Two weeks ago I had the good fortune to attend the ordination to the priesthood of then-Deacon Bobby Karle. Now-Father Karle spent his deaconate year with us preaching a few Sundays a month. Sadly, the pandemic prevented his greater involvement, but we came to know his heart, his love for God and his passion for justice through his preaching.

Fr. John Whitney, S.J.is the newest addition to the St. Ignatius Parish staff, arriving in San Francisco from St. Joseph in Seattle, where he was on sabbatical having previously served as pastor.

One of the pre-pandemic routines most precious to me was going to my mailbox in the office after the generous parishioners who count the Sunday collection and the candle income for the week had left.

Founded in 1855, St. Ignatius Parish is a welcoming and inclusive Catholic community. A Jesuit parish, we are called to be companions of Jesus. We come together through Word and Sacrament to grow in our relationship with God and to find the inspiration, desire and strength to be men and women for others.

St. Ignatius Parish was founded in 1855 and is a historical site located on the campus of the University of San Francisco. As a Jesuit parish, we are called to be companions of Jesus.

I made my yearly retreat in Fairfax, Marin County at a villa the Jesuit Community has there. Across the Golden Gate Bridge where it was sunny, not foggy and in a nice setting, near redwood trees and where I saw each day at least one and often more deer on the property. The usual retreat for a Jesuit includes five-hour-long meditations or prayer times each day. I also tended to go for a nearby walk of about 45 minutes and on five of the eight days went to mass at Saint Anselm’s in San Anselmo or on the last day (a Sunday) at Saint Rita’s in Fairfax. My first two-and-a half days there another Jesuit was also there on retreat and I said mass in the villa with him.

Please note that the following protocols and policies are in place for July and August of 2021 at St. Ignatius Parish related to Covid-19

It seems each week we take another step forward, out of the world as we knew it for nearly 15 months. Here at St. Ignatius, every Sunday, we see familiar faces, some belonging to those we’ve longed to see and others belonging to those we didn’t know we missed until we saw them.

St. Ignatius Parish is a welcoming and inclusive Jesuit, Catholic Community in San Francisco.  It is one of the most dynamic parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Parishioners travel long distances to take part in vibrant and engaging liturgies and participate in many services to marginalized populations.