Fourth Sunday of Lent
Fourth Sunday of Lent
"This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found." Luke 15:24
The parish office's hours are 8:00am to 7:00pm Monday thru Friday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturdays, and from 9:00am to noon on Sundays.
Stations of the Cross are held every Friday during Lent in the church at 6:30 PM.
"It is better to go an inch wide and a mile deep"
There are a lot successful businessmen and women here at Saint Andrew and one of the strategies I've learned from working with them is the benefit of knowing a single aspect of a subject really well. Rather than trying to do everything, know everything, or solve everything, there is wisdom in excelling at one thing better than anyone else. For example, it could be perfecting a specific medical procedure or becoming an expert in a niche application of law—one that’s often overlooked in fields like real estate, corporate management, or taxation. I’ve seen many parishioners succeed by doing one thing exceptionally well, rather than trying to juggle a multitude of tasks that anyone could do with the framework of generic mediocrity.
The proverb that explains this is that it is better to go an inch wide and a mile deep than a mile wide and an inch deep. Mathematicians will argue that the volume of the equation is the same, but most of us know the premise. For a human being, the exhaustion of covering a great distance is harder than being responsible for a small area and covering that area well. (May all Chicago sports teams pick up on this in the coming year!)
This perspective isn't just true in business or academia or government management, it is also true in our spiritual life. Our spiritual lives can be dominated by the desire to play "cover all" as if it were participating in a bingo game. The idea of doing "more" or doing "better" gets translated as more prayers, more devotions, more religious items, more, more, more... It is tempting in the season of Lent to get misguided by the premise that you need to add more width in your spiritual life. ie. Last year I gave up coffee for Lent, this year I'm going to give up coffee and meat, and sugar.... and I'll probably just end up miserable and unsuccessful.
Instead of trying to add more width, how about trying to add more depth? Instead of trying to cover everything, why not just try to do one thing well?
I hope that there are a few heads nodding with a sense of affirmation and openness to the suggestion. But then comes the question "How?" In a world that programs us to only skim the surface, especially spiritually, how do we go deep?
The insight I bear from my own experience is to invite you to slow down and allow enough to be enough. If your commitment is to pray the rosary, then really pray it. Take time. Don't rush. If your commitment is to not drink coffee this Lent, then every time you habitually reach for that cup of coffee, slow down and appreciate the decision that you have made and are making. I think the activity that is least productive in our spiritual life is to repress or bypass what you are doing just to get it over with. That's just skimming the surface and going for "more" by going for supposed "width." Instead, slow down, realize what you are doing, and be mindful of why you made that decision and what you hope it will bring to your spiritual life. Go deeper. That will allow you to own the space of your own spiritual growth and ultimately arrive at the "more" that you seek.
I'd be remiss if I didn't add onto this reflection that I believe a profound way to go deeper would be to attend and participate in both or one of the two nights of our parish mission this Sunday and Monday. Our speaker who is recognized internationally will be guiding us on a journey of going deeper and developing the emotional, mental, and spiritual skills that lead us to deeper resiliency. I may be contradicting myself by inviting you to do another thing this Lent, especially if you weren't planning on it, but I urge you to come because I know it will not be something that just skims the surface. It will help provide insight in how you can find the depth we often pass over in our everyday, busy lives.
Please join us!
Dare to be Resilient - The parish mission will be held on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 6:00pm to 7:30om and on Monday, March 31, 2025 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm held in the parish chapel - 3557 N. Hermitage.
Join us for two nights of spiritual renewal as we welcome Angela Scaperlanda Bujan to speak at the annual Parish Mission held with Saint Benedict Parish. She will speak to us about spiritual end emotional resilience and provide tools for us to weather the difficult moments with face in life through the gift of faith. The talks will be held on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 6:00pm to 7:30om and on Monday, March 31, 2025 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm held in the parish chapel - 3557 N. Hermitage.
We are excited that we will be hosting Blest Art, a retailer of sacred items from the Holy Land on April 5 & 6, 2025 in the back of our church. They will be selling hand-carved nativity sets, statues, crosses, rosaries, and many other pieces of beautiful olive wood art. These are ideal gifts for loved ones at Easter, First Communion, and upcoming graduations. They gladly accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Thank you for supporting them!
The second of two Lenten Fish Frys will be Friday, April 11, 2025 from 5 to 8pm. All orders are served with fries and coleslaw. The event is BYOB, but soda and cake are available for purchase. Make plans to bring your friends and family to this wonderful parish tradition. Enjoy live music, a balloon artist, and the comradery of your friends and neighbors! Pre purchase your meal now at https://standrew.org/gather/upcoming-events/lenten-fish-fry/
Please make plans to join us for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery and our holiest time of the year.
