Pastor's letter for this week

April 1, 2026,

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,

I hope you are all doing well and staying strong!  I’m sending this out a couple of days early since tomorrow we begin the Sacred Triduum.  Last Sunday we began Holy Week with the beautiful celebration of Palm Sunday.  It is a very busy but beautiful week and I hope you will enter fully into the spirit of the Sacred Triduum by attending all the beautiful ceremonies.  The schedule is attached once again.  

Tonight we will have the magnificent Tenebrae Service at 7:30 p.m. which will allow us to really enter into the spirit of commemorating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord.  I hope you will be attending.

Attached is an excellent article which appeared today in Pasadena Now.  It is a very complimentary article about the magnificent music program at St. Andrew’s.  I think those of us who regularly hear this beautiful music may take it for granted.  Be assured this is not the musical experience at the typical parish!  But, of course, we do not want to be typical!

Here is the rest of the news from the parish: 

HAPPY EASTER! – This Sunday we celebrate the greatest Solemnity in the entire Church year: the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Here are some beautiful words from a famous Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom:

 “Let all Pious men and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this feast; let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord; let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay, and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward; let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the feast, and those who may have come after the sixth, let them not be afraid of being too late, for the Lord is gracious and He receives the last even as the first.  He gives rest to him who comes on the eleventh hour as well as to him who has toiled since the first: yes, He has pity on the last and He serves the first; He rewards the one and is generous to the other; he repays the deed and praises the effort.  

Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord.  You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today.  The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet.  The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry.  All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; all of you receive the riches of his goodness.  

Let no one grieve over his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed; let no one weep over his sins, for pardon has shone from the grave; let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free: He has destroyed it by enduring it, He has despoiled Hades by going down into its kingdom, He has angered it by allowing it to taste of his flesh.  

When Isaiah foresaw all this, he cried out: "O Hades, you have been angered by encountering Him in the nether world."  Hades is angered because frustrated, it is angered because it has been mocked, it is angered because it has been destroyed, it is angered because it has been reduced to naught, it is angered because it is now captive.  It seized a body, and lo! it discovered God; it seized earth, and, behold! it encountered heaven; it seized the visible, and was overcome by the invisible.   

O death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?  Christ is risen and life is freed, Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep.  To Him be glory and power for ever and ever.  Amen.  Alleluia!”

SCHOOL GALA “AN EVENING IN BLOOM” COMING UP! – I want to extend a warm invitation to all of our parishioners to attend the annual St. Andrew School Gala which will be held at the Westin Pasadena on April 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. It promises to be a wonderful night of friendship, music, dancing and good food.  This is the 23rd annual Gala and this year we are honoring the Christ Child Society of Pasadena which does so much for our community.  Please see the attached flyer.  I hope to see you all there!  

Here is the link to purchase tickets, book with our room block, and learn more about the event: 

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/standrew2026galaauction/

VERY SPECIAL CONCERT COMING UP! – Following up on an absolutely fabulous concert by the Los Angeles Master Chorale last Friday, we are soon hosting another incredible concert: The world renowned Tallis Scholars is a British professional early music vocal ensemble normally consisting of two singers per part, with a core group of ten singers. They specialize in performing a cappella sacred vocal music.  They tour widely around the world performing over 70 converts in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.  They’ve been to St. Andrew’s before to sold out crowds and we are very honored to host them once again.  Their concert will take place Sunday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are now on sale on our parish website at: www.standrewpasadena.org

This is a concert NOT to be missed!

THANK YOU! - At this time in which we celebrate with Easter joy I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our wonderful parishioners who contributed time, talent and treasure to make our Holy Week services so beautiful and prayerful.  In a special way I want to express my gratitude to the wonderful team of volunteers, under the leadership of Mimi Lago, who decorated the church during Lent and Holy Week and worked so hard to ensure that the solemnity of these holy days would be well reflected in the physical environment of the church.  

A word of thanks also goes out to all the members of our parish staff and all the volunteers who have helped during these busy days in preparing and carrying out the many different liturgies which we have celebrated.

Finally, together with Father Josephraj, Father Villasano, Father Okello and our entire Parish staff, I wish all of you a most blessed and joyful Easter!  May the Risen Lord bless you and your family!

In Christ and St. Andrew,

Fr. Gonzalez

Holy Thursday Parish Altars
Holy Week Schedule
St. Andrew School Gala - April 17th
LENTEN PRACTICES
LENTEN REGULATIONS
ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS IN CHURCH
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION