Last weekend, we honored Deacon Eddy Gutierrez and the twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the Diaconate. In my remarks, I expressed our gratitude for his ministry to us. His homilies most often begin with a story from his family life and conclude with an insight into God’s immense love for us, an invitation to service, or a path to a deeper relationship with Jesus. His wisdom is borne of years of loving commitment as a husband, father, coach, and disciple of Jesus. Deacon Eddy has accompanied scores of women and men on their journey into our Catholic faith as a catechist for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). He has also walked with people as they prepared for marriage or baptized their children or buried their loved ones. Deacon Eddy, we are blessed by your faith, your love for us, and your ministry to us. We are grateful to God that you walk with us, and we wish you many continued blessings in the years to come. Ad multos annos!

The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) renewed the ministry of the diaconate in the Catholic Church — restoring it as a permanent state of life, opening it to married men, and teaching that deacons are ordained to serve in liturgy, word and charity to the people of God.

May is the month of Mary and a special time to pray the Rosary. At the Mary Altar, at the front of the church, hangs a tapestry of the Blessed Virgin Mary, lovingly restored by our master textile conservator, Joyce Hulbert. Joyce spent countless hours lovingly caring for these pieces which were on the edge of decay but they again radiate their former, and present, grandeur. One of the tremendous gifts of belonging to St. Ignatius Parish is to be surrounded by our grand building. Fr. Greg often alludes to the walls having absorbed the prayers of this community for more than one hundred years, and the tangible feeling of stepping into a holy place when one crosses the threshold into our church. It seems as if only yesterday, our beautiful House of Worship was shrouded in scaffolding for what had been long-needed and extensive repairs to the exterior of the building. There were also two smaller, but very important, restoration projects taking place behind the scenes. The sacristy of our church is home to historic treasures, many of these treasures are antique textiles crafted with such integrity that they are still in use today. Two of the most beautiful of these have recently returned after having been expertly restored.

The Solidarity Ministry at St. Ignatius Parish wants you to consider: Where does your coffee come from? Where does your money go when you buy it? How do these questions relate to social justice? Can decisions like this affect the root causes of migration and have impact on communities? The Solidarity Ministry firmly believes they can, and Jesuits have been working in southern Mexico for over 50 years, also believing that through faith and hard work social justice is not only possible, but morally necessary.

This year, we were grateful to welcome two work study students from ICA Cristo Rey High School to our parish office team. Many of you had the chance to meet Ari, a senior, and Kathya, a freshman, through their work at the front desk, their help caring for our church building, and from thank-you calls to parish donors.

In June 2026, we are sending a delegation to our sister parish to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Parroquia San Antonio and the 25-year anniversary of our sister parish covenant. Experience first-hand the beauty of El Salvador, the warmth of the people who live there, and the deep connection and care for others expressed through our shared Las Vecinas ministry.

We are sending a delegation to our sister parish to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Parroquia San Antonio and the 25-year anniversary of our sister parish covenant. Experience first-hand the beauty of El Salvador, the warmth of the people who live there, and the deep connection and care for others expressed through our shared Las Vecinas ministry.

All are welcome to journey to find God in all things through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. St Agnes and St Ignatius Parishes offer the Exercises through the 19th Annotation, known as “a retreat in daily life.” The 19th Annotation Retreat is a way of making a retreat during the course of ordinary living without having to forgo, for a time, one's commitments to work, family and friends. Important in the discernment process is the completion of a questionnaire https://form.jotform.com/StIgnatius/SEEL-application-2025

My name is Alexa Martinez. I am a former Bay Area Catholic school student and the current Summer Camp Director at CYO Summer Camp. I am reaching out to share a bit about the summer camp that helped me so much in my youth, in hopes that you can pass this information on to your greater church community.

Mexico is often portrayed in international headlines through the lens of violence, political tension, or cartel-related conflict. While these realities exist and should not be ignored, they do not define the heart of the country. Reducing Mexico to fear-driven headlines overlooks the extraordinary richness of its people, culture, and everyday life. To truly understand Mexico, we must look beyond the news and experience the warmth, resilience, and beauty that shape the nation.

