Friday Flash
May 14, 2021
BISHOPS SPEAK POWERFULLY IN DEFENSE OF THE DIGNITY OF OF HUMAN LIFE
Last week, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco released a pastoral letter entitled “Before I
Formed You in the Womb I Knew You“ in which he offers a powerful defense of the Church’s teaching on
the dignity of all human life, which dignity, bishop Olmsted says, “logically and morally requires a
consistent condemnation of abortion”.
Formed You in the Womb I Knew You“ in which he offers a powerful defense of the Church’s teaching on
the dignity of all human life, which dignity, bishop Olmsted says, “logically and morally requires a
consistent condemnation of abortion”.
Bishop Olmsted goes on to recommend the said Letter highly to all the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of
Phoenix, and all people of good will who desire to know why the Church cannot and will not change her
traditional defense of motherhood and the most vulnerable in the womb. Responding to Bishop’s
recommendation, I reproduce Bishop Olmsted’s letter in support of Archbishop Cordileone’s Pastoral
Letter which I encourage you to find time to read in its entirety. Bishop Olmsted writes:
Phoenix, and all people of good will who desire to know why the Church cannot and will not change her
traditional defense of motherhood and the most vulnerable in the womb. Responding to Bishop’s
recommendation, I reproduce Bishop Olmsted’s letter in support of Archbishop Cordileone’s Pastoral
Letter which I encourage you to find time to read in its entirety. Bishop Olmsted writes:
As the Archbishop makes clear, the Church’s teaching on life is based on the principle of love in truth —
this teaching is intrinsically connected to the social and moral doctrine that moves Catholics to serve the
poor, fight for justice, and worship our loving God. Indeed, from the moment of fertilization in our
mother’s womb, each of us is a bearer of His Holy Image, and thus the bearer of unalienable rights.
There is no confusion in embryological science about the beginning of each human life, and it has been
catastrophic for our nation that our laws have become divorced from this fundamental truth, protecting
only some human beings and not others.
this teaching is intrinsically connected to the social and moral doctrine that moves Catholics to serve the
poor, fight for justice, and worship our loving God. Indeed, from the moment of fertilization in our
mother’s womb, each of us is a bearer of His Holy Image, and thus the bearer of unalienable rights.
There is no confusion in embryological science about the beginning of each human life, and it has been
catastrophic for our nation that our laws have become divorced from this fundamental truth, protecting
only some human beings and not others.
It is a false compassion that treats the killing of an innocent child in the womb as “help” for a mother in
need. It is a false courage that condemns the sins of the past while the gravest evil of the present is
treated as an “issue” of legitimate disagreement among Catholics. And it is a false patience and pastoral
concern that, year after year, stays silent or speaks in abstractions while the slaughter continues with
the full endorsement of Catholic politicians under our spiritual care as bishops. Such “patience” is false
because it is bereft of love and truth, and thus unmasks rather a deadly apathy towards one who
professes the Catholic faith but whose public embrace of abortion puts his or her eternal soul at risk of
damnation, and risks dragging untold numbers into hell by their example.
need. It is a false courage that condemns the sins of the past while the gravest evil of the present is
treated as an “issue” of legitimate disagreement among Catholics. And it is a false patience and pastoral
concern that, year after year, stays silent or speaks in abstractions while the slaughter continues with
the full endorsement of Catholic politicians under our spiritual care as bishops. Such “patience” is false
because it is bereft of love and truth, and thus unmasks rather a deadly apathy towards one who
professes the Catholic faith but whose public embrace of abortion puts his or her eternal soul at risk of
damnation, and risks dragging untold numbers into hell by their example.
No, abortion is not the “only issue,” but it is, as Pope Francis told my brother bishops, the “preeminent
issue.” Woe to us bishops if we do not speak clearly about the grave evil of abortion, and the
consequences of any Catholic who participates in the act or publicly supports it by word or action. As
Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver put it in a recent and excellent article:
issue.” Woe to us bishops if we do not speak clearly about the grave evil of abortion, and the
consequences of any Catholic who participates in the act or publicly supports it by word or action. As
Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver put it in a recent and excellent article:
When the church minimizes the danger of an unworthy reception of the Eucharist, she fails to properly
love those who continue to jeopardize their souls. Trading “civility” and “engagement” for eternal life is
not a good trade, and it is especially negligent for me, as a bishop, to remain quiet when people I am
called to love may be endangering their eternal souls. This is a danger to them and a danger to me.
