Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
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About This MinistryAnti Racism Committee (ARC)
St. Ignatius Parish is grappling intentionally with the realities of systemic racism and racial unrest in our country, church, and parish. This racial reckoning stems from the murder of George Floyd by police office Derek Chauvin on May 25th, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the spate of anti-Asian attacks San Francisco has experienced during COVID. From these events was born our parish's Anti Racism Committee (ARC), formed by a group of committed parishioners passionate about racial justice.
The committee meets every 1st Tuesday of the month at 5pm via Zoom to plan programs for the parish to grow in its commitment to be antiracist, and track progress on the Antiracism Strategic Plan.
Read Strategic Plan -
Discernment SeriesRacial Justice
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Discernment Series: Racial Justice offers an opportunity for education and theological reflection to discern ways we can work for racial justice in our daily lives through the framework of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
As a parish, we engage in this series on racial justice because working for racial equity stems directly from our call as followers of Jesus. A man of his own culture, Jesus encountered the Syrophoenician Woman who taught him that his ministry was for all people, not just the people of Israel. He was able to break out of his preconceived notions shared by his cultural background. Consequentially, Jesus preached a message of radical inclusion and acceptance where all might be freed from chains of division and exclusion. This discernment series invites us to follow the lead of Jesus: to prayerfully consider where we are being invited to grow so that we individually and as a parish may work for racial equity.
Secondly, the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus compel us to “walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.” Since our founding as a nation, many racial minorities have had their dignity violated and have been deemed the outcasts of our society. To take up the call of the Society of Jesus in our own context is to work for racial equity and reconciliation. Our hope as a parish will be more equipped to do this work following this discernment series.
This series was originally published in 2021, twice a week, starting the week of the Baptism of the Lord and ending in Pentecost.
Read Archive -
Book Talk: Racial Justice
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Contact Us
Please fill out this contact form to receive a response from Ana Gonzalez-Lane, chair of the Anti Racism Committee (ARC) at St. Ignatius.
Contact ARC chair, Ana Gonzalez-Lane -
News
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June 30
It’s scary, but imagine being the target of that behavior simply because of your gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, perhaps on the street, MUNI or BART. We can reach out and offer support, even help, and as interested and socially-responsible citizens, we are called to help when we see people in need. In particular, as Catholics, we are called on to promote the dignity of all persons, leaving no one outside our circle of compassion. Everyone — older adults, children, people with special needs, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation— has the right to be treated with dignity, compassion and humanity.Read More -
May 12
Born in Norwalk, CA, in 1926, to immigrant parents, Asawa’s life was marked by early adversity. During World War II, she and her family—like approximately 120,000 other Japanese Americans (including US-born citizens)—were unjustly forced into US internment camps. Yet even in hardship, Asawa was able to discover beauty. Like St. Ignatius, who found God in all things—even suffering—she ultimately transformed trauma into something sacred. Asawa is most well-known for her groundbreaking wire sculptures: floating, transparent forms inspired by nature and basket weaving she observed during an artists’ tour of Latin America. These sculptures remind us to view the world contemplatively—to find grace in the ordinary, and the divine in the overlooked.Read More -
March 25
April is Arab-American Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans to our society. From scientists such as Nobel Prize winner Elias J. Corey, to business leaders such as Steve Jobs, and to writers as diverse as Kahlil Gibran, Edward Said, and Raymond Khoury, Arab Americans have woven their talents into the fabric of our nation. Arab communities in the US are incredibly diverse, with roots in over 20 countries, including Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Morocco. They also bring a variety of faith traditions—Christian (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant), Muslim, and others—all of which add to the beauty of our shared human story.Read More -
March 3
Did you know that the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco played an influential role in the life of the American journalist, Catholic social activist, and founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, Dorothy Day? Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, a sportswriter, took a position with the San Francisco Chronicle and the family moved to Oakland, California. In the aftermath of the earthquake, nine-year-old Dorothy witnessed the outpouring of support and self-sacrifice by the community. Young Dorothy drew a lesson about individual action and the Christian community, two guiding principles that would inform her entire life.Read More -
February 19
This year, Ramadan is being celebrated within the Islamic community beginning the evening of Friday, February 28 and lasting until March 29. Join us in wishing our Muslim friends a “Ramadan Mubarak”, meaning “have a blessed and generous Ramadan.” On behalf of the Anti-Racism Committee, parishioner Rick Fain offers this description so we may better understand the faith of our Muslim neighbors in San Francisco and around the world.Read More
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