New church for St. Ignatius of Loyola parish to be dedicated Friday in Ijamsville

On Friday, September 15, 2000 at 6:30 p.m., Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, will join St. Ignatius of Loyola pastor, Father Thomas Polk, more than a dozen other priests, several hundred parishioners, and invited guests for the dedication of the parish’s new church building at the corner of Maryland Route 80 and Prices Distillery Rd. in Ijamsville in the Urbana/Frederick area.

Media are invited to attend a press availability at the church at 6:10 p.m. with Cardinal Keeler and Father Polk, as well as the subsequent church door key exchange ceremony, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The remainder of the dedication ceremony, including the celebration of Mass, is closed to cameras. A reception following Mass is open to media.

Interview opportunities with the pastor in advance of the event are available. Interested media should contact the parish at 301-695-8845.

Reverend John Gaffney, S.J. founded the community in Urbana, Maryland about three miles from the new location in 1876. The 500 seat, $2.3 million new church took five years to complete.

Archdiocesan point of contact is Ray Kempisty at 410-547-5378.

Sean Caine

Sean Caine is Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Communications