Your Sunday Connection for April 19, 2020

Dear Friends,

During the “stay in place” order in the state of Illinois, we are providing you with this weekly web page to foster your prayer life with you and your household.

There are numerous resources which offer video/streaming opportunities to see Mass such as https://radiotv.archchicago.org/television/broadcast-masses. We also encourage you to take time, perhaps with your family, perhaps around the table, and share this “Your Sunday Connection” webpage. As you scroll through, read and pray along. A homily message from Deacon Mark Purdome is included.

If you have petitions that you would like to include in our weekly prayers, please click on the link found in the Prayers of the Faithful below and let us know. God bless!

Opening Prayer

God of everlasting mercy, who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast kindle the faith of the people you have made your own, increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and highly understand in what font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, by whose Blood they have been redeemed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Readings

Reading 1 ACTS 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Reading 2 1 PT 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel JN 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The Homily

Please click on the video link below to watch the homily for this week.

The Prayers of the Faithful

For the Church, that we may spread God’s mercy to those most in need of it: the impoverished, the imprisoned, the chronically ill, the lonely, and the forgotten. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For leaders of nations, that they may work toward achieving true justice and lasting peace within their countries and with their neighbors.We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For victims of persecution and their loved ones, especially those who were killed in the Holocaust, that they may be comforted in the arms of a merciful God. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For all of us, that we may be inspired by the example of the early Christians and share what we have with others with exultation and sincerity of heart. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For those who are affected by COVID19 that God will help them through this terrible time and for the entire world as we face this pandemic together. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For the departed, who remain with us in our prayers and our memories, and for the promise of a joyful reunion, and especially for Elaine Lavetta, Richard Coster, Clarence Solar, and Antonio Hallera. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

If you have a special intention that you would like us to include in the prayers of the parish, please complete the Special Intentions form found at the link below.

Submit Your Special Intentions

Sunday Offertory

Stewardship of Saint Andrew Parish is the responsibility of us all. Consistently throughout the year, we remind parishioners about stewarding the gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure to support the mission of Saint Andrew Parish.

During this pandemic, there are many urgent needs, among those needs are caring for the financial obligations of Saint Andrew Parish. If you do not regularly contribute electronically ether weekly or monthly, please consider making a Sunday Offering online through Give Central through the link below.

Give to the Sunday Offertory

Spiritual Communion

In many places in the world receiving Holy Communion is not possible. Catholics in these areas are encouraged to make “Spiritual Communion.” St.Teresa of Jesus wrote about this practice:

“When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you”

You can make Spiritual Communion by the bringing this prayer to your heart…

“My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

Closing Prayer

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that our reception of this paschal Sacrament may have a continuing effect in our minds and hearts. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Announcements

The church and all campus building are closed during the “stay in place” order in the State of Illinois. The practice of opening for private prayer and/or public Masses will resume when permissible by government and church authorities.

A copy of the parish bulletin can be read by clicking on the link below.

Click for Sunday Bulletin