Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church

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 25 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. Please contact the Parish Office if you wish to volunteer and stay tuned for news as we explore the possibility of adding a third weekly meal.

In March 2009 we marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the h Soup Kitchen. It is a remarkable tribute to this community that for a quarter century members of the church and of the wider parish community have served meals to the hungry in our City and practiced fulfilling the Great Commandment. To mark the occasion, the Spring issue of the parish newsletter featured the history and work of the Soup Kitchen. On March 8, 2009 we celebrated the anniversary as a community following the eleven o’clock Solemn Mass with a simple Lenten lunch of soup and a sandwich to honour the ministry and its many volunteers. Those volunteers who do not regularly worship with us on Sunday morning also joined us. It was a splendid afternoon. For photos of the celebration, please click here.

Soup Kitchen Volunteers at Work

CROP Hunger Walk

A number of parishioners and 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.

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

Carpenter’s Kids

The Carpenter’s Kids Program is a partnership between the Anglican Diocese of Central Tanganyika and the Episcopal Diocese of New York. “Carpenter’s Kids” are HIV/AIDs orphans and other vulnerable children who are selected after screening by their parishes. All children are eligible to become a Carpenter's Kid regardless of their religion. The aim of the program is to ensure that each "Carpenter’s Kid" receives a school uniform, a pair of shoes, and adequate school supplies to enable them to attend primary school. These children will also be provided with breakfast on school days. The goal is to support 50 children in each of 200 parishes. Visit the Carpenter’s Kids website here.

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.