From Our Pastor

Welcome!

Dear Friends of St. Andrew's,

From the founding of our Parish in 1958, we have grown and developed with Sierra Vista - as partners in building up this great community we call home.

Over the decades, we sought to be active participants in every aspect of community life. We believe that serving the common good and making this city a place where people come first, where the least and most easily-overlooked are served and cared for, and where the quality of life is enhanced for all our fellow citizens, is an essential witness to our faith.

We hope our parish church is a place where all experience the Presence of God and the welcome of God's People. We pray that its beauty will speak a wordless invitation to those who are seeking, those who are wearied by life's burdens and those who are drawn to lift their hearts in prayer.

We thank God for giving us this opportunity to extend His blessings and to share our church and campus facilities with the Sierra Vista community.
The pulse of St. Andrew's is reflected through our ministries and individual parishoner efforts. I hope to highlight these achievements and bring focus to upcoming events in the article following this message.

Yours because His,

Fr. Greg Adolf
Pastor

Bienvenido

Estimados amigos de San Andrés,

Desde la fundación de nuestra Parroquia en 1958, hemos crecido y nos hemos desarrollado junto con Sierra Vista construyendo esta gran comunidad la cual llamamos nuestra casa.

A través de las décadas hemos tratado de participar activamente en todos los aspectos, dentro de nuestra comunidad. Creemos que un testigo esencial de nuestra fe es el servir al bien común y el hacer de esta ciudad un lugar para quienes lo más importante es su gente, donde los más necesitados y los más olvidados son servidos y cuidados, y donde la calidad de vida es mejorada para todos nuestros ciudadanos.

Deseamos que nuestra parroquia sea un lugar donde todos puedan sentir la Presencia de Dios y se sientan bienvenidos como hijos de Él. Rogamos que su belleza les haga una invitación silenciosa a aquellos quienes están en busca de Dios, a aquellos quienes se encuentran abrumados por los problemas de la vida, y a aquellos quienes han sido llamados a levantar sus almas en oración.

Agradecemos a Dios por darnos esta oportunidad de extender sus bendiciones y de compartir nuestra iglesia y nuestras facilidades con la comunidad de Sierra Vista.

El servicio de San Andrés está reflejado en nuestros ministerios y los esfuerzos individuales de nuestros parroquianos. Espero que podamos realzar estos logros y llevar enfoque a futuros eventos los cuales mencionamos en el artículo debajo de este mensaje.

Suyo en Cristo,

Padre Greg Adolf

Pastor

Our Campus

Did You Know...?

DID YOU KNOW. . .8 December 2019

that Our Lady Who Unties Knots – whose image graces the Gathering Room of the church – is one of Pope Francis’ favorite devotions?

When the various ethnic communities, which make up our Parish Family, were choosing representative images for our “new” church, the German-Americans asked that an image of Our Lady Who Unties Knots – “Maria Als Knotenloserin” -- be given a place of honor! The image dates from the 17th Century and is venerated in the Church of St. Peter am Perlach in Augsburg, Germany, where then Fr. Jorge Bergoglio saw it in 1986, while studying for his doctorate!

Young Fr. Jorge was captivated by the painting and the wonderful story behind its creation – invoking the Mother of God for help in a troubled marriage! The devotion became very popular in Argentina, especially among the immigrants from Germany, and the then Cardinal Bergoglio, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, did much to spread this devotion.

When our new church was dedicated in 2006, there were only two other parish churches in the United States where the image of Our Lady Who Unties Knots is venerated – and we had to obtain the image and all the information from Argentina!

We developed our own prayer and holy card for Our Lady Who Unties Knots, and it has proven to be very popular – a popularity which has grown greatly throughout the world with Pope Francis’s enthusiastic endorsement.

We have brand-new folders featuring this devotion, which are available in the Parish Office – you can also obtain ‘our’ holy card/prayer from the Office!!

The prayer is as follows:

“O Mary, my Mother, you know the extent of my sorrow and frustration, because of these ‘knots’ in my life. O Mary, my Mother, whose obedience to the Will of God, has untied the knot of disobedience in so many lives, I place in your loving hands the knotted ribbon of my life and ask that you untie them, according to the Will of God and for the good of my soul! I ask this in the Name of JESUS, the Holy Child of Nazareth, Who brought the little knots of His life for you to untie. AMEN”

Advent is very much a “Marian Season” in the Church Year, as we look to Mary to teach us how to prepare for our encounters with her Son. Especially at this time of the year, when we can so easily get “tied in knots,” we can go to her, who patiently teaches us how to untie these knots!

* * * * * *

This past week, we received $ 12 in donations to the “Building Our Church Fund”! This Fund allows us to meet unexpected (and unbudgeted) expenses for repairs and necessary improvements. Without this your generosity to this Fund, there are many necessary repairs – such as replacing the big screen in the church – would have to be delayed for months! Thank you for your generosity!

SOUL FOOD – 8 December 2019

“In Mary Immaculate we contemplate the reflection of the beauty that saves the world:
the beauty of God that shines in the face of Christ. In Mary, this beauty is totally pure, totally humble, free of all pride and presumption.”
Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI

In response to requests from parishioners, for a “Morning Offering” prayer, (referred to in Fr. Greg’s homily), the following, from St. Alphonsus Liguori, is offered: