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St. Andrew the Apostle Friday Flash | March 12th, 2021

Friday Flash

March 12, 2021

Receiving this Lenten Season

Our small faith sharing group has been meeting together for over ten years. It started off as a parish initiative back in the day and was for a period of six weeks. We found that just after that short time we wanted more, so we continued to meet and grow in our faith. We shared our spiritual lives with these people whom we now call friends. We have been there to pray for one another, and cry with each other through unexpected sorrows and sufferings. We have grown in our knowledge of our Catholic faith substantially and continue to grow this lent through the Lenten companion featuring Fr. Mark Toups. I have had a chance over these past couple of weeks to share bits and pieces with you in our Journey Toward Holiness messages. Fr. Toups once again brings up a profound point I would like to share with you. He speaks of consumerism and says, “The more we consume, the more we are conditioned to be a consumer. We become trained in the art of providing for ourselves”

If we think back to the story of our beginnings in the Garden of Eden, what we learn is that through the temptation of the evil one, Eve grasps at the fruit she was forbidden to eat. Everyone of us do this when we grasp at sin. We take what we want, when we want it. We believe that it will make us happy somehow. “Grasping fails to deliver the long-term happiness it promises.” The more we take, the more we want, and this can lead to a spiritual kind of consumerism, “I give you money, you give me what I want.” We often vote our likes or dislikes at Church, with our wallets, and that is a dangerous pattern which can begin to devastate our spiritual life. Rather than receive, we want what we want and that is not always what God intends for us. I remember about thirteen years ago. I was going through a really rough time with one of the kids and came to Mass just needing so badly something to encourage and strengthen me. I let out an audible sigh when the priest walked out, as it was not someone I related very well with. My thoughts were, “really God, this guy?” When it came time for the homily, this priest whom I had thought such unkind things about, read a poem that hit the mark in my heart perfectly. I was so ashamed. To think that God would be limited by our small-minded preferences and prejudices is foolhardy. I almost got up and walked away before the Mass began and yet, in remaining I was blessed with hearing exactly what I needed at that moment. Sometimes we let the messenger get in the way of hearing the message God has for us.

God wants to give us good things. He wants to bless us abundantly through his infinite generosity. Like a good dad He wants to provide for His children in their needs. The problem with spiritual consumerism is that we tend to just go get what we want, bouncing from church to church until we find what we want and what makes us feel good temporarily. The more we grasp, the less we need God to provide for us. The problem is we cannot take what we need the very most; God’s love, which must be received. God desires to consume us in the fire of His love and to provide everything we need and more. When we are used to taking, it requires practice to learn to receive and to wait patiently on the Lord. In the coming weeks we have some great opportunities for you to begin practicing to receive:

Stations of the Cross which can be walked or drive through this Friday from 10am-8pm. The reflections are pre-recorded so all you need to do is receive them as you pray. www.stndrw.cc/stations.

Monday at 7pm is our final Adoration Burst. It is quiet time in adoration and confession to receive not only God’s forgiveness and healing, but also receive Him in His Presence. I hope you can come.

May you joyfully receive all that your Lord wishes to shower upon you this Lent and for the rest of your life

- Barb Lishko

Coordinator of Marriage Prep and Enrichment

Weekly Letter | March 12, 2021

Make your donation to the CDA today by clicking HERE or on the banner above.

Lenten Stations of the Cross Schedule

Fridays During Lent

March 12 | 10:00am - 8:00pm | Drive-Thru | Guided Meditation

March 19 | 7:00pm | Inside Church | Led by Marian Missionaries

March 26 | 7:00pm | Inside Church | Led by Respect Life

Good Friday April 2 | 9:00am - 7:00pm| Inside Church and courtyard | Self-Guided Meditation

(with the exception during the Liturgy at 12:00pm)

The link for the guided meditations can be found HERE.

Additional Eucharistic Adoration and confession times offered on:

March 15 | 7:00pm

Lenten Mission with Jesse Romero

March 21 at 3:30pm "Know your Enemy"

March 22 at 6:30pm "The Power of Prayer"

March 23 at 6:30pm "How to get to Heaven (Living in a State of Grace)"

These events will take place inside the Church and be live streamed.

Thursday April 1 | 8:30am Mass, NO confessions | Holy Thursday Liturgy at 7pm

Good Friday April 2 | NO 8:30am Mass or confessions | Good Friday Liturgy at 12pm

Saturday April 3 | NO 8:30am Mass or confessions | Blessing of the Easter Foods at 10am in courtyard

Masses will be in the church and live-streamed

Saturday April 3 | Easter Vigil at 7pm

Sunday April 4 | Easter Mass at 7am, 9am, 11am

Masses will be inside the church and live-streamed

Easter Flower Memorial donations

Click on the banner for more information

deadline is March 21

Sunday, March 21

After the 7:00am and 10:00am Masses

Donations Accepted

Click the banner to reserve the number of breakfast meals you'd like to pick up by Friday, March 19, then on Sunday, March 21, drive up or walk by the Northside of Hennessey Hall between 8:00am and 11:30am to pick up your breakfast!

Reservations are “Not Required” but will help with the amount of food to prepare.

Blood Drive

Sunday, March 21 at 8:00am - 2:00pm

Hennessey Hall

To sign up go to https://www.redcrossblood.org

keyword: saintandrew

Fridays During Lent

St. Andrew Courtyard - Drive-Thru and Pickup Only

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Donations Accepted

Click HERE or on the banner above for more info and to register the number of dinners you wish to pickup

Reservations are not required but will help with the amount of food to prepare!

The Catholic Community Foundation is hosting a virtual Lenten Retreat on March 30 and 31 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Each session will be led by guest speakers, Fr. Roch Mary and Fr. Anthony, of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal! This 2-day event is completely free and is designed to enhance your relationship with the Lord.

This event is not through the parish, but a great opportunity for personal spiritual growth.

More information can be found HERE or on the banner above

40 Days for Life Spring Campaign going on now!

Please click HERE or the banner above to sign up to fill a slot to pray outside of the Planned Parenthood in Tempe.

Click HERE or on the banner for more information.

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!