Our Saturday was magical! Thirty of us gathered in Fromm Hall for what was called an Art Retreat in the Ignatian Tradition. No previous art experience was required. All were welcome! All were in quiet anticipation of what we were about to engage in. Our very gifted and fabulous Retreat Director, Katie Wolf, received her MFA from San Francisco Art Institute and her BFA from Santa Clara University. She introduced herself and humbly described her oh so beautiful and varied works of art by way of video which are on display throughout the city. Katie then gathered us together in prayer and community and explained how the creative expression of our art work would be deepening our sense of the Creator working through us. During the time from 9:30 am through 3:50 pm we produced varied works of art always referencing the use of nature in our projects.

On the second Tuesday of every month, St. Ignatius Parish staff and parishioners participate in a Vigil at the Sansome Street Courthouse. Sign up for one or more shifts using this QR code or with the link on our website and in your email newsletter. Parishioners are encouraged to participate in either the 9:30-11:30 am shift on the second Tuesday of the month (led by St. Ignatius) or the 7:30-9:30 am shift on the third Thursday of the month (led by St. Agnes). To participate, you’ll need a smart phone to download a messaging app. Register today for one or more vigils!

To help us keep in mind and in our prayers the humanity and dignity of all members of our extended faith community who are migrants, families and friends of migrants, or otherwise subjected to dehumanizing conduct, we have set up an Altar of Witness within the Bellarmine Chapel in St. Ignatius Church.

The parish’s Anti-Racism Committee invites all, including faithful from outside St. Ignatius, to join us in praying an “Asian American Pacific Islander Rosary” together, in-person and/or on Zoom, during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, on the following dates...

Kali sarakosti (Καλή σαρακοστή)! This literally means “Good 40-days” in Greek. In Greece, there are many greetings specifically for the beginning of an event. There are also specific greetings for religious occasions in addition to the common ordinary greetings you hear all year round, such as good day, good week or good month. Since our arrival in Greece, we have been greeted by a vibrant Catholic community. Among those who greeted us are Maronites, Jesuits, Franciscans, Capuchins, and priests from all over the world now residing in the cradle of western civilization. Within the Catholic Greece we have visited, we saw a generally thriving church scene.

Ever-glorious St. Joseph, good and faithful servant, God was pleased to place his own family in your care. You who knew the fear of fleeing to protect those you loved, be near to all who seek refuge and safety. Help us recognize Christ in the migrant and the stranger, and respond with courage and compassion. Touch the hearts of those whose policies affect the vulnerable, that they may be guided by wisdom, moved by compassion, and act with justice, always upholding the dignity of every human being. Through your intercession, grant protection to all migrants in danger —especially our parish families— that they may live without fear, and know the fullness of life God intends for all. Amen.

A blessed and joyful Easter to you – to our longtime parishioners, to those who join us each week, and to the many visitors and guests who are with us for this holy day. We are truly glad you are here!

Water is essential for all life, including human life. While a healthy adult may go several weeks without food, that individual can only go 3-4 days without water. And yet water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource throughout much of the world, including in our own region. As this new year unfolds, the story of water in the American West is both hopeful and sobering. Recent storms have filled many of California’s major reservoirs, and drought maps now show our state largely drought-free. Yet, high in the mountains—where next year’s lifeblood is stored as snow—the picture is far more fragile.

In Laudato Si Pope Francis noted that human consumption of fossil fuels (which are carbon-based) has made a significant contribution to global warming, which in turn is damaging our planet (Laudato si', 23), and he asserted that “there is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions” (LS, 165). He called this not only a scientific necessity, but also a “moral and spiritual responsibility.” (LS, 172-175).

Several weeks ago, in my pastoral letter addressing the plight of migrant sisters and brothers in the US, I invited our faith community to consider the question, “What do you want me to do?” I later suggested three opportunities for direct action, and parishioners provided information the following weekend at all Masses. On March 10, I joined 14 other parishioners and staff at the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) vigil at the San Francisco ICE Field Office on Sansome Street. I’d like to share with you below the reflections of two people who participated.