PALM SUNDAY
Saturday, April 12, 2025
4:00 pm Blessing of Palms & Mass
Sunday, April 13, 2025
9:00 am - Procession of Palms & Mass
11:00 am & 5:00 pm Palm Sunday Masses
TRIDUUM & EASTER
Thursday, April 17, 2025
7:00 pm - Mass of the Last Supper
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Adoration in the chapel
Friday, April 18, 2025
3:00 pm - The Lord’s Passion
Saturday, April 19, 2025
11:00 am - Blessing of Easter Baskets - main church
8:30 pm - The Easter Vigil
Sunday, April 20, 2025
9:00 am and 11:00 am Easter Sunday Masses
No 5:00 pm Mass on Easter Sunday
Weekend Mass Schedule:
Vigil - 4:00pm Mass
Sunday - 9:00am,11:00am and 5:00pm Mass
Confessions:
Confessions are heard in the main church at 3:00pm on Saturdays or by appointment.
Call 773-525-3016 or write info@standrew.org
Readings for the Week:
Mass readings are available on the U. S. Bishop's website
at https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar
Mass Intentions:
Sunday, March 30, 2025
+Daniel Brennan, +Robert Erlenbaugh, +Ezekiel Gonzalez, +Lorraine Hanson, +Carmen Jorge and +Marte Vinzons
Sunday, April 6, 2025
+Thomas Diganci, +Michelle Frank, +Tom Hellman and +Heidi Rosado
Live Stream:
Watch our live stream of Sunday Mass at www.standrew.org/sundaymass
The new year for Religious Education for the 2024-25 year is under way for grades K through 8. Please visit www.standrew.org/re to learn more about the program for the upcoming year and to register. Our next session is this weekend, Sunday, April 6 at 10:00am for just our students. We look forward to seeing you then!
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! Upcoming tours include April 8 at 9am and April 16 at 6pm. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application
Bulldog Buddies
Our Bulldog Buddies spring session begins on April 1. Bulldog Buddies is a class for students who turn two years old by September 1, 2024. Our teachers and curriculum offer children the opportunity to experience our school setting in a safe, nurturing environment along with their caregivers. Bulldog Buddies Registration
December, 2024 Offering:
Envelope Collection - $13,189
Automated Giving - $28,091
Loose Cash - $5,257
Total Offertory - $46,537
Monthly Budgeted Expenses: $38,500
Many families in our parish have received the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Cardinal Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries, parishes and schools who receive funding from the Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. Please return your response as soon as possible. You may also make a pledge or donation directly through the Archdiocesan website at https://giving.archchicago.org/annual-catholic-appeal/about
Enrich - Expand - Grow Capital Campaign
Income - $1,915,569
Interest on Income - $40,296
Total Income - $1,955,865
Consulting Operating Expense - $215,000
Archdiocesan Contribution - $246,000
Church Lighting (Actual) - $250,517
Church Lighting (Consultant) - $10,480
Church Windows (Actual) - $157,120
School Addition (Architect Fees) - $34,530
Annex (Demolition) - $55,795
Annex (Utilities Disconnect) - $18,210
Annex (Environmental Remediation) - $38,780
Church Boiler - $313,845
School Boilers - $609,248
Total Expense - $1,949,525
BALANCE - $6,340
Revised 01/06/2025
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
We are actively looking for individuals to be a part of the ministry of lectoring and distribution of Holy Communion. Please contact mark@standrew.org if you are interested in these important ministries.
Next up is Wearin' the Green! Saint Andrew's largest fundraiser and parish celebration is on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 6pm - 11:30pm. If you'd like to help volunteer for this event, please reach out to Julie Richards at julie@standrew.org.
Saint Andrew Lenten Fish Fry! Saint Andrew will host two Lenten Fish Fry's. Friday, March 7, 2025 and Friday, April 11, 2025 from 5pm-8pm. If you are able to volunteer for these great events, please reach out to Julie Richards at julie@standrew.org.
Parish Staff:
Pastor: Rev. Sergio Romo
Associate Pastor: Rev. Zhao Melchior Huaimin
Pastoral Associate: David Heimann
Deacon: Mark Purdome
Business Manager: Esperanza Benavides
Fundraising/Development: Julie Richards
Office Manager: Christina O’Malley
Receptionists: Terry Ryan, Christine Chua, Veronica Salazar
Engineer: Alfred Benkiser
Contact parish staff by phone at 773-525-3016,
electronically at http://standrew.org/get-in-touch/,
or by email at info@standrew.org
School Administration:
Principal: Sarah Casavechia
Assistant Principal: Shanna Eley
Reception: Trini Mahadeo
Admissions: Anne Japsen
Contact School Administration by phone at 773-248-2500