Altar of Witness

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.  

This Altar is populated with pictures and other reminders of those migrants we hold in our hearts. In the spirit of St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., the altar includes Catholic social teaching resources, as well as educational material on issues migrants face. It also includes information on how we can accompany migrants in solidarity.

We welcome the entire community to provide materials for the Altar, especially pictures or other mementos of migrants you hold in your hearts — migrants being detained, migrants facing persecution, migrants on their journey, and migrants who simply need our prayers. To protect those who may be at risk if identified, please do not provide pictures or other materials that could be used to identify them. Instead, be creative — pictures of hands or other memorabilia are also evocative and welcome. We welcome all to pray at and interact with the Altar. There are votive candles to light and a book adjacent to the altar where you can write specific intentions. These intentions will be lifted up as part of the prayers of the faithful at Sunday Masses. The St. Ignatius Parish Solidarity Ministry will curate the materials displayed within the Altar. Submission does not guarantee display. Email or drop off materials for the Altar at the parish office, and please reach out to [email protected]. The Solidarity Ministry also welcomes questions and suggestions.  

Dan Sullivan, St. Ignatius Parish Solidarity Committee member