On October 13th, St Ignatius Church ...
What Does “Church” Mean to You?
On October 13th, St Ignatius Church celebrated the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the present church with a Mass on the church lawn, and with monitors for viewing in the main church and St Mary’s Chapel. It will be a big event, when many parishioners, friends, benefactors, and clergy associated with our history are expected to gather.
What is the “Church” for you? Perhaps it would be good for us to pause and reflect on this question. We could be guided by the points for reflection that Fr Bony James, SJ gave to those who attended the ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT to celebrate the Ignatian Youth Day 2024, July 28. Their theme was “Let us build the Church.”
He wrote, “We are invited to reflect upon the significance and importance of Church in our lives. As we know from the Bible, the Church is the Body of Christ. It is also said to be a community of people, a family of God, a ship that sails through storms, a refuge for all people, God’s household etc. What does the universal Church mean for you? Personally, what is the significance of St Ignatiusーour Parish Churchーin your life?”
“Church as our Family”
The Psalmist says: “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Psalm 133:1. We call God “ABBA, Father,” which means we are all brothers and sisters in God`s family. Let us spend a few moments in silent thanksgiving to God and to one another for our call to the Family of God, the Church.
“Church as our Mother”
We consider the Church as our spiritual mother. As a mother gives birth to a child, the Church gives us new birth in Baptism. In other words, the Church is our spiritual birthplace. While many of us were baptized here in St Ignatius Church, some were baptized back in our home parishes or in our home countries. Many of us may have fond memories of the church where we were first baptized. With a thankful heart for our Holy Mother Church, let us spent a few moments in silent adoration.
“Church as our Refuge”
Pope Francis says: “The Church should be like a `Field Hospital` for the vulnerable; a refuge for those who are most in need.” Furthermore, the Church witnesses many important moments of our lives, whether it is our baptism or marriage ceremony or the final journey to God. In that sense, Church is a personal space for each one of us and a soothing refuge in our journey of life. Do I consider St Ignatius Church a refuge for me personally? Let us reflect for a while the importance of Church in our personal lives.
“Church as our Saving Ship”
We speak of the Christian life as a journey over the sea with Jesus as the captain of the ship. From ancient times onward, the Church was known as a saving ship. This imagery comes from the famous Bible passage in St. Matthew`s Gospel, Chapter 8, where Jesus calmed the stormy sea and saved the panicking disciples from sinking in the sea. As long as Jesus is our captain, the great ship of Church will continue its journey safely through the troubling waters of this world. Let us spent a few minutes in silent reflection on times we have personally experienced Christ`s saving power through the Church, especially in difficult moments of our lives.
“Church as the Body of Christ”
As St Paul says, “For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:4-5). As we look into the interior of the St Ignatius main church, we can observe that it is built around 12 strong pillars. They represent the 12 apostles whom Jesus chose as his first disciples. Each and every pillar is important for the Church, both structurally and esthetically. In the same way, all of us, individually and collectively, are essential parts of the fullness of the Church, the Body of Christ. As we contemplate on the theme “Let`s build the Church,” let us remember with thankfulness that each one of us is a building block of the Church, just as the Apostles were the great pillars on which the universal Church was built.