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St. Andrew the Apostle Friday Flash | April 9th, 2021

Friday Flash

April 9, 2021

JOURNEY TOWARDS HOLINESS: FOCUS ON THE CROSS AND CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – WHAT NEXT?

Dear St. Andrew,

If there was anybody most thrilled last weekend as we celebrated the Masses of Christ’s resurrection in what is liturgically known as Easter, it was me! Yes, ME! As soon as I said that, I am aware that many of you might be provoked to challenge me and I humbly respect your challenge. This is so because, I recall how during the same Easter last year our Church was so empty with only a handful of us in Church while most of you followed the celebrations through livestream isolated in your own homes. It was the weirdest celebration of Easter I have ever had since my ordination to priesthood 29 years ago.

However, this year was so thrilling for all of us who turned up for the celebrations because, the Church was not only filled to the allowed capacity but we were also able to meet with members of our beloved parish whom we have not seen for over a year! I saw your contagious excitement. Yes, we smiled, laughed, “hugged” and did all kinds of gestures to express our joy as we assembled together. All this was because after a gloomy long time, Christ is indeed risen and gathered us together. I hope we shall continue to come to Church and fill our Church every Sunday from now on because, Christ is indeed risen and because he lives, He has conquered the corona virus and most importantly, death. Please, continue coming back!

To prepare for this moment however if you recall, we began with our Journey Towards Holiness Campaign, focusing on the Cross and the Resurrection. During this journey, we encountered our own different crosses and tribulations. For some of us these included, loss of dear ones, devastating illnesses, broken relationships , betrayal by friends, loneliness, loss of jobs and income, disappointing political outcomes and many more. Despite all these, to keep our focus on the cross, many of us made various types of sacrifices, fasted, prayed and went to confession, Mass and adoration a little more often. As a community we had weekly reflections on various aspects of our faith related to the cross which climaxed in our very exciting Lenten Mission animated by the celebrated evangelist Jesse Romero.

Even though our circumstances might not have changed and we might still be feeling helpless and downcast as those early apostles were even after rumors of Jesus resurrection began to circulate, there is hope. Like them, we need the light and hope that Christ our risen savior offers. Even when at times we continue not to make sense of things around us, we need to lean on him for support. We need to search the Scriptures together and enjoy his company in the breaking of bread in the Eucharist. We still need to continue practicing those great spiritual activities we developed during the Lenten journey because our journey towards holiness does not end until we reach our ultimate goal – HEAVEN!

To help us along with this effort, we are going to launch another great journey. This time it will be a journey towards holiness focusing on the Eucharist. I will avail details of this journey very soon. In the meantime, I want to invite you to read the wonderful apostolic exhortation which our bishop wrote on the Eucharist, for both the clergy, religious and laity in our diocese. In this very important document, the bishop invites all of us to a deeper faith in the real presence and greater appreciation, reverence and devotion to the Eucharist! You can access this on the diocesan website or through this link: http:/dphx.org/veneremur-cernui/.

This weekend, we celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday which reminds us of God’s overwhelming love for us, manifested by his abundant mercy through the pierced heart of His son. The devotion to the Divine Mercy was popularized by a Polish nun Faustina Kowalska who received the chaplet of the divine mercy prayer through conversations with our Lord Jesus. Our liturgy this Sunday will be focused on this great mercy. At a personal level however, I invite you to say the chaplet of the divine mercy as a family on this day at least once, if you can.

St. Andrew, may the blessings of the Risen Lord descend upon you and remain with you now and throughout this great Easter Season. I love you!

- Fr. Robert

Weekly Letter | April 9th, 2021

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

Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18

Knights of Columbus will be holding their

Bi-annual Recruitment Drive after all Masses

If you’re a male 18 years and older stop by our recruitment tent in the courtyard and let us show you how to become a Better Catholic, A Better Father & Husband by joining the Knights of Columbus.

Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18

Knights of Columbus will be selling State Raffle tickets in the courtyard after all masses.

Donations will support:

Grow Haiti's Kids and Feed My Starving Children Organizations

Sunday, April 18

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, April 16, then on Sunday, April 18, 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.

33 Days to Morning Glory

A six week Marian Consecration

Monday Evenings | April 19 - May 24 | 7:00pm-9:00pm

Tuesday Mornings | April 20 - May 25 | 9:30am-11:30am

Registration forms are located in the narthex and office

Roe V. Wade (PG-13)

Sunday, April 25 | 11:30am

Hennessy Hall

Click HERE or the banner to view the trailer.

Kights of Columbus will be serving hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

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!