Pastor's letter for this week
February 13, 2026,
Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,
I hope you are all doing well and staying strong! We are getting ready for the Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent which is coming fast. More information on all that below. I’ve been thinking of having our Lenten daily noon Mass in the Sacristy Chapel rather than the church. Our long-time parishioners recall fondly that our daily Masses used to be in that chapel regularly prior to the Covid lockdown. Since then our daily Mass attendance is so high that we would not fit in there. However, for the noon Mass in Lent we generally get a smaller crowd of under 30 so the chapel may be appropriate. However, we won’t be able to start that for a couple of weeks as the chapel is being painted right now and it won’t be finished in time for next week. However, after that we may move the noon Mass in there. I’ll let you know, of course.
Last night we had a priests’ dinner in this last week prior to Lent. There were 12 of us including one bishop and one deacon who will be ordained to the priesthood this June. The other 10 were priests of various years of ordination. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was over 30 years ago by my old childhood pastor. He told me, “make friends with priests in various generations so you’ll have friends when you’re old.” He knew what he was talking about because when he died at 96 he had outlived all his classmates and friends. I was the only younger priest he knew. It’s good advice for everybody. I see my mom now at 90 and she’s outlived all her friends. It’s a lonely experience.
Here is the rest of the news from the parish:
LENT BEGINS THIS WEEK – This coming Wednesday, February 18th, is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent.
Attached is the Ash Wednesday schedule of Masses and Services. It is also on the parish website: wwww.standrewpasadena.org. There will be ample opportunities to assist at Mass that day.
Please remember that we have an additional 12 noon Mass Monday through Friday to also assist parishioners as well as others who work in our City to be able to come to Mass daily during Lent. I hope especially our homeschooling families will come and provide altar servers for this Mass. That will begin on Thursday, Feb. 19th.
Although Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is very worthwhile to come to Mass on this day and receive the ashes which are the sacramental reminder of our mortality and need for repentance of sin. Attached are also the regulations of the Church regarding fast and abstinence. Please read them carefully.
Also attached is a list of suggestions for various Lenten Practices. I urge you to read it carefully and decide now, a few days before Lent begins, how you want to strengthen your spiritual life this year. Lent is truly a privileged time because it forces us to pause and reflect on how we’re living our lives and whether we need to make some adjustments especially regarding our spiritual practices.
There are three practices, in particular, that I would encourage for everyone in our parish: regular Confession, frequent Mass (perhaps daily during Lent) and weekly Stations of the Cross.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON FRIDAYS – One of the most beautiful of Lenten practices is the Way of the Cross. Our Stations of the Cross each Friday will be at 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in English and 7:00 p.m. in Spanish. At the end of the English Stations in the evening we will have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Spanish Stations will take place after the evening Mass. Come and pray this beautiful devotion with your parish family.
LENTEN SOUP NIGHTS ON FRIDAYS! - We are once again having our "Lenten Soup Nights" on Fridays after the Stations of the Cross. These will take place as follows:
1st session: after the English Stations & Benediction (5:30 p.m.)
2nd session: after the Spanish Mass and Stations (6:30 p.m.)
This practice is meant to help us fulfill the Lenten practice of abstinence as well as frugality and penance. The soups will be prepared and served by our various parish groups and will consist of a variety of non-meat recipes. Bread is also provided. A free will donation is taken which will go to feed the poor.
I have always found this Lenten practice to be very spiritually worthwhile as it is a concrete way of living our Lenten penance as well as building community with our fellow parishioners.
EVERYBODY’S PART IS IMPORTANT – Our annual Together in Mission Campaign began last week. As you know, this campaign assists the poorest parishes and schools of the Archdiocese. Our parish goal this year is $ 75,322.00. This reflects our income in 2025. It is a large sum. But it is also a great opportunity to help out these poor parishes. We have over 7000 families registered so if we all do our part it will be easy to meet the goal.
The important thing is that all participate according to their means. If you have more then give more, if you have less, then give less. But everybody’s part is important. The pledge envelopes are available in the pews and in the Pastoral Center. You may also make your contribution online by going to: TimGive.org. On the website you click on “Find your Parish” then scroll down to "St. Andrew Parish – Pasadena, CA" as your parish and complete the details required. It is very easy!
OUR LENTEN CHARITY FOR 2026: HEARTS OF JOY INTERNATIONAL – Each year we choose a charity to support during Lent as part of the Lenten practice of “almsgiving.” This year our charity is “Hearts of Joy International.” I met with their representative a couple of months ago and learned about the wonderful work they do.
As described by them in their website:
“We love and care for the forgotten, unwanted and vulnerable, serving children with Down syndrome, especially in countries where they are stigmatized, abandoned, or denied access to life-saving heart surgery. In a world that often sees them as less valuable due to poverty, discrimination, or cultural stigma, we affirm their worth as image bearers of God and restore dignity through holistic family centered care. Our work extends beyond surgery, we walk with families from diagnosis to recovery, offering love, emotional and spiritual support with an emphasis on long term healing.
This weekend we will have a speaker at all Masses briefly informing us about their wonderful and beautiful work.
LENTEN PARISH MISSION IN ENGLISH COMING UP – The Parish Mission for 2026 will take place during Lent this year on the week of March 2-5. This year it will be conducted by the Fathers of Mercy. Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM will conduct the Mission. Please mark your calendars now as there will be two English conferences: one in the morning after the 8:15 a.m. Mass and one in the evening at 7:15 p.m. Please note that our English Parish Groups will NOT be meeting that week so that everyone can attend the mission. Further information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the time of the Mission. Fr. Pineda will be preaching at all the English Masses the previous Sunday to introduce the Mission.
THE FABULOUS LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE IS RETURNING TO ST. ANDREW’S!- Last year the Los Angeles Master Chorale chose us to host one of their “Sacred Spaces concerts in the community.” This year we are delighted to host them once again. The concert will take place on Sunday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. Please save the date!
In Christ and St. Andrew,
Father Gonzalez
WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE FOR LENT:
Daily Masses 8:15 a.m. (Monday through Saturday) and 12:05 p.m. (Monday through Friday) -both in English;
6:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday) - Spanish
Confessions:
Tuesday: 7:00 p.m. during the Holy Hour
Friday: 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Friday schedule:
8:15 a.m. - English Mass followed by English Stations
9:00am - Confessions
12:05 p.m. – English Mass (no Stations)
5:30 p.m. - English Stations and Benediction followed by Lenten Soup Supper in the School Auditorium
6:30 p.m. - Spanish Mass followed by Spanish Stations then Lenten Soup Supper in the School Auditorium.
7:00 p.m. – Confessions
ASH WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
LENTEN PRACTICES
LENTEN REGULATIONS
ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS IN CHURCH
CENTENNIAL ORGAN AT SAINT ANDREW CHURCH
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION