Upcoming Ignatian Schola Concert: Dec. 7

On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Ignatian Schola will perform its annual Advent/Christmas concert entitled A Light in the Darkness at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. Click here to view the flyer for the concert. All are welcome. Admission is free.

The Ignatian Schola is a Manhattan-based vocal ensemble composed of Jesuits and lay colleagues, which performs an eclectic repertoire of sacred music. For updates from the Schola, be sure to follow them on Facebook here.

Click below to view a video from last year.

Advent Week 4: Advent Gifts and Graces

In this final week  the fourth installment of our Jesuit Advent Podcast series. Deepen your Advent experience with spiritual resources from the New England Province of Jesuits and other online sources to prepare for Christmas.  Our podcast and online Advent reflections offer perspectives and suggestions from Jesuits on enriching the Advent season. Listen to, read, click through, and share with friends and family these 2013 Advent podcasts. For more advent resources: click here. 

“So many people today identify themselves by what they have. It’s so important to identify ourselves by what we give away,” says Fr. William Russell, S.J. Listen as he and Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ, offer their thoughts on living in gratitude, giving gifts, and caring for the poor during Advent and at Christmas.

Fr. William Russell, SJ

Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ

Love’s Pure Light featuring the Ignatian Schola

On Monday, December 9, the Ignatian Schola performed a musical meditation for Advent and Christmas at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. This concert was part of the Jesuit Collaborative’s Ignatian Advent Meditation series. The Ignatian Schola is a Manhattan-based vocal ensemble composed of Jesuits and lay colleagues, which performs an eclectic repertoire of sacred music. Click below to view a video from last year.

For all Schola updates be sure to follow them on Facebook here. The above song is included on the Schola’s new CD ‘Love’s Pure Light, which is available here as well as on iTunes.

Advent Week 3: Imaginative Prayer

This week is the third installment of our Jesuit Advent Podcast series. Deepen your Advent experience with spiritual resources from the New England Province of Jesuits and other online sources to prepare for Christmas.  Our podcast and online Advent reflections offer perspectives and suggestions from Jesuits on enriching the Advent season. Listen to, read, click through, and share with friends and family these 2013 Advent podcasts. Additionally, click here to read a reflection from Fr. Anthony SooHoo, SJ, about finding God in waiting. For more advent resources: click here. 

St. Ignatius developed a method of slowly reading and praying with Scripture known as “Imaginative Prayer.” Set aside some time to join Fr. Joseph Laramie, SJ, in this guided meditation on the Incarnation and the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would bear “the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32).

Fr. Joseph Laramie, SJ

Advent Week 2: Using the Examen During Advent

This week we bring you the second installment of our Jesuit Advent Podcast series. Deepen your Advent experience with spiritual resources from the New England Province of Jesuits and other online sources to prepare for Christmas.  Our podcast and online Advent reflections offer perspectives and suggestions from Jesuits on enriching the Advent season. Listen to, read, click through, and share with friends and family these 2013 Advent podcasts. For more advent resources: click here. 

God is at work at every moment of our lives and calls us to respond. The Examen helps Jesuits to become more aware of God’s action in everyday life. Fr. Jack Butler, SJ, and Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ, explain how the Examen works, and why it can be useful during Advent.

Fr. Jack Butler, SJ

Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ

Advent Events in New York City

The Jesuit Collaborative’s Advent Meditation Series continues with two events in New York City:

An Ignatian Advent Concert with The Ignatian Schola

• What: A concert by the Ignatian Schola a Manhattan-based vocal ensemble composed of Jesuits and lay colleagues. Reception to follow.
• When: 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Church of St. Francis Xavier 46 W 16th St  New York, NY 10011
• Read more here.

View a video preview of the concert below:

An Ignatian Advent Meditation – Staten Island

• What: An Ignatian Advent Meditation with Fr. Edward Quinnan, SJ, and Sr. Anita Gramer, CSJB. Short Program and Reception to follow.
• When: 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Blessed Sacrament Church 30 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10310
• Read more here.

Advent Week 1: Anticipating Joy

This week begins the first installment of our Jesuit Advent Podcast series. Deepen your Advent experience with spiritual resources from the New England Province of Jesuits and other online sources to prepare for Christmas.  Our podcast and online Advent reflections offer perspectives and suggestions from Jesuits on enriching the Advent season. Listen to, read, click through, and share with friends and family these 2013 Advent podcasts. For more advent resources: click here. 

St. Ignatius tells us to “seek God in all things.” Advent is a time to seek God, and to look forward to Jesus’ coming into our lives anew at Christmas. Begin Advent with Fr. Jack Butler, SJ; Fr. Robert Farrell, SJ; and Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ as they speak about Ignatian Spirituality, Advent themes and practices, and “Anticipatory Joy.”

Preparing for Advent

Advent is a season of spiritual reflection and growth. To help you better prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth we have created a list of some of the events and resources available.

The Jesuit Collaborative is running an Advent Meditation series in Boston, New York and Washington, DC. Each evening starts at 6:30 with a guided, one-hour meditation and will be followed by a reception to celebrate the season.

• Boston (Dec. 3) An Ignatian Advent Meditation with Fr. William Barry, SJ
• Manhatthan (Dec. 9) The Ignatian Schola Christmas Concert
• Staten Island (Dec. 10) An Ignatian Advent Meditation with Fr. Edward Quinnan, Sj, and Sr. Anita Gramer, CSJB
• Washington, DC (Dec. 12) An Ignatian Advent Meditation with Fr. Charles Currie, SJ

Click here to learn more.

Massachusetts: St. Ignatius parish in Chestnut Hill, Mass., with be having Taizé prayer on Monday evenings (Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23). Click here to learn more.

New York: The Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City has a listing of events going on during the Advent/Christmas season including:

• Lessons and Carols (Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m.)
• Advent Reconciliation (Dec. 16 at 7:00 p.m.)
• Christmas Eve Family Mass with Christmas Pageant (Dec. 24 at 4:00 p.m. with musical prelude at 3:30 p.m.)

Click here to learn more.

Online Resources: The New England Province has produced an Advent podcast series that can be listened to here.

The National Jesuit Conference has gathered a listing of various online resources. Click here to view them.