What have we done for Christ?
What do we do for Christ?
What will we do for Christ?
The parish life commission is the newest of our parish commissions, and was formed to coordinate the efforts of those who minister to others within the parish community. Unlike many of the other commissions within the parish, the parish life commission is made up of many different organizations, each bringing to the parish their own skills and talents. Through its different ministries, the parish life commission helps assure that everyone in our parish family, both young and old, participates in its vitality.
Members of St. Ignatius' Parish Life ministry strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to:
•Invite and encourage all people from diverse walks of life to join in and participate in community with us;
•Offer support and comfort when needed;
•Foster each parishioner's lifelong search to experience and understand Christ and His Church through parish life; and
•Become active disciples in God's work in this world through our commitment to serve one another within our parish.
The Parish Life Commission is comprised of members from:
Community Care Group, Bereavement Ministry, The Martha Guild, Pastoral Care Group, Young Adult Community, Voice of the Faithful, Catholic Gay and Lesbian Concerns, Communications and Technology Group.The Parish Life Commission meets once a month and is open to anyone who would like to work on any aspect of parish life, or would like to help plan our annual Parish Life Sunday, Appreciation Events for Volunteers, and Volunteer Opportunity weekends. Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of the month.
Contact: Catherine Downing, 617-782-5812, e-mail
Time Commitment: 2 hours/quarterMinistries within the Parish Life Commission
- Community Cares
- The measure of a parish's commitment to the Gospel is in how it
responds to the nurturing of one another. The Community Care Program
serves all members of the parish family by brightening a day with a
greeting card or maybe even providing a meal just two examples of our
concern for each other. Hearts of action only beat when needs are
known so please contact us if this program can lighten the burden for a member of our community.
Contact: Maureen Eldredge (617-469-0496) or Ginny Carroll (617-327-4519)
- Bereavement Ministry
This group offers solace to families or individuals who are suffering the loss of a loved one. They provide information on the Catholic Funeral Rites and how the parish community assists families in preparing for funerals. They also console the mourners with words of faith and support and active participation in the celebration of the Funeral Rites. Funeral Liturgy planning help is also available to parishioners who have suffered the loss of a loved one and may have to plan a funeral outside of the parish.
Contact: Reenie Murphy, e-mail
- The Young Adult Community
- The Young Adult Community of St. Ignatius ministers to the spiritual needs of both married and single adults in their twenties and thirties. We do this first by providing opportunities for young adults to grow in their faith by sponsoring a series of spiritual, educational, and service events throughout the year. The other way we minister to young adults in the parish is by creating a Catholic community within which young adults can be comfortable sharing their faith with each other and supporting one another in living our lives in Christ.
Contact: Patti Williams, e-mail
- The Martha Guild
- "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a
village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him." (Lk
10:38) As you've nibbled on pastry and sipped punch at various social
gatherings at St. Ignatius, have you ever wondered who made it all
possible? Most likely, the Martha Guild had been hard at work. Named
for the New Testament hostess, we provide hospitality and support for
events during the year, most notably the receptions following the
Easter Vigil and Lessons and Carols. Helping to open our parish home
to the community, the Martha Guild welcomes all willing newcomers (of
either gender). Many hands make light work.
Contact: Joan Engler, e-mail
- The Pastoral Care Group
- The care and feeding of volunteers is the mission of this group.
We also feed the spirits, minds and social lives of our generous
volunteers as they dine. The Annual Appreciation Gala, Enrichment
Opportunities for Liturgical Ministers, Catechist Brunch, RCIA Brunch
and the Outreach Commission Barbecue are some of the unique events we
offer. In addition, Pastoral Care will support the exciting new "Our
Church, Our Home" Program, providing food, fellowship and adult
education for parishioners.
Contact: Catherine Downing, 617-782-5812, e-mail
- Voice of the Faithful
- Formed in the spring of 2002 in response to the abuse by clergy
scandal in the Catholic Church, this parish group is affiliated with
the national Voice of the Faithful organization. Its efforts are
guided by this mission: To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the
Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the
governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. The goals of the
group are to: support those who have been abused; support priests of
integrity; and shape structural change within the Church. Changing the Church, not the Faith.
Contact: Steve Sheehan, 617-783-6336, e-mail
- Catholic Gay and Lesbian Concerns
- Our parish has formed a community of parishioners concerned about the challenges that our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters continue to face in our Church. In an effort to facilitate conversation for our Gay and Lesbian parishioners, as well as parents, friends and family members of Gay and Lesbian Catholics, we provide an informal context in which people feel free to talk about their questions and concerns.
Contact: Rev. Robert VerEecke, S.J., 617-552-6110, e-mail
- Communications and Technology
- The mission of the Communications and Technology group is to increase the communications and connections between and among parishioners, the parish staff, and all of the commissions and ministries of the parish. Writers, graphic designers, videographers, and web designers conduct surveys, work on the parish web site and develop and produce communications materials to disseminate and discuss ideas, knowledge and information about the events of the parish.
Contact: Catherine Downing, 617-782-5812, e-mail
