Baptism. The Altar. Altar Cloths.

This Sunday continues the Epiphany celebration of Christ Our Lord! Last Sunday, the world came before the Infant Christ by way of the Magi. It was symbolic of His first appearance to the nations as the true King. Today the Epiphany is found in the Lord’s Baptism.

You and I share in the one Baptism of Christ. This moment is the preparation for the Paschal Mystery by which we find salvation in Christ. The Paschal Mystery is the very life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. By our reception of Baptism, our very life is joined to Christ’s life, Death and Resurrection. Our life, our story, its trajectory is therefore linked to Jesus Christ. It is linked to His very own earthly life with the promise of His divine life. The highs and lows of our life can be illumined if we juxtapose them with the dying and rising of Christ. This ontological reality is symbolized in, as St. Paul writes, clothing ourselves in the white garment at Baptism. We have put on Christ’s mysteries, His words, His Way, we have tethered our flourishing to be contingent upon relationship and union with Jesus Christ.

This is the essence of covenant relationship. Thus, we live in the New and Eternal Covenant, which is renewed at every Mass upon the Altar. The Altar itself symbolizes the dying and rising of Christ, for it represents the tomb upon which His Body was laid after death, and from which His Body rose from death. With the eyes of Faith we see this very movement continue at every Mass, after the words of Consecration (the New and Everlasting Covenant) Christ’s Sacred Body is laid upon the Altar and then rises when we behold the Lamb of God. To adorn this most sacred action, Holy Mother Church lovingly commands that every Altar be covered in white linen. This should call our minds back to the white Baptismal garment. The white linen symbolizes the burial shroud in which Our Lord was buried in, as well as the magnificent white garment He wears in His glorious Resurrection.

Thus, the Altar cloth has a very significant place in our prayer, contemplation and overall worship of God. You might have noticed during Christmas, and now permanently, the placement of Altar cloths on our side Altars to Mary and Joseph, and upon the High Altar from which Our Lord Jesus abides with us in the Tabernacle. It is with great joy that these Altar cloths are gifts to our parish from a dear friend of mine who made them. It is important for the vitality of our parish that when we enter this Holy place, we see right away our love and adoration for Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us.

This is attested in the Book of Revelation, when Christ through St. John addresses the various church communities, adoration of Christ is the purpose of the parish. It is life with Jesus that gives joy to our community, our school, our own lives. Come, let us adore Him. Let us show everyone who enters these hallowed and historical doors of St. Andrew, the One Whom we love and adore. Let it be most visible!

A new year, a new opportunity to live lives filled with hope and promise.

Today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord is an opportunity to renew the hope and promise that should fill our lives as followers of Jesus. Pope Leo, in off-the-cuff remarks to ambassadors of African nations, reinforced the connection between our own baptisms and the hope that we carry into the world.

To quote Pope Leo, our baptism "inspires us all and invites us all to look for hope, but also to be signs of hope. How important it is that each and every baptized person feel himself or herself called by God to be a sign of hope in the world today."

Faith gives us strength, he continued, noting that our faith enables us “to see the light of Jesus Christ in our lives and to understand how important it is to live our faith, not only on Sundays, but each and every day. [Faith allows us to be] filled with the hope that only Jesus Christ can give us.”

He expressed his hopes that “all of us together will continue to walk united as brothers and sisters to praise our God, to recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God, and to place those gifts at the service of others.”

Our baptism wasn't a singular event in our lives, or in the life of Jesus, but the beginning of a road that isn't always easy, and doesn't always seem clear, but is always filled with hope.

Peace!
Deacon Mark

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! 

Saint Andrew Early Learners- Preschool Preparatory Class

Give your little one a gentle, confident start to school with our Saint Andrew Early Learners program! This warm and welcoming class, led by the beloved Mrs. Loomos, meets on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00–9:30am, January 20–March 13. Children (age 2 by September 1) explore fun weekly themes: winter, Groundhog Day, colors, shapes, and more, while parents/caregivers stay to connect and learn alongside them. More information and registration can be found here: SA Early Learners

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