Happy October everyone, it has been a very beautiful October. In our life within Holy Mother Church, we celebrate during the month of October the gift of the Holy Rosary. Mother Church encourages us to draw close to Our Blessed Mother through her rosary. It is a uniquely blessed prayer which draws us through the many moments of Our Lord’s life and beautifully teaches our mind and heart through gentle repetition that God is our Father and Mary, our loving Mother who intercedes for us now and at the hour when we need her most, the final hour. Of recent jubilation in the Church was the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Blessed Fulton Sheen, from Peoria, IL., had a tremendous and tender devotion to the Virgin Mary. Enjoy below some excerpts from his writing on Our Blessed Mother:

“The perfection of all motherhood is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, because she is the only mother in all the world who was 'made to order by her Divine Son. No creature can create his own mother. He can paint a picture of his own mother, for, in the field of art, the artist pre-exists his product; he is a symbol of God the Creator pre-existing His creatures. All art is an imitation of the Divine Artist Who, from all eternity, possessed in His Divine mind the archetypal ideas according to which He made the world in time. The most famous painting of a mother is probably that by Whistler. Once, when complimented on its beauty, he answered: 'You know how it is; one tries to make one's mother as nice as possible.

Our Divine Lord pre-existed His own Mother existentially, as Whistler pre-existed his mother artistically. Every bird, every flower, every tree has been made according to an idea existing in the mind of God from all eternity. When He came into the world at Bethlehem, He was unlike anyone ever born; creation was no stranger to Him. He was like a bird that might have made the nest in which he was hatched. He came into the universe as a master into His own house or as an artist into his own studio. The universe was His and the fullness thereof.

But God not only 'thought about Mary. He actually created her soul and infused it into a body, co-created by her parents. It was through her portals as the Gate of Heaven that He would come into the world. If God labored six days in preparing a paradise for man, He would spend a longer time preparing a paradise for His Divine Son. As no weeds grew in Eden, so no sin would arise in Mary, the paradise of the Incarnation. Most unbecoming it would be for the sinless Lord to come into the world through a woman afflicted with sin. A barn door cannot fittingly serve as an entrance to a castle.”

This weekend's second reading is from 1 Thessalonians. Written around 50–51 AD by the Apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians is widely considered the earliest surviving letter in the New Testament. Thessalonica—a bustling, multicultural port city and the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia—was a melting pot of cultures, commerce, and religions. 

When Paul, Silas, and Timothy arrived, they set out to preach the Gospel. They preached in synagogues, markets, and plazas, creating a small Christian community primarily composed of Gentile converts. Their message, however, that Jesus - not Caesar - was the ultimate authority led to fierce opposition. They were accused of treason and fomenting unrest, forcing Paul to flee the city after only a short time. Fearing that the community of believers that he created would be subject to persecution, he sent Timothy back to check on them, and Timothy discovered that despite the pressure, the church in Thessalonica was standing firm in their faith, leading to Paul sending this warm, encouraging letter.

While two thousand years separate us from these events, the core themes might resonate deeply with us as we try to navigate faith and hope in a fractured world.

First, like the early Christians of ancient Thessalonica, we may often feel that our lives are culturally out-of-step with the common wisdom. It is difficult to balance culture, politics, civic responsibility, and faith. As Catholics, though, we must find the balance. After all, the Church has always celebrated cultures and traditions across all of God's people while remaining firm in following the footsteps of Jesus.

Secondly, we are called to stand firm in our hope. It is easy to get bogged down in the anxiety of the present day, to let the mistrust and fear we hear echoed throughout society begin to sow doubt in our belief in the common good. But Paul's emphasis in Christ's return is intended to provide comfort, offering a durable hope that transcends the whims of the present day.

The lessons of the letter from Paul to the Thessalonians are intended to help us to live a life grounded in authentic love and true compassion, and those lessons remain a timeless blueprint for our witness to our faith in our daily lives.

God bless!
-Deacon Mark

October 24 - Trunk or Treat

Save the date for Trunk or Treat! Come dressed in your favorite costume for trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 24th, right after the 4:00 pm Mass in the Church Parking Lot. The event will be held from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. We are also looking for at least 15 trunks to ensure a successful event for the young trick-or-treaters!  Sign up your trunk: HERE

Programming for Infants and Toddlers

Tell your friends and neighbors about our programming for our youngest bulldogs! Baby Bulldogs is a weekly class designed for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers. Each session includes free play, followed by lively music and movement, perfect for building friendships and burning energy! Registration is open; classes began October 1st at 9:00 am.

Storytime is a free weekly Storytime for families with infants and toddlers every Friday from 8:30 am to 9:15 am, beginning October 2nd. Each session includes storytelling, learning centers, and a take-home craft. The program provides a fun, creative space for kids to build reading skills while giving parents and caregivers a chance to connect.

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. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour  New student applications for the upcoming school year can be found here: New Student Application