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St. Andrew the Apostle Friday Flash | January 29, 2021

Friday Flash

January 29, 2021

BRIEF UPDATES ON IMPORTANT EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR PARISH

Dear St. Andrew,

We are almost coming to the end of the first month of the year. Whereas we have already received many blessings, so far, nothing much seemed to have changed as far as the obnoxious COVID-19 and its ravages are concerned. Despite this however, as a parish, great things continue to be unfolding among us- keeping our hope ever alive. On a positive note, during this entire time, we have been able to keep our parish open for all the essential liturgical and sacramental services even though some parishes around us have been closing. Moreover, our numbers of in-person attendance at the four weekend Masses we offer continue to grow, albeit slowly. We thank God for all these.

I would like therefore, to encourage you to consider coming back to Church because the experience of the past year has proved that all the precautions we have meticulously followed have worked. Our Church gatherings are safe and there is still room to accommodate you safely in our Church so that you can become part of our worship community. Remember that whereas indeed, we will continue to provide live-streamed opportunities for those whose health cannot allow them to come in-person, live-streaming Mass cannot become our new normal because quite frankly, Christ cannot be live-streamed- as someone pointed out to me recently.

I also want to bring to your attention that our Religious Education program has been very busy with both in-person and virtual classes. We have three hundred children (Traditional RE, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and EDGE), in our program. They are diligently and safely handled by our dedicated Catechists under the direction of Fr. Teilo and his team. Life Teen, under the guidance of Rob Corwin and his Core Team, has been equally very engaged and actively involved in lively discussions on issues affecting them as teens and as Catholics, especially during these dark times of the pandemic. Also, our RCIA community, under the coordination of Kim Doyle and her team, is more vibrant than ever with, over 16 men and women who are enthusiastically searching for the Lord and looking forward to being fully received into the Church at Easter Vigil.

Our Journey Toward Holiness Campaign, about which Barb Lishko and I discussed in the Candid Monday Video Message this past week, is another exciting activity soon to be launched officially on February 6/7, 2021. This second campaign will invite us to journey towards the Cross and the Resurrection. In order to prepare adequately for the Lenten Season and Easter thereafter, we shall invite you to participate in some exciting Lenten activities as part of our Faith Formation and Spiritual Growth. Details will be availed in due course.

However, as a pre-Lent prelude, I would like to invite you this Tuesday, February 2, to join in the celebration of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day. You may recall that forty days after His birth, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification and dedication as prescribed by the Torah. Essentially, this presentation is meant to be a proclamation of Christ to the world as Messiah, Priest, Lord, and Savior. He is also presented as the light who came into this world to dispel sin and darkness. For this reason, traditionally at least, since the seventh century, candles have been blessed at Mass this day, candles that will be used throughout the year, hence the term “Candlemas.”

So, as we consider the feast of the Presentation, we remember that our parents also presented us at Church for our baptism. We were dedicated to God, and given the name, “Christian.” We, too, received a lit candle from the paschal candle, at which the priest said, “You have been enlightened by Christ. Walk always as a child of the light and keep the flame of faith alive in your heart. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Therefore, especially during these dark times of the pandemic, each of us as a light, must bear witness to Our Lord. We must be the beacon that guides others to Christ. As we do so, let us also realize that we, too, will be “a sign that will be opposed,” especially on issues of the sanctity of human life, marriage and the family. (catholicstraightanswers.com). However, we must be bold and unambiguous.

So, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, after the 8:30am morning Mass or, at 5:30pm in the courtyard, I would like to invite you individually or as a family to bring your candles that will be used throughout the year, to be blessed in a short and beautiful ceremony. As this is the first time we will be doing this, please share this information with our parishioners and friends and invite them to participate in this ceremony.

Finally, I would like to take this moment to officially launch the Winter/Spring Edition of our 2021 “Good News” newsletter. This excellent newsletter has very informative and uplifting information about what is going on in our great parish. It contains hidden information about Fr. Teilo which you did not know, about the very active Knights of Columbus of our parish, about the Men’s Retreat organized by the Men in Mission of our parish, about Lent and Divine Mercy, among others. I thank the Stewardship Council and the editorial team for gifting us with this excellent resource. For more details, please follow this link: http://stndrw.cc/goodnewsspring21 or click on the Good News banner below.

-Fr. Robert

Weekly Letter | January 29, 2021

Our new Winter/Spring Edition of Good News is out now! Click the banner above or visit stndrw.cc/goodnewsspring21!

Virtual March For Life

TODAY, January 29, beginning at 10:00am

RSVP Virtually HERE

You can also join our Respect Life Ministry to pray a Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

TODAY, January 29

3:00 - 4:00pm (The Hour of Mercy)
Outside the Tempe Planned Parenthood

1837 E Baseline Rd, Tempe, AZ 85283

Mums Event

New Year, New Possibilities!

TONIGHT, Friday, January 29

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Adult Ed Center

RSVP to:

mums@standrewchandler.com

Candlemas

February 2, 2021

9:00am OR 5:30pm

In the Courtyard

Candlemas has been an ancient tradition since the seventh century, in which the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is a proclamation of Christ — Messiah and Priest, Lord and Savior. He is the light who came into this world to dispel sin and darkness. You are invited to bring any candles from your home to be blessed for use during the coming year!

No Greater Love Series

February 15/16 - March 15/16

Mondays | 6:45pm - 8:15pm

OR
Tuesdays | 9:30am - 11:00am

Adult Ed Center

(Virtual Option Available)

$25

Registration ends THIS SUNDAY! For More Info, email Kim: kdoyle@standrewchandler.com

REGISTER HERE!

Ash Wednesday Schedule

February 17, 2021

Mass with Distribution of Ashes:

6:30am, 8:30am, 12:00pm, 6:30pm

Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes:

4:00pm

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!