Province celebrates St Ignatius Day

Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien was the principal concelebrant at Sacred Heart Church in Edinburgh, for the Feast of St Ignatius Loyola on 31 July.  He was joined by the British Jesuit Provincial, Father Michael Holman SJ, who preached, the Superior of the Sacred Heart community, Fr Chris Boles SJ, parish priest, Fr James Crampsey SJ, and other clergy to celebrate the life and legacy of the former Spanish soldier who founded the Society of Jesus in 1540.

In his homily, the Provincial expressed gratitude for the work of the parish since 1859. 'It moves me very much to think how many men and women have encountered Christ in their lives, something of the depth of his love for them, because of what they have experienced here in this church and in this parish over the past 150 years,' he said. 'Here so many have encountered the freely given merciful love of Christ and the healing that he can give.  Families, sometimes generations of families, have come here to celebrate the most joyous moments of their lives and as often have found support in the midst of tragedy.

'God has been at work here, the giver of gifts, sharing who he is, sharing himself and sharing his life.  And for all this, what could we do but give thanks?'

In addition to celebrating the Feast of St Ignatius, the occasion was also the sesquicentennial anniversary of Sacred Heart Church, where the first Mass was celebrated in the new building in Lauriston Place exactly 150 years ago. 'It brings to an end a great year of celebrations and activities which has included liturgies, concerts, outings, exhibitions, a commemorative book and a parish dinner,' said Fr Boles. 'We are delighted that the Cardinal and the Provincial are with us to mark the end of this year of celebration, and the start of our next 150 years!'

While every Jesuit parish in the country celebrated St Ignatius Day, there were two particularly significant occasions in London.  At Saint Ignatius Church in Stamford Hill, the parish Mass on 1 August was followed by a multi-cultural fiesta in the adjacent school playground.  Assistant priest, Fr Jim Conway SJ, described the event as 'the parish's way of celebrating its diversity and richness.  The church was decorated with national flags.  All of the parish choirs contributed to the music and bidding prayers were said in various languages.'

There was music of a different genre at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, in central London.  The parish choir sang the Haydn Mass No. 6 in G major, the Missa Sancti Nicolai, and the celebration was followed by drinks in Mount Street Gardens.  The congregation included several hundred former pupils of Jesuit schools and colleges.

'This is not only our parish celebration of the founder of the Jesuit Order and father of a great spiritual tradition, but also a special occasion for alumni/alumnae of Jesuit schools worldwide,' said Fr William Pearsall SJ, the parish priest of Farm Street Church. 'We were delighted to welcome all who were at a Jesuit educational institution to join us on the eve of St Ignatius' Feast.  It is an annual opportunity to meet old friends, to make new ones and to deepen the call to be followers of Christ together.'

In his homily at Farm Street, Fr Tony Nye SJ focused on Jesuit education. 'You are here because of education,' he said, 'not just book learning and the disciplined ability to think and ask questions (though that is important), but education for life and faith, continuing formation.

'Education plays a significant part in Ignatius' story: learning about himself and about God.  We are grateful, surely, for the education we have received and the formation in faith that has helped our personal development, not just through Jesuit schools and universities—and there are so many throughout the world - but also in Jesuit parishes, retreat houses and spirituality centres.

'While you express your appreciation and gratitude, make sure you don't stay complacent with all this,' Fr Nye concluded. 'Ignatius would not want that.  He was always concerned with the Magis - the More - the greater glory of God.  There was, and is, always more to learn, more to do, more ways in which to grow in God's love and service: as men and women for others (in the words of our great former General, Pedro Arrupe).'


 Sacred Heart Edinburgh

 St Ignatius Stamford Hill

 Farm Street Church