I thank Archbishop Cordileone and Archbishop Aquila, as well as all my brother priests and bishops who
voice their loving concern not only for unborn children and their parents, but for those who have been
led to believe that they can publicly disagree with the Church on abortion while continuing to claim their
Catholic Faith and receive Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, it is an obligation and an
act of love to proclaim and point out this truth in charity…End of quote!
love those who continue to jeopardize their souls. Trading “civility” and “engagement” for eternal life is
not a good trade, and it is especially negligent for me, as a bishop, to remain quiet when people I am
called to love may be endangering their eternal souls. This is a danger to them and a danger to me.
I thank Archbishop Cordileone and Archbishop Aquila, as well as all my brother priests and bishops who
voice their loving concern not only for unborn children and their parents, but for those who have been
led to believe that they can publicly disagree with the Church on abortion while continuing to claim their
Catholic Faith and receive Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, it is an obligation and an
act of love to proclaim and point out this truth in charity…End of quote!
For full access to Archbishop Cordileone’s Pastoral Letter, please follow this link: Before I Formed You in
the Womb I Knew You.
Finally, as part of our Journey Towards Holiness: Focus on Mary and the Eucharist, I would like you to
take note of the following upcoming events:
the Womb I Knew You.
Finally, as part of our Journey Towards Holiness: Focus on Mary and the Eucharist, I would like you to
take note of the following upcoming events:
- In the place of the prayer intentions before Mass, we will be introducing Word of the Week,
focusing on the Eucharist. This will include slides and short sentences to instruct us about the
Eucharist before the Masses. This word weekend for instance will be: Genuflection.
- We will still continue with slides before Mass showing bite-sized highlights from Bishop Olmsted’s
wonderful Apostolic Exhortation Veneremur Cernui.
- Beginning the month of June through August we are introducing a warm up 2 day adoration
opportunities code-named Jammies and Jesus. This is a special time where under 7 year olds and
below only, can wear pajamas (church appropriate) and come with their families for adoration and
pray a family style rosary led by the kids and adults, and closing the evening with benediction at
7pm.
More details on these will be provided as we get closer and so watch this space! In the meantime,
continue to have a blessed Easter Season and a Happy Ascension Sunday!
continue to have a blessed Easter Season and a Happy Ascension Sunday!
- Fr. Robert
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Friday Night Escape
"Mum's Only"
Band-Aids and Boo Boo's
With guest speaker Laura Burdick
TODAY, Friday, May 14
6:30pm-8:00pm
In the Adult Ed Center
RSVP to mums@standrewchandler.com
Fatima (the movie)
THIS Saturday, May 15
Right after the 5pm Mass
Please bring something yummy to share. This is a FREE event.
THIS Sunday, May 16
After the 7:00am and 10:00am Masses
In the Hennessey Hall
Carryout will also be available
Monday's 6:45pm-8:15pm | June 7
or
Tuesday's 9:30am-11am | June 8
Adult Ed Center
Registration opens Tuesday, May 18
For more information contact Kim Doyle kdoyle@standrewchandler.com
June, 6 - July, 18
Right after the 10am Mass
11:30am-1pm
Adult Ed Center
Come join us for 8 glorious weeks of salvation history!
Registration opens Tuesday, May 18
For more information contact Kim Doyle kdoyle@standrewchandler.com
The Knights of Columbus will be hosting Operation Restoring Veterans Hope (ORVH) retreat to help veterans who have or are currently struggling.
Items to be collected are: shower shoes, towels, wash cloths, toothbrush/paste, bars of soap, white socks (new) and shampoo.
Bins will be in the narthex from May 8-May 22 for your donations.
Pentecost Sunday, May 23
At the 10am Mass
Come celebrate with us!
Sunday, June 13, 2021
In Hennessey Hall
8am-2pm
To register go to https://www.redcrossblood.org
Keyword: saintandrew
The Church will be closed
Monday, May 24-Friday, May 28
Daily Mass will be moved into Hennessey Hall
There will be no Livestream Tuesday and Thursday during this week
Public Masses are now offered with limited capacity
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!
3450 W. Ray Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226 | 480-899-1990 church@standrewchandler.com
Upcoming Mass Intentions
May 14
8:30am | +Mary Martin
May 15
8:30am | +Mary Tran
5:00pm | +Elizabeth Aguirre
May 16
7:00am | +Theresa Burgos
10:00am | +Veronica Chavez
2:00pm | +Bill Novell
May 17
8:30am | Barbara
May 18
8:30am | +Veronica Grapski
May 19
8:30am | CU Nguyen
6:30pm | +Daniel Schmidt
May 20
8:30am | +Harry McCarthy