AS THIS YEAR COMES TO AN END, WHAT COMES TO MY MIND? GRATITUDE
Dear St. Andrew,
Yes, while acknowledging over and over again, that this has been a horrible year for everyone, I still find infinitely more reasons to be grateful to God for all He has done for us than to be mad at Him. Yes, there is no doubt that the corona virus did not only devastate our health and sanity, our economy and our spiritual lives and much more, but it has also impacted our lives in ways that will remain with us for most of our lives. During this time, some of us have lost our dear ones, others their jobs, others their relationships and some others their faith. To you all, my heart goes out in prayer and compassion.
However, as we begin this year, let us keep in mind that it could have been worse and accept the fact that with every passing year we must leave behind the bad memories and our mistakes and move on. Let us all be positive and embrace this new year 2021 with positive aspirations for the future. Let us be grateful!
On that note, my first gratitude goes to you my dedicated staff of St. Andrews who stood by me every step of the way as we adjusted constantly throughout this year to new ways of serving our parishioners. Many of you willingly wore very new, multiple and strange hats designed by “Mr. Corona” and myself that you never wore before and even adjusted with amazing distinction. Thank you!
My next gratitude goes to my Ad Hoc Parish Leadership Team which I assembled at the beginning of the pandemic to help me shift through the various directives coming from our diocese, our health department and from the state and federal governments in order to provide a safe worship environment for all of us. You did an excellent job! Thank you!
I also thank you, my talented councils, (Pastoral, Finance and Stewardship Councils) for providing me with wise guidance in various aspects of our parish with its constantly changing landscapes during this pandemic. Thank you!
I thank our Knights of Columbus who were ever ready to step up and offer their services in many different ways to serve the various pastoral and spiritual needs. You went over and beyond in offering to help even when I did not ask you whenever you saw a need. Thank you!
Our Adult Faith and Spiritual Formation Team also did a fantastic job in helping me design a vibrant faith formation protocol beginning with our 30-day Journey Toward Holiness Campaign, culminating into our Advent Mission. This team will continue to serve our faith and spiritual formation needs beyond the Corona Virus Pandemic. To you, I say, thank you!
And you my dear St. Andrew, you have always been there for your parish throughout this period, attending Masses in person whenever you could and following it online whenever you could not. Know that your presence in both ways gave Fr. Edward, Fr. Teilo, and myself great encouragement to serve you. Despite this hard economic situation, many of you have continued to support our parish financially which had lost over 60% of its revenue due to the pandemic. Know that we love you and we are here to serve you. Thank you.
Most importantly, I would like to give my greatest gratitude tothe almighty God who has seen all of us through the darkest moments of the year. I have no doubt that He will grant us even a better 2021 with manifold blessings. May this year, therefore, bring you new happiness, new goals, new achievements, good health, and a lot of new inspirations in your life.
Happy New Year 2021 to you all!
-Fr. Robert
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mass Schedule:
Friday, January 1 | 10:00am (there will be NO 8:30am Mass)
Our Parish Offices are now closed until
January 4, 2021
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Public Masses are now offered with limited capacity and strict social distancing protocols
Monday - Saturday | 8:30am
Wednesday | 6:30pm
Saturday | 5:00pm
Sunday | 7:00am, 10:00am & 2:00pm
Daily Mass on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Sunday Masses at 10:00am and 2:00pm are also streamed on Facebook
We are in great need of your continued support. Please consider making a gift to support continued ministry at Saint Andrew the Apostle. Please visit Faith Direct: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ973 or click the banner above.
Thank you for your Generosity!