Pastor's letter for this week
September 4, 2026
Feast of Our Lady of the Angels
Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,
I hope you are all doing well and staying strong! Happy Feast Day! Today’s feast of Our Lady of the Angels is indeed a special one for all of us who are members of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as the Blessed Virgin Mary is our Principal Patroness under this beautiful title.
Tuesday was the feast day of St. Vibiana; our secondary patroness and for whom our old Cathedral was named. I had Mass with the school children that morning and told them a little bit about her story. My class in 1994 was the last ordained in that venerable old Cathedral and I am very glad about it. So her feast day is also a day of remembrance for me of my ordination.
September 2nd was the anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, which is our current Cathedral. That feast is celebrated in all churches in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as well. So this week we have 3 feast days all of which are proper to our Archdiocese. Let us pray especially today for our Archbishop, Auxiliary Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Religious and all the faithful people of the Archdiocese. Pray especially for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in our Archdiocese.
After I mentioned in my email last Friday that I would be going to Lourdes and could take parishioners’ intentions with me, I was amazed and edified by how many people sent in their petitions. It’s beautiful! I will have lots to pray for there and will remember all those intentions in my Masses at the Shrine.
Last week someone sent me the following link to a beautiful report on the 10 most stunning churches in California. As they count down, St. Andrew is number 8. I’m very glad that we’re in the top 10, of course, but I disagree with their rating. I think we should be #1 but I do like very much their choice which is the Carmel Mission Basilica since our own California saint, St. Junipero Serra is buried there.
But after I saw the video, someone told me that it was the product of AI. Who knows. But that explanation seems plausible when you consider their #10 choice. Take a look. It’s interesting at the very least. But beware that you’ll have to endure a few ads. Here’s the link (just copy and paste):
https://youtu.be/1XhFHx5H5o0?is=1kjjZl0KAdJiNJ2D
Here’s the rest of the news from the parish:
LABOR DAY- This coming Monday, Sept. 7th is Labor Day. The parish and school offices will be closed in observance of this civic holiday. Please note that there will be only one Mass celebrated that day at 9:30 a.m.
PARISH MASS SCHEDULE NOW ONLINE – I have fought this for years: people calling up to find out what priest is saying what Mass. In my opinion, the priest is irrelevant. He is simply the celebrant of the Mass, but Christ is the one who says every Mass, so it doesn’t matter which one we go to.
Nevertheless, people seem to want to know who the celebrant is (no doubt to avoid me!) and they keep calling the parish office to find out. Well, from now on, you can simply go to the parish website: www.standrewpasadena.org and click on the “calendar” tab at the top bar and you will be able to see the full liturgical schedule in the church for every day of the week and who the priest celebrant is. This should reduce the number of phone calls for this purpose.
We are also working on putting all parish events on that online calendar as well so you can see which groups are meeting and where and attend as you wish. Keep posted.
HIGH HEAT MEANS HIGHER EXPENSES – As I’m sure you well know, we’ve some very hot weeks (in fact, a couple of months) lately. This means that we are using more air conditioning than usual. With that use also comes much higher costs as the power company is certainly not giving it away for free! Everybody is back from vacation now so income usually rises but does not keep up with these higher costs. Please kindly remember this when you make your weekly donation. May God reward you for your generosity!
PARISHIONERS BEGINNING THE DIACONATE PROGRAM- Two couples from our parish have been accepted in the Aspirancy stage of discernment of the possibility of the men becoming Permanent Deacons. They are Noel & Ximena Toro and Salvador and Lucy Farias. I am delighted that they are beginning this program and hope others in our parish may hear the call of God to become Permanent Deacons.
SPREAD THE GOSPEL! - The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the program designed for converts to the Catholic Faith. If you know of someone who is interested in becoming Catholic but doesn’t know what to do, please encourage them to join our new OCIA class which begins this month. Registration is taking place now and classes begin this week. For further information please call the Religious Education Office at (626) 792-4183 ext. 9201.
Don’t be afraid of inviting a non-Catholic friend or relative to enter the Church. Many people are simply waiting for the invitation!
FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS – If you are 18 years old and above and have not received your First Holy Communion or Confirmation, now is the time to register for the new class which will start this week. Please contact the Religious Education Office right away.
SAVE THE DATE FOR BACH TO BROADWAY CONCERT – Our parish’s annual “Bach to Broadway” will soon be here! It is scheduled for Friday, October 23rd At 7:00 p.m. This is always one of the highlights of our year as we gather as a community to listen to beautiful music and enjoy each other’s company in the al fresco reception afterwards. 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. I think you’ve all seen the wonderful restoration efforts in the last few years which make our church the most beautiful in the Archdiocese. Save the date: Friday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
Please note that there will be NO 6:30 p.m. Mass or Confessions that evening.
PLEASE FULFILL YOUR PLEDGE! – We are now in the month of September and thus have passed the middle of this calendar year. Thus, we are also past the midway point in our annual “Together in Mission Campaign” to assist the poorer parishes and schools in our Archdiocese. This year, we are still short of our parish goal. Please check your records to see if you owe any balance to the campaign and send in your donation. God willing, we can avoid second collections for this purpose! On behalf of the many people who live in those poor parishes, thank you!
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