Pastor's letter for this week

August 21, 2026,
Feast of St. Pius X

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,

I hope you are all doing well and staying strong!  Today is a very full day here at the parish with the regular Mass and Confession schedule as well as a funeral and two weddings.  The church will be occupied all day!

Our St. Andrew School children returned to school this week but only for half days.  Starting Monday we will be back on a full schedule (see below).  Quite a few of our parish families are still on vacation however as some schools, like St. Monica Academy, don’t return to full session until after Labor Day.  By early September everybody will be back.  For me summer is not really over until I have my last evening at the Hollywood Bowl and that will be this coming Tuesday.  Then summer is over!

This week we did a walk-through with the roofer to review the completed work on our church roof.  I had hoped that this would be the last I have to worry about the church roof but found a few details which still need to be completed, and they promised it would be taken care of this coming week.  It’s amazing how complicated this project has been, but I want to ensure that we have absolutely no leaks anywhere on the parish plant this coming winter with the “El Niño” weather event which is widely expected.  There is still one roof that needs to be replaced, which is the roof on the kitchen in the parish hall.  I’m hoping to have that one replaced soon.

Tomorrow is Fr. Cillero’s last day with us as he flies back to Spain in the evening. Today we will be welcoming Bishop Joachim Walder back with us for a week.  Summer brings lots of visitors to the parish and it is wonderful to see these great priests visiting.

Here is the rest of the news from the parish:

WELCOME OR WELCOME BACK! – This week we welcome all our new school children to St. Andrew School and welcome back all the returning children and teachers.  On Tuesday morning the children from 3rd grade and up will have the opportunity to go to Confession in preparation for the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Thursday morning.  This special Mass officially opens our 2026-27 school year invoking the Holy Spirit to guide all of the parents, children, teachers and staff of our school.  Everyone is invited to join us for this solemn Mass on Thursday, August 27th at 10:30 a.m. in the church. 

There is still time to register your child in our wonderful parish school!  With the terrible state of our public schools, today more than ever it is vitally important to provide our children with a solid Catholic education.  Please visit the school website: saspasadena.com for more information.

FAREWELL FRS. COTTER AND CILLERO- This week we bid farewell to Fathers Cotter and Cillero who have been with us throughout the month of August.  Fr. Cotter returns to Ireland and Fr. Cillero to Spain.  It has been a pleasure to have them with us again at St. Andrew’s.  Thank you Fathers!

WELCOME BISHOP WALDER – This week it is our honor to host once again Bishop Joachim Walder who will be celebrating the 12:30 p.m. Mass this Sunday and be with us throughout the week.  Bishop Walder has been coming to our parish for many years prior to becoming an Auxiliary Bishop in his native India.  Welcome back Bishop Walder!

WELCOME FATHER JEGANATHAN SUSAI MANICKAM – This week we also welcome a new priest visiting our parish.  Fr. Jeganathan is an Indian priest who is currently studying in Rome.  He will be assisting at the parish while I take the last portion of my summer vacation next month.

NATIONAL NEEDS COMBINED COLLECTION – This Sunday this special collection is taken to assist in a variety of needs of the Church in the United States.  Several years ago, the American Bishops combined several collections into one including the Catholic Communications Campaign, the Catholic University of America, Catholic Home Missions and Catholic Relief Services into this one collection.  Thank you for your generosity.

WE NEED SPANISH SPEAKING CATECHISTS FOR PARENT BAPTISM CLASSES – We are looking for a Spanish-speaking volunteer to teach our monthly Baptism preparation class which meetings once a month on Tuesday evenings.  This important apostolate helps parents and Godparents prepare to welcome children into the church through the Sacrament of Baptism.  

If you are passionate about sharing your Catholic faith and accompanying families on their faith journey, we would love to hear from you.  For more information, please contact Juana Turcios, at jturcios.standrew@gmail.com

Or call the Pastoral Center at (626) 792-4183.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS – Please remember that if you have a child who has not received First Communion or Confirmation, registration is taking place right now at the Pastoral Center.  

The age for reception of First Holy Communion is 7 years old.  Since it is a two-year program, this means that when your child enters the first grade at the age of 6 he should be registered for First Holy Communion.  In this way, at the age of 7 the child will receive First Communion.  I have noticed for several years that many of our children receiving First Communion are much older, sometimes even as old as 13 or 14. This is a very sad situation because this means that these children have been deprived of the Blessed Sacrament for many years.  Please ensure that your children start receiving formal religious instruction at the age of 6 so they are not deprived of the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist.

The Confirmation Program is likewise a two year program.  If your son or daughter is entering the 9th grade this Fall then now is the time to register for Confirmation classes.  This Sacrament should likewise not be postponed into later years.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING CATHOLIC? - The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) 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 RCIA class which will begin in September.  Registration is taking place now.  For further information please contact our Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Maria Capodieci at (626) 768-9376 or mcapodieci.standrew@gmail.com 

Don’t be afraid of inviting a non-Catholic friend or relative to enter the Church.  Many people are simply waiting for the invitation!

HAVE YOU RECEIVED FIRST COMMUNION AND/OR CONFIRMATION?- If you were baptized as child but have not yet received First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation, now is the time to register for classes to prepare you for the reception of these Sacraments.  These classes are specifically designed for adults. For further information please contact our Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Maria Capodieci at (626) 768-9376 or mcapodieci.standrew@gmail.com 

ARCHDIOCESAN FEAST DAYS – Next week we celebrate several special feast days proper to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  September 1st is the feast of St. Vibiana, the secondary patroness of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  On Sept 2nd we celebrate the Anniversary of Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (this is celebrated in all archdiocesan churches) and finally on Sept. 4th we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, principal patroness of the Archdiocese.  These feast days are great reminder and opportunity for all of us to pray for all the members of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  Let us pray especially for our Archbishop and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and Religious life.

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