I put before you an excerpt from the beginning of one of the documents from the Second Vatican Council that spoke very eloquently about the sacredness of the Holy Mass in Sacrosanctum Concilium (Latin for ‘Sacred Council’ which were the first two words of the document). It is important for us to hear from Holy Mother Church her teaching, and what she has been given from the very beginning at Pentecost. It is an invitation to see the place of the Holy Mass at the wider perspective of salvation history and currently in the age of the Church. God, since the Fall of Adam, has been at work bring Mankind back into communion with Himself. Communion between God and Man is most appropriately rendered as worship. The characteristics of this relating to God goes deeper when it is through Christ Jesus, the Only Begotten Son, for through Him in Baptism, the Son has made us share by grace in the filial relationship as well. The height of this dual experience is realized in the Holy Mass.

1. The Nature of the Sacred Liturgy and Its Importance in the Church's Life

5. God who "wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4), "who in many and various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets" (Heb. 1:1), when the fullness of time had come sent His Son, the Word made flesh, anointed by the Holy Spirit, to preach the the gospel to the poor, to heal the contrite of heart [ Is. 61:1; Luke 4:18.], to be a "bodily and spiritual medicine" [St. Ignatius of Antioch, To the Ephesians, 7, 2.], the Mediator between God and man [Cf. 1 Tim. 2:5]. For His humanity, united with the person of the Word, was the instrument of our salvation. Therefore in Christ "the perfect achievement of our reconciliation came forth, and the fullness of divine worship was given to us" [11].

The wonderful works of God among the people of the Old Testament were but a prelude to the work of Christ the Lord in redeeming mankind and giving perfect glory to God. He achieved His task principally by the paschal mystery of His blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and the glorious ascension, whereby "dying, he destroyed our death and, rising, he restored our life" [Easter Preface of the Roman Missal.]. For it was from the side of Christ as He slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth "the wondrous sacrament of the whole Church" [13].

6. Just as Christ was sent by the Father, so also He sent the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit. This He did that, by preaching the gospel to every creature [Cf. Mark 16:15.], they might proclaim that the Son of God, by His death and resurrection, had freed us from the power of Satan [Cf. Acts 26:18.] and from death, and brought us into the kingdom of His Father. His purpose also was that they might accomplish the work of salvation which they had proclaimed, by means of sacrifice and sacraments, around which the entire liturgical life revolves. Thus by baptism men are plunged into the paschal mystery of Christ: they die with Him, are buried with Him, and rise with Him [Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:11.]; they receive the spirit of adoption as sons "in which we cry: Abba, Father" ( Rom. 8 :15), and thus become true adorers whom the Father seeks [John 4:23.]. In like manner, as often as they eat the supper of the Lord they proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes [1 Cor. 11:26.]. For that reason, on the very day of Pentecost, when the Church appeared before the world, "those who received the word" of Peter "were baptized." And "they continued steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles and in the communion of the breaking of bread and in prayers . . . praising God and being in favor with all the people" (Acts 2:41-47). From that time onwards the Church has never failed to come together to celebrate the paschal mystery: reading those things "which were in all the scriptures concerning him" (Luke 24:27), celebrating the eucharist in which "the victory and triumph of his death are again made present" [Council of Trent, Session XIII, Decree on the Holy Eucharist, c.5.], and at the same time giving thanks "to God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15) in Christ Jesus, "in praise of his glory" (Eph. 1:12), through the power of the Holy Spirit.

7. To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross" [Council of Trent, Session XXII, Doctrine on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, c. 2.], but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes [St. Augustine, Tractatus in Ioannem, VI, n. 7.]. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20) 

I have been working at St. Andrew’s parish for a year and a half now. As part of my ministry I frequently receive calls from families, hospitals, and nursing homes to attend an ill person who desires to receive the Sacrament of Sick. Sometimes it’s the wish of the ill person themselves who wish to receive the Sacrament, often it can be a family member who requests the presence of the priest.

While attending the ill person I seek to assure them that they are a “Beloved Child of God.” The ritual involves hearing the person’s confession, anointing the person with the Holy Oils, administering Holy Communion and praying together.

 As a priest I find it especially rewarding to see those who receive the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion find comfort and peace from the Sacrament and those near death pass away peacefully. I have also encountered some occasions where by the time the priest arrives, their loved one is no longer conscious and unable to respond or consciously know the comfort of the Sacrament.  It is very regrettable that the patient was unable to properly prepare themselves and receive the last rites and Holy Communion, and receive the comfort of the Sacrament.

In fact, whether believers are suffering from illness or facing the danger of death, the Church comforts and supports them through the Anointing of the Sick, restoring their relationship with God, their loved ones. At the same time, the Church offers special prayers for those in the final stages of life and entrusts them to God.

I would like to emphasize that to receive the Sacrament of the Sick you do not have to be near death or seriously ill to receive the sacrament. If you have an elderly family member, friend or neighbor who you believe would like a priest to visit them and administer the Sacrament of the Sick then contact the parish and don’t leave it until it’s too late. 

The opening prayer from the Ritual of the Anointing of the Sick, expresses the true meaning of this sacrament:

Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord Jesus Christ is present among us who are gathered together in His name. In the Gospel, the sick came to Him, begging Him to heal them, and He also suffered great pain for us. He gave us this command through the Apostle James: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, let us entrust our sick brothers and sisters to the grace and power of Christ, that they may receive comfort and healing.

Join us for Super School Sunday!

Super School Sunday is the official kickoff to Catholic Schools Week, and we are excited to celebrate with our community. We will begin with Mass at 9am, followed by a pancake breakfast in the gym. School tours for prospective families and an open house for current families will both begin at 10:30. Be sure to order your pancake breakfast tickets today, and don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors to join us for Mass, breakfast, and a tour. We love sharing the Saint Andrew community! 

Baby Bulldogs 

Our Baby Bulldogs program is gearing up for a fun and energetic spring session! Beginning January 22 through April 30, families with infants and toddlers are invited to join us every Thursday from 9:00–9:45am for a morning of connection and play. Each class includes free play followed by joyful music and movement that little ones love. (Please note: no class on March 19.) We meet in the Saint Andrew School Gymnasium, located at the northeast corner of Addison and Paulina. Registration is now open.  Come be part of the fun with our littlest Bulldogs!

Discover the Difference with Saint Andrew School! 

Are you seeking a nurturing and enriching educational environment for your child? Look no further than Saint Andrew School, where Catholic Education comes to life through faith, excellence, and community. Our dedicated faculty inspires students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially. At Saint Andrew, we blend rigorous academics with character-building values, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. Experience our vibrant campus, where every student is known, loved, and challenged to grow. Choose Saint Andrew School today and invest in a brighter future for your child. Enroll now and join our family! We have an upcoming tour on October 14th at 9am. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application