News - October 2025

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for the past 6 years, I have had the privilege of being a consistent presence in a remarkable young man’s life as he navigated the complexities of the foster care system. Through moves across two counties, multiple foster placements, and five different schools, I witnessed firsthand the instability that so many youth in foster care face – cycling through numerous social workers, lawyers, and therapists. While each professional played an important role, the frequent turnover made it difficult to establish deep, trusting relationships. CASA volunteers become the thread of continuity, the person who knows the whole story and remains by their side.

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class and political and regional identity.

This year’s delegation from Parroquia San Antonio will include their pastor, Father Mario Díaz, as well as Irma Vargas and Paty Lazo, two of the initial founders of Las Vecinas back in 2001. They will join us for the 10 am Mass on Sunday, November 16, and at Hospitality afterwards.

The signs of the season are all around us, Halloween witches, skeletons, jack o’lanterns, celebrating one of the happiest days of the year, especially for the young ones. In San Francisco, particularly in the Mission District, more signs of autumn appear, papel picado (cut out colorful paper streamers) Catrinas (elegantly dressed skeletons), sugar skulls and bundles of marigolds – all in preparation for the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) which takes place this year on Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 2.

This week, the federal government threatened to surge immigration enforcement operations in the Bay Area. While San Francisco has received a temporary reprieve—thanks to the courage and diplomacy of Mayor Daniel Lurie—men, women, and children around the Bay still remain very much at risk.

This evening’s Requiem comes from the pen of Bob Chilcott, one of the 21st centuries most widely performed choral composers. A former chorister and choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and later a member of The King’s Singers, Chilcott has spent his life creating music that is joyful to sing and deeply communicative. His Requiem, written for soprano and tenor soloists, chorus, and orchestra, draws on texts from both the Missa pro defunctis and the Book of Common Prayer. In it, he brings familiar words of faith and mourning into a world of sound that feels unmistakably human: solemn, radiant, grieving, and hopeful all at once.

This summer we had a chance to ask a few Litugical Ministers a couple questions: Q: How did you come to be a Liturgical Minister? Why it is important to you, and/or where have you experienced God's grace in your ministry? A: I've been blessed to have been a part of many rich, small faith-sharing communities around the world. Hearing people break open the Word with their own distinct voices inspires new perspectives in me. It moves me to remember that God is always speaking.

A few weeks ago, I was at a dinner party with a large close-knit group of friends. There were two new people who joined us, and they had just moved to San Francisco. Throughout the evening, I watched as every member of our usual crowd made it a point to engage with these newcomers, make them feel welcome, and do what was possible to help them connect with the fabric of the community we had formed. Telephone numbers were exchanged, advice about local restaurants was offered, and future meetings dates were scheduled.

This year’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults cohort is up and running. We need parishioners to support one of them in their journey, by serving as a sponsor. As these new members of our community prepare to receive the Sacraments at Easter, would you consider walking with them on their journey and sharing this experience of faith? You would attend classes (11:15 am-12:30 pm) each Sunday after the 10 am Mass as you are able, and accompany them in the specially scheduled rituals. There is an orientation session on Sunday, October 19, at noon.

Will you help? Or do you know a parishioner who needs some help? The St. Ignatius Parish Neighbor to Neighbor ministry is available for St. Ignatius parishioners, helping by other parishioners. One great way you can help right now is by providing a home-cooked meal when someone is sick or hospitalized. Contact [email protected] to volunteer or if you need help.

The St. Ignatius Parish Finance Committee is pleased to share its financial summary for fiscal year 2025, which ended June 30, 2025, and the approved budget for fiscal year 2026. Your generosity continues to make St. Ignatius a vibrant Jesuit Catholic community for San Francisco and beyond.