News from the VATICAN

＊On January 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV closed the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, concluding the Jubilee Year of Hope. Nearly 33.5 million pilgrims visited Rome during the Holy Year, representing 185 countries. Pilgrims are encouraged to return for the next extraordinary Jubilee in 2033.

＊Pope Leo XIV has declared a Franciscan Jubilee Year to celebrate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's death. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Italy, and the Jubilee will last until January 2027.

This Jubilee encourages the faithful to follow St. Francis in holiness, peace, and charity. A plenary indulgence is available by visiting a Franciscan church and fulfilling the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.

＊Pope Leo began 2026 with a call to return to the source of our hope: the Word of God. In his January address, he said, “This month I am praying for you. Yes, for you. I am also praying for myself and for the entire Church. May we learn to practice and love praying with the Word of God. The gift of Scripture is God’s love letter to humanity. Let us pray that we all draw from this gift and deepen our relationship with our Lord. Are you ready? Please join me and share this message with others.” (PRAY WITH THE POPE, popesprayer.va)

News from St. Ignatius Church

*The Church Theme for this year is: “Let Us Become One in Christ – Toward a Synodal Church.” This theme reflects the multilingual and multicultural nature of our parish, emphasizing unity that transcends national and generational boundaries. The phrase “In Christ” encourages us to serve according to Jesus' desires rather than our personal preferences, while “Toward a Synodal Church” highlights an active and intentional movement towards collaboration. This theme will be featured in events such as the Church Festival and the Annual Activity Report Meeting, and it will be adopted for the next five years.

＊Have you received a copy of the Prayer of the Church Journeying Together?

This year, all language groups are encouraged to incorporate this prayer into their Sunday Masses.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

To prevent overcrowding and ensure the safety of our Massgoers,
starting Saturday, February 21st,
from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., an additional English Anticipated Mass
will be held in St. Mary’s Chapel.