Pastor's letter for this week

January 23, 2026

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,

I hope you are all doing well and staying strong!  Very late last Sunday night (actually early Monday morning) I returned from my annual trip to Cuba.  I’m so glad to be home and the fact that I live in these great United States!  I love traveling and visiting other countries, but I am always grateful to come back home to the U.S.A.  

Many people saw the pictures I posted on Facebook from my Cuba trip and emailed me about them.  I think quite a few are shocked at the horrible state of the country.  The Cubans joke that they don’t live in a “third world” country.  They live in a “fourth or fifth world” country as the situation is actually worse than even places like Haiti.  

Looking at the calendar I am amazed that we are only 3 weeks away from the beginning of Lent which starts on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18th this year).  Wasn’t it just a few days ago that we celebrated Christmas?  Time flies!

I’m looking forward to Catholic Schools Sunday this weekend.  More information is below.  Monday, Feb. 2nd, is the Feast of the Presentation also called “Candlemas.”  On this day the candles used in the Sacred Liturgy are blessed.  It is also a custom among the faithful to have their candles blessed as well.  We will have that blessing at both of our daily Masses that day so feel free to bring your candles to be blessed.

The following day, Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, is the feast of St. Blaise and there is the tradition of the Blessing of Throats.  We will have that special blessing at our regular daily Masses as well as at a special 10:30 a.m. School Mass to which everyone is invited.

Here is the rest of the news from the parish:

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK – This Sunday is Catholic Schools Sunday.  We will have a special Mass with our parish school community at 9:30 a.m.

There will also be a wonderful pancake breakfast as well as the usual coffee and donuts and orange juice available in the Parish Hall (not piazza) for everyone in the morning.  Please be sure to stop by for this delicious breakfast!  The breakfast will end at 11:00 a.m but Open House will continue until 12:30 p.m.

This week we highlight the importance of a Catholic education.  Statistics and history prove that the surest and best way to bring a child out of poverty and equip him with the tools necessary to succeed is a Catholic education.  In addition to providing a safe and excellent academic education, Catholic schools also provide a religious and moral education.  

Years ago (in my generation and prior), it was still possible to send a child to a public school and not worry about being indoctrinated with ideologies and ideas that were contrary to our Catholic faith.  Sadly, at least in California, that is no longer the case.  Children are being taught anti-Christian and anti-moral concepts and ideas which are often overtly anti-Catholic.  Christmas carols and even talking about “Christmas vacation” or “Easter vacation” is no longer allowed.  In this highly secular environment, it is more important than ever to provide our children a good, solid, safe, moral and Christian education.  That’s what we do here at St. Andrew Catholic School.  

Our parish school children are healthy, well rounded, disciplined, studious and polite.  Our 8th grade graduates regularly get accepted into the best high schools in the area with tests that are at par or higher than their peers in schools which are much more expensive.  In addition, because we are “parish school,” our children have daily prayer, weekly Masses, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, devotions and regular contact with the parish priests so they will grow up as active Catholics.  

Because of our excellent school building, we are able to accommodate a large number of children but still provide a low student to teacher ratio of small classes.  This is often not the case in other schools.  The personal attention provided by our Principal and faculty to our children as well as a good partnership with parents is the recipe for success in school.

We want to make the promise of this excellent education available to all our children.  Sadly, the primary reason many parents do not send their children to a Catholic school is simply money.  Because we receive absolutely no funding from the government, we must rely entirely upon tuition.  Nevertheless, money is never a reason for us to turn a child away from our school.  

For those who need it, right now is the time to apply for tuition grants from the Catholic Education Foundation.  Each applicant may receive assistance if the family qualifies.  This is a tremendous help for those parents who cannot afford the full tuition.  However, we will work with any family who desires to send their children to our school.  

Please stop by on Sunday or throughout this coming week and obtain more information at the school.  Request the enrollment form as well as the application for the tuition grant and complete them as soon as possible.  Remember we want each child to have a Catholic education and thus “an advantage for life.”  Check the school website at: www.saspasadena.com

PRIESTS' RETREAT- this week I will be away Monday through Friday for my annual retreat at a retreat house in Texas where I’ve been going for 32 years.  I will keep you in my prayers and I ask for yours.  I find my annual retreat to be invaluable for spiritual renewal.  I'll be back on Friday.

TOGETHER IN MISSION – The annual Campaign of Together in Mission which assists the poorest parishes in the Archdiocese kicks off next week.  Most of you have already received the letter from the Archbishop (or will receive it soon) about the campaign and we will be hearing about it next Sunday.  If you have already made your commitment: thank you! 

THE NOON MASS FOR LENT IS COMING BACK! – Last year we brought back the daily noon Mass for Lent.  It seems it was appreciated so we will have it again this year at 12:05 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The noonday Masses will begin on the day after Ash Wednesday, Thursday, February 19th, 2026.  Obviously, it is still a month away, and we will advertise it as we get closer to Lent but I wanted to let you know now so you can properly plan.

NEW SPANISH CHOIR DIRECTOR – I’m very happy to announce that, after a long search, we now have a new Choir Director for our Spanish Masses.  His name is Jason Castillo, and he will be starting soon.  Initially he will be forming a choir for the 11:00 a.m. Mass and then expand to the 2:00 p.m. Mass.  The 6:30 a.m. Mass will continue with cantor and organist.  We have been looking for someone for this position for several years without success until now, so it is a very happy development.  

In Christ and St. Andrew,

Father Gonzalez

ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS IN CHURCH
CENTENNIAL ORGAN AT SAINT ANDREW CHURCH
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION