Jesuits celebrate Feast of St Ignatius Loyola

Jesuits throughout the world are celebrating the Feast of the Founder of the Society of Jesus today: St Ignatius Loyola. His life, his faith and his dedication to the Gospel and the Church are being recalled in Jesuit schools, parishes, missions, communities and other works in more than 100 countries - not just by the 20,000 Jesuit priests, brothers and scholastics (Jesuits preparing for priesthood) who belong to the Society, but also their thousands of lay co-workers.

In Britain, there are three special Masses being celebrated as part of the St Ignatius Day festivities. Alumni and alumnae will be gathering at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, London, at 6pm, for their annual Mass, which will be followed by refreshments. Thechurch itself is in the middle of celebrations for its 160th anniversary. Meanwhile, at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, the Northern alumni/ae Mass will be celebrated at St Peter's Church - also at 6pm and also followed by refreshments.

Sacred Heart Church in Edinburgh launches its 150th anniversary celebrations on St Ignatius Day as well. Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien will be presiding at the 6pm Mass which many representatives from faith groups, religious orders, civic life and elsewhere will be attending.

From today until 30 September, Sacred Heart will be staging an exhibition illustrating the history of the parish, together with the story of the Jesuits in Scotland from their first mission in 1541 to the present day.