Pastor's letter for this week

October 2, 2026
Feast of the Guardian Angels

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,

I hope you are all doing well and staying strong!  Today’s beautiful feast of the Guardian Angels reminds us of this great reality that each of us as been assigned a Angel from God to protect us.  Sometimes people think this is a reality for children.  We’re all familiar with the image of the beautiful angel protecting a little boy and a little girl crossing a dangerous bridge.  Many of us had that image on our cribs or beds as children.  But the truth is that our Guardian Angel is very real for all of us as adults as well.  We should pray daily to our Guardian Angel to protect us and to keep us from sin.  

I’ve been back from vacation for a week now and the workload is back to normal.  I’ve slowly been able to get through the stack of mail as well as a backlog of email, but I’m not caught up yet.  It takes some time.  But it is good to be back.  I was in Lourdes just prior to the visit of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, so it was a very exciting time to be there.  I will never forget the beautiful candlelight rosary processions each evening there.  What a wonderful experience!  While at the Shrine I offered Mass daily and prayed the rosary for each of you and for the intentions which you sent to me.  It took a while to get through it all but I’m so glad I did.  It was a very spiritually uplifting experience.

Later in Paris, I was also able to visit Notre Dame Cathedral as well as Sacre Coeur and other beautiful churches.   I had been to Notre Dame twice before but this time it was very different.  Following the horrific fire of 2019, the Cathedral has been fully restored and it is simply magnificent!  I’m so glad I went.  This was probably my last time.  At Sacre Coeur it was also very special as we arrived while a choir of nuns (beautifully clad in full traditional habits) were singing Vespers in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament.  Very prayerful.  

Finally, also in Paris, I visited the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  I purchased Miraculous Medals for all the children of our Parish School and they will receive them next week after the student body Mass on Tuesday.

We are now back to only 3 priests on the parish staff since Fr. Paul Okello has returned to Uganda.  We certainly miss his presence and good humor as well as his great help.  It is good to be back.  Although, to be honest, I hate listening to all the political ads and the constant barrage of them on TV as well.  Frustrating! And this heatwave is terrible!

Here is the rest of the news from the parish:

800th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI – This Sunday, October 4th, is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.  But it is particularly special this year because in 2026 the Church joyfully commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who entered eternal life on October 3, 1226. As we celebrate this great anniversary, we give thanks to God for the extraordinary witness of this beloved saint, whose radical love for Christ led him to embrace poverty, humility, peace, and charity toward all.

Pope Leo XIV has invited the Church during this special Year of St. Francis to rediscover his enduring message and to become, like him, faithful disciples of Christ and instruments of His peace.

May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for us and help us to live the Gospel with greater simplicity, courage, and love.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS – It is a long-held practice that we have a special Blessing of the Animals around the feast of St. Francis.  Our parish school will be having a special ceremony of blessing of the animals next Thursday, Oct. 8th at 9:15 a.m.  It will be held on the south porch of the church (facing the school) as that area facilitates a nice procession.  If you would like to have your pet blessed, please bring it that morning.  Dogs should be kept on leashes and cats in cages.  Other creatures?

THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR OUR ANNUAL BACH TO BROADWAY CONCERT! – Our parish’s annual “Bach to Broadway” is coming up fast in just less than 3 weeks!  It is scheduled for Friday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7:00 p.m.  It is my hope that we have a sold-out concert. 

As you know, the proceeds from the concert go to the restoration efforts of our church.  That funding is greatly needed as our church building continues to age yet must constantly be maintained and beautified.  The Restoration Committee is working hard to ensure that the church is in beautiful condition for the Centennial next year.  Please save the date: Friday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are on sale right now on our website: www.standrewpasadena.org.  

There will be a beautiful reception for patrons in the piazza ahead of time and a dessert reception for everyone afterwards on Raymond Avenue.  The details are on the website.  I hope to see you all there!

Please note that there will be NO Spanish Mass OR evening Confessions that evening.

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY – The month of October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary.  This is a beautiful devotion which allows us to meditate upon the mysteries in the life of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.  The feast day itself is celebrated on October 7th.  Pope Saint John Paul II, of happy memory, wrote a beautiful Apostolic Letter in 2002 entitled Rosarium Virginis Mariam which I would highly recommend for your reading.  It can be found at the Vatican website: www.vatican.va.  During this month of the Rosary, all of the children enrolled in our Parish School as well as those in our Religious Education Program will receive a rosary and instruction on how to recite it.  

In our parish the rosary is prayed in common daily before the 8:15 a.m. Mass in English.  It is also prayed in common after the 6:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish.  If you come to daily Mass at 8:15 a.m. in English or at 6:30 p.m. in Spanish, consider coming early (for the morning Mass) or staying after (for the evening Mass) and praying this beautiful devotion to our Blessed Mother.

I strongly urge you also to pray the Rosary as a family especially this month but also throughout the year.  Choose at least one night each week and pray the rosary as a family perhaps after dinner.  Remember the famous Father Patrick Peyton who told us that “the family that prays together stays together!”  In this week’s bulletin there is a special insert on the Rosary.  Extra copies can be obtained at the tables by the doors of the church.  It is also attached to this email.

RESPECT LIFE MONTH – October is also designated by the American Bishops as Respect Life Month.  There are special flyers by the doors of the church which will help all of us to do more to foster the respect of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  There is also further information in all the bulletins this month as well as links to pro-life resources.  Since it is also the month of the Holy Rosary, I especially recommend praying at least a decade of your daily rosary for an end to abortion in our land.

GROUP WEDDING – For many years here at St. Andrew's we have offered the opportunity to couples who are married civilly (or simply cohabitating) but have not received the Sacrament of Matrimony the option of a “Group Wedding”.  On Monday, Oct. 19th I will hold an Information Night held in the Sacristy Chapel to offer all details, distribute applications and answer questions.  If you are in a situation where you are civilly married or just living together without marriage, please consider the call of the Lord to the Sacrament of Matrimony.  If you have friends or relatives in this situation, encourage them to come and get the necessary information.  Don’t miss this opportunity!

In Christ and St. Andrew,

Fr. Gonzalez

EUCHARISTIC CONCOMITANCE
ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS IN CHURCH
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION