Pastor's letter for this week

April 18, 2025

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew,

I hope you are all doing well and staying strong!  You’re receiving this on Good Friday, but I wrote it a couple of days before.  We’re in the midst of the Paschal Triduum right now and I hope these days are spiritually fruitful for you.  I encourage you to participate in the various Masses and Liturgies are they are so rich in content and allow us to live the saving mysteries of our redemption.  The Holy Week schedule is found on our website: www.standrewpasadena.org

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!”

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 on Sunday, May 4th at 7:30 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.  Everything has been quite beautiful.

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.  We especially thank our lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, Knights of the Altar, Altar Servers, Sacristans and our great MC, Mr. John Anderson, who is also our Director of Religious Education.  Finally, a big thanks to our wonderful parish musicians, under the leadership of our Music Director, Mr. Steven Ottomanyi, who did exceptional service especially during Holy Week.  

Together with Father Rodriguez, Fr. Josephraj, Deacon Gomez 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,

Father Gonzalez

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 2025
LENTEN REGULATIONS
LENTEN PRACTICES
HOW TO RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY
PROCEDURE FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION