Are you ready for Lent?

This usually involves some arrested preoccupation with the idea of giving something up. But have you ever asked yourself, "Why do we give things up in Lent?"

The tenants of Lent are "PRAY - FAST - GIVE" and they sort of work in a linear path. You can track this by the phase "in order that" in the following statements which helps decode each of their purposes more fully.

We PRAY in order that we might have the spiritual fortitude to fast. 

We FAST in order that we might have the personal resources to give and...

We GIVE in order that we might be the instruments of peace we are called to be, ambassadors to the compassion God wishes to have bestowed on the world.

These distinctions are important because our quarrel is not with the good things that God has given us. Spiritual harm can come to us if we foster a sense of antagonism with the blessings we are given. Indeed all of our gifts, including food and drink, are meant to be integrated wholly into our relationship with God. We hear this in today's Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 10:31, when Saint Paul tells us "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." Among many things, this is an invitation to wellness at the cost of gluttony on one hand and austerity on the other.

To think this through more fully, we can state that God isn't glorified by adding suffering to our experiences, but God is glorified when we right the wrongs of overconsumption that often blind us from our potential to do a greater good. If we realize that we may be spending too much time on social media, too much money on a guilty pleasure of some treasured luxury item, or hundreds of other examples of good things thus twisted wrongly, the cost to us may seem like a painful correction, but in fact, the correction restores our freedom so that we may respond with love to those in need. 

Every Lent, a parish has a cause which it invites parishioners to rally around, a just-response to the challenges that our world faces. It gives purpose to our prayer and fasting in order that we might be strengthened by the collective action we take together. The financial proceeds that are garnered by our Lenten Fast are taken up as a collection on Holy Thursday and offered as financial support for the cause. 

This year, we have chosen Nourishing Hope as the beneficiary of our collective work. Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry is a dynamic social service organization that provides food, counseling, and other social services in our greater neighborhood. 

Consider not only fasting from luxury items that burn up your cash, but fasting from things that take up your time. Maybe you're spending too much time on the internet or have a  preoccupation with watching hours of television filled with anxiety-provoking gibberish. Maybe you fast from negativity. If Lent affords us the discipline to master our time, we will find freedom... and perhaps the freedom to serve at some place like the Nourishing Hope. 

In addition to the financial freedoms that fasting brings and monetary support that we hope you'll make at the Holy Thursday collection, we will be scheduling times for parishioners to volunteer together at Nourishing Hope during and after Lent. The proposed desire is that by the discipline of Lent, we'll find the freedom to support each other in working in a cause such as this. 

May your Lenten journey be transformation. May it help you integrate the goodness of the blessings you bear. Through this Lent, may you find freedom.

Save the Date: Feb. 8 Screening of Angst

The Saint Andrew School Advisory Board, as part of its Parents are Partners initiative, invites you to attend a screening of the widely-celebrated film Angst on Thursday, February 8, at 6:30pm in the Auditorium. Produced by Impactful Films, Angst aims to remove the stigma and open up the conversation about mental health, helping our youth and their families understand that a certain amount of anxiety is healthy - and how to recognize when it's too much. Our evening program, running until 8pm, will include a panel discussion to help parents recognize symptoms and tips as to when to reach out for help. All parents in the Saint Andrew Community are invited.  Angst Reservation Form

Baby Bulldogs Registration- All are Welcome!

It's coming back! Baby Bulldogs will be back in January. This fun program is open to all infants, toddlers and their caregivers in our community.  Registration is now open. Baby Bulldogs Winter 2024 Registration. 

Applications are now open for 24-25! Do you have a friend or neighbor that is considering applying to the best school in Chicago? Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 24-25 can be found here: New Student Application