St. Ignatius, a soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius Loyola, founded the Society of Jesus in an effort to reform the Roman Catholic Church. Rather than break off as a separate church, the Jesuits became a distinct order of priests in 1534 and received commendation from Pope Paul III in 1537. Pressured by the royal courts in Europe, Pope Clement XIV denounced the Society, causing Jesuits throughout the world to renounce their vows and go into exile. The suppression lasted for 41 years, until what is called their restoration on August 7, 1814. Jesuit priests take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Today they are the largest all male religious order in the Catholic Church. Jesuits are well known for their schools, including higher education, but are mainly a missionary order. 
- Finding God in all things
- Listening with a discerning heart
- Choosing to live for the greater glory of God
Founded in 1883, Immaculate Conception Church is the only Jesuit Church in New Mexico and only one of a handful in the Southwestern part of the United States. They have an affiliated school and nursing home next door, St. Mary's Catholic School and St Mary's Rest Home.
I attended the 5pm Saturday Mass.
It is a large and gorgeous chapel in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque. The service had well over a hundred people in attendance. Right away I noticed something pleasantly different about this Catholic service. Women were an integral part of the service - leading the chants, doing readings, helping with communion. There was not a individual bulletin for the service, but I believe it was Father Oren Key who presided over the mass.
The liturgy was a traditional one otherwise. The sermon was based on Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians. Fr. Key spoke of Paul's heartbreak at the news of the divisions in Corinth for Paul believed, "we are one in Christ. Brothers and Sisters in Christ." He talked about the relevance to today's issues of division and discord among different denominations of Christians and that the differences should only serve as an enrichment, rather than a division. He talked of the passion Paul had for unity. Just as Paul urged the Corinthians to set aside their difference and come together, so he urged his congregation:
That is the spirit we still have to strive for today ~ Fr. Key
I really liked the sermon. I feel it spoke to the mission of my journey. While preparing to share communion, they did not announce any restrictions but I knew from experience that only baptized Catholics in good standing are meant to partake, but I did go up and get my blessing.
It was a great way to spend my Saturday evening, well worth the trip downtown.
It is a large and gorgeous chapel in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque. The service had well over a hundred people in attendance. Right away I noticed something pleasantly different about this Catholic service. Women were an integral part of the service - leading the chants, doing readings, helping with communion. There was not a individual bulletin for the service, but I believe it was Father Oren Key who presided over the mass.
The liturgy was a traditional one otherwise. The sermon was based on Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians. Fr. Key spoke of Paul's heartbreak at the news of the divisions in Corinth for Paul believed, "we are one in Christ. Brothers and Sisters in Christ." He talked about the relevance to today's issues of division and discord among different denominations of Christians and that the differences should only serve as an enrichment, rather than a division. He talked of the passion Paul had for unity. Just as Paul urged the Corinthians to set aside their difference and come together, so he urged his congregation:
That is the spirit we still have to strive for today ~ Fr. Key
I really liked the sermon. I feel it spoke to the mission of my journey. While preparing to share communion, they did not announce any restrictions but I knew from experience that only baptized Catholics in good standing are meant to partake, but I did go up and get my blessing.
It was a great way to spend my Saturday evening, well worth the trip downtown.
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