Pastor's letter for this week
April 26, 2024
Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,
I hope you are all doing well and staying strong! I’m still smiling from the school musical “Annie Kids” which our St. Andrew School children put on this Wednesday and Thursday. What fun that was to see our children act and sing on stage. I was truly impressed by all of them including a 3-year-old in Pre-K girl who belted out the songs with enthusiasm. Fun! Yesterday morning I had my last meeting with the second graders who will soon be receiving their First Holy Communion. I was very pleased with their knowledge and that they even knew what “transubstantiation” was. Impressive!
Last night we also hosted the St. Monica Academy Spring concert in the church which was also spectacular. And tonight we are hosting the “Little Singers of Lyon” France who are a group of 30 boys who are touring the United States singing their beautiful music. The FREE concert is in the church tonight at 7:30 p.m. No need for tickets. Just show up!
It is truly wonderful to highlight all this musical talent in our parish and I am delighted that St. Andrew is the center of sacred music in Pasadena and beyond.
Next week begins the month of May which is traditionally a very busy month with all the various First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, etc. It is a very grace filled month. And this year it will be even busier as we also host the relics of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron of impossible cases. More information below.
Here is the rest of the news from the parish:
SCHOOL GALA – GREAT SUCCESS!- Last week St. Andrew School held its annual Gala at the Westin Hotel here in Pasadena. It was a wonderful evening in which we especially honored one of our veteran teachers, Mrs. Evelyn Ortiz, who is retiring at the end of this school year. We are tremendously grateful to her for her 46 years of service to Catholic education and 22 years here at St. Andrew’s. It was also a big fundraising event which raised funds for scholarships to our school. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make it a success!
I want to take this opportunity to remind all parents with school age children to take a look at our wonderful school and provide their children with the best education possible: a Catholic education. Please check our school website: www.saspasadena.com for more information. Enrollment is now taking place for the new school years starting in the Fall.
SACRAMENTS "SEASON"- The Easter season is also the time for the reception of the Sacraments. Two weeks ago, the children from our parish school made their First Confessions in preparation for First Holy Communion next Saturday. Next Thursday they will be having a special Day of Recollection at the Pastoral Center in preparation for their First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 4th.
On Monday evening the children from our Religious Education Program will be making their First Confessions in preparation for their First Holy Communion on May 11th. And at the end of May our teenagers will also receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep them all in your prayers.
RELICS OF ST. JUDE ON MAY 10TH - Our parish is honored to have been chosen to host the relics of the Apostle St. Jude next month. From September 2023 to May 2024, the arm of Saint Jude Thaddeus, venerated in Rome from ancient times, will be on pilgrimage in the United States, making stops in 100 cities.
One of the Church’s most beloved saints, Saint Jude is the one to whom people turn when they are desperate and have tried everything else. When things seem lost or unbearable—when they seem hopeless—Saint Jude is the one to whom people often turn.
Come and experience his transformative presence. Come and see what he has for you. The schedule is as follows:
Friday, May 10, 2024 – Relics are exposed beginning at 2:00 p.m. and continue all afternoon. Solemn Mass will take place at 7:00 p.m. which includes a homily on St. Jude. Veneration of the relics then continues until 10:00 p.m.
Please note that we are expecting very large crowds so parking may be an issue. We have arranged for extra parking in the underground parking across the street from the church in the Operating Engineers building for that evening.
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION – Next Friday, May 3 is the First Friday of the month. As always, we will have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament twice that day: Holy Hour in the morning following the 8:15 a.m. Mass and then again in the evening following the 6:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish. Come and spend time in adoration of our Eucharistic Lord.
In Christ and St. Andrew,
Father Gonzalez
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION