The Bell Towers are one of the many things I love about our parish. Their profile and look cannot be mistaken, instantly you know you have arrived at St. Andrew Parish. Though the original bells are no longer in use, thanks to modern technology we can still enjoy the sounds of our Bell Tower echoing through the neighborhood. There are some special moments through the day when the bells sing out praise to God and alert us in our routines. For one, at Noon and at 6pm the Bell Tower rings out the Angelus bells. We hear three times the bells ring out before a grand ringing of the bells. They are known as the Angelus bells because they traditionally are meant to alert us to pray the wonderful prayer of the Angelus. See below for the exact text. It’s a really special gift of our Parish: we can pray together even though we are not gathered within the physical structure of our church, but rather in Faith we are still united throughout our neighborhood and the bells of Holy Mother Church gather us together to pause and pray the Angelus wherever we are.  

Another special time when the bells sing out is at 9pm. The hymn the Bell Tower plays is known as the Salve Regina. See text below. This is a traditional hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is the Latin version of the Hail Holy Queen, which we pray as one of the last prayers on Our Lady’s rosary. The Salve (for short) has traditionally been sung by the Monastics at the end of Night Prayer (or Compline). Just before the monks, or nuns, retire for the night the last hymn they sing out is this beautiful prayer to the Virgin Mary. In many ways it is like a lullaby that they sing. Wonderfully, by the gift of our Bell Towers we can join them in that beautiful hymn, once again uniting us together with Holy Mother Church in giving praise to God by honoring His Mother.

The Angelus:
(First Bell toll) The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

(Second Bell toll) Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

(Third Bell toll) And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

(Grand toll) Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 

Salve Regina:
https://gregorian-chant-hymns.com/hymns-2/salve-regina-simple.html

We're in the season of parables. Jesus was a master at the art of the parable, but parables didn't originate with Jesus - they were common teaching tools for a Rabbi to use prior to Jesus' arrival on the scene. And his use of parables is artistic, because they use everyday, common themes to illustrate deep theological principles and give us glimpses of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes God is a farmer, sometimes a shepherd, and sometimes an artist. And this idea, the idea of God as an artist can, I think, help us as we navigate the world and our spiritual lives.

St. Thomas Aquinas once said “God is an artist, and the universe is His work of art.” Aquinas then drew this conclusion: “All artists love what they give birth to—parents love their children; poets love their poems; craftspeople love their handiwork. How then could God hate a single thing since God is the artist of everything?” 

If I can look at God as an artist, as something creative that is happening in our lives, it helps change my perspective when perhaps I'm feeling a bit lost or confused. The creative process is filled with wild inspirations and deep understanding along with puzzling at a blank page and the feeling the concern that I'm empty inside, that the fountain of imagination has dried up. I think all of us sometimes wish that we were just a memory stick and that God downloaded everything we need to know into our intellect and soul. That's not how God works, because God isn't just a series of factual statements, a set of data to be instilled in His creation. Instead, if we view God as an artist, we can interpret our lives through a much deeper, more creative lens. A lens that actually enriches our lives with beauty and creativity much more than a factual statement ever could.

"God loves you." True. A factual statement that has depth and meaning. But now read the parable of the prodigal son, or the lost sheep, or the lost coin. These parables resonate more deeply than the factual statement, because they involve our imagination, our passion, and our creativity, and so they help us to understand God's love at an even deeper level.

That's the beauty of the parables of Jesus. If we're able to look at God as an artist, then God is doing what all artists do - inviting us deeper, sharing their spark with us to find new understandings in ourselves. 

And exploring those depths helps us join God as the artist in our lives.

School is out for summer! ☀️ Please check out our summer offerings below: 

We are thrilled to offer summer options for our families.

• Saint Andrew Summer Adventure Camp will be offered for the majority of the remaining summer weeks. Adventure Camp Registration for SA students, their friends, and neighbors in the community is open. 

• Join us for a playdate on the school campus Ackermann lot, July 11th and August 8th at 10am. 

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! Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 school year can be found here: New Student Application