Ministries at Saint Ignatius
"You cannot claim to worship Jesus in the Tabernacle, if you do not pity Jesus in the slums. . . It is folly -- it is madness -- to suppose that you can worship Jesus in the Sacraments and Jesus on the throne of glory, when you are sweating him in the souls and bodies of his children." --- Bishop Frank Weston at the 1923 Anglo-Catholic Congress
Soup Kitchen
The Soup Kitchen at St. Ignatius is our longest continuing ministry and has been serving two meals a week to those in need for 23 years. There are 32 volunteers serving regularly each month, together with students from Trinity High School, with another 15 or so substitutes on the roster. Two thirds of these volunteers are Ignatians, while one third are friends from the community who sought us out as an opportunity to serve. These volunteers serve approximately 250 guests per month, on Saturday afternoons and Monday evenings, a menu consisting of some combination of soup, tuna salad sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit juice, fruit cocktail and cookies. At Christmas guests are typically given something to help keep them warm such as socks, gloves, scarves or hats. From time to time volunteers or members of the community have contributed hand warmers, fresh fruit, crates of Girl Scout cookies and other items that make a special treat. Stay tuned for news of our Silver Jubilee celebrations as 2009 approaches!
Soup Kitchen Volunteers at Work
 
 
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Ecclesia Ministries
On the Feast of Pentecost 2007 the first service of Ecclesia Ministries was held in Madison Square Park. St. Ignatius is one of several parishes sponsoring the Sunday afternoon service. The purpose of Ecclesia Ministries of New York is to form and support communities of faith. These communities are reflective of the broad spectrum of society, but are largely made up of the people who live on the streets without suitable shelter or other resources. Each "church" worships out of doors in public space; spaces which already attract street people and serve as common ground for meeting and social discourse. These churches offer the same mutual support, pastoral care, and worship as traditional communities of faith, but with increased emphasis on needs and issues common to the marginalized of our society.
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Fessenden House
Last year, St. Ignatius began collecting canned goods and staple foods for residents at Fessenden House, a supportive residence for men recovering from addiction, located in Yonkers, New York. Fessenden House provides a safe and supportive home for men referred by outpatient drug or alcohol treatment programs, and for its staff, who also reside at Fessenden House. In the past year and a half, St. Ignatius has made three food deliveries to Fessenden House, and in 2006 collected Christmas gifts for the residents.
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CROP Hunger Walk
A handful of parishioners and some of our clergy take part annually in the CROP Walk in New York City. Organized by the Church World Service and taking place in cities and around the US, the CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk raises money for overseas food programs and local food pantries, including one that supplies St. Ignatius' soup kitchen.
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Parish Care
Did you know that there is a group of your fellow Ignatians who are ready to help out if you are ill or are having a family emergency? We can help with cooking, shopping, household chores, doctors’ visits, or just by being a listening friend. Please contact the Parish Office so you can be referred to the Parish Care Group.
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Christmas Gifts for Children in the Shelter Program
 As we have for many years, we collected gifts for children in the shelter system. I know that everyone at St. Ignatius enjoys this once-a-year ministry; you can only imagine how very welcome it is at the shelter. A few of us have talked about perhaps hosting a party for the families here at the church next year. What do you think? – Lucy Kuemmerle
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Home Energy Assistance Program “HEAP”
Information and applications have been received in the parish office. The program helps reduced-income elderly, disabled and certain other low-income households to cope with the cost of winter heating. If you, or someone you know, needs assistance in this area, please speak to the Rector.
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Our Sister Parishes
Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell, Louisiana
Following the devastation to the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, St. Ignatius answered a call from the diocese to help in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Episcopal churches in Louisiana and Mississippi. In 2006, we became a sister parish of Christ Episcopal Church in Slidell, Louisiana. Following our first fund-raising efforts, a check from St. Ignatius was delivered by one of our parishioners to the rector at Christ Episcopal in the fall of 2006. More funds were sent at Advent, and we are planning a fundraising dinner for Mardi Gras 2007.
All Saints Church in Khuma, South Africa
In 1989, the Diocese of New York formed a link with the Diocese of Johannesburg in South Africa. A short time later, the Diocese of Johannesburg was divided into four Dioceses, of which Matlosane (formerly Klerksdorp) is the neediest. A Companion Diocese Committee was established in New York and interested parishes were assigned counterparts in Matlosane. When Saint Ignatius decided to participate, All Saints Church in Khuma was designated as our sister parish. All Saints in Khuma serves roughly 200 families, with 400 communicants on an average Sunday. The link between Saint Ignatius and All Saints originated through the Diocese with a member of Saint Ignatius serving since the beginning on the New York Companion Diocese Committee and the Parish Link Program. The congregations pray for each other at every Mass.
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