during the California Classic—a summer showcase featuring recent NBA draft picks. But this year, we wanted to do something different—something that truly recognized the girls’ incredible run and reflected what they had achieved together.

This summer we are reading You Are Not American: Citizenship Stripping from Dred Scott to the Dreamers, by Amanda Frost. Take the summer to read a fascinating book with your fellow parishioners, then join together for an in-person discussion in the Accolti Room on Sunday September 7, after Hospitality. Or, if you can't make that, you can join us on Zoom, Wednesday, September 10, at 6 pm.

Both Martha and Mary, female companions of Jesus in today’s readings, are loved with that special kind of love expressed in the Gospels. To help us engage in richer contemplation of today’s reading, all our ‘propers —Gathering Song, Psalm, Preparation of the Gifts, Communion and Sending Song—were written by women-composers; our Prayer of the Faithful highlights the need to support women and all of us striving to live as disciples, and our homily draws out Jesus’s cultural work increasing our capacity to recognize human dignity for the sake of glimpsing what is truly essential, loving your neighbor as God loves you—with unconditional, eternal love.

In June, we welcomed Patrick Kennedy as our new Director of Advancement. Some of you may remember Patrick from his work as an embedded consultant for our Preservation & Promise church restoration campaign from 2020 to 2022. Patrick was also a member of our most recent OCIA cohort, joining the Catholic Church (and our parish) this Easter. Patrick will help lead our membership growth, engagement, and giving efforts; he’ll also guide a strategic planning process as we discern God’s calling for our parish community in the coming years.