Your Sunday Connection for August 2, 2020

Dear Friends,

There are still spaces available to join us for Mass tomorrow Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 9:00am. A reservation is required to attend. Please click on the button below to make a reservation.

Make your reservation to attend Mass at www.standrew.org/reopening.

As a reminder, we are limited in the number of people who are permitted to attend Mass. Therefore, the best way to connect with Saint Andrew Parish is by gathering with your household and praying through this “Your Sunday Connection” Flocknote. As you scroll through, read and pray along. A homily message from Fr. Sergio is included.

Opening Prayer

Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored. Through our Lord Jesus Chris, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Readings

Reading 1 IS 55:1-3

Thus says the LORD: All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.

Reading 2 ROM 8:35, 37-39

Brothers and sisters: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel MT 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over— twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

The Homily

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

We invite you to listen to a full recording of Arvo Part – Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten which Fr. Sergio references in his homily.

The Prayers of the Faithful

For the Church, that we may continually rededicate ourselves to feeding the hungry, satisfying the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, caring for the ill, and visiting the imprisoned. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

That leaders across the country and around the world may work together to eradicate hunger, homelessness, and poverty in every city, town, and nation. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For those who work on farms and ranches, on the sea or in factories to provide food for the world. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For those who are unable to join us around this table. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

That we may be a welcoming community, always inviting those with sincere hearts to join us at our feast. 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. 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: Vicky Grogan and Robert Ledvina. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

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

Accompany with constant protection, O Lord, those you renew with these heavenly gifts and, in your never-failing care for them, make them worthy of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Announcements

Join the Reopening Team

The team that is assisting with the reopening of Saint Andrew parish for public worship is in need of additional volunteers to help with clean up, set up, and greeting. We are unable to return to our full schedule of Masses until we have more personnel to support the reopening. To find out more about the team’s needs and to sign up, read more.

Please click on the button below to see a copy of the Sunday Bulletin.

Click for Sunday Bulletin