How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 20

April 7 My sisters and brothers in Christ, Today, as we make ready for the Triduum, I offer you this podcast from Jim Finley, Sink into the Taproot of Your Heart https://cac.org/podcasts/sink-into-the-taproot-of-your-heart/ Always, may God’s peace be yours, Fr. Leo Thank you to all those who have mailed your offertory to the church or used the diocese’s online link to make a donation. Your offertory is greatly appreciated! Mailing your offertory is easy, simply seal your offertory envelope and place a stamp on it. It is already addressed to the church. To donate online, please go to this link https://www.orlandodiocese.org/landing/ and click on the yellow button labeled “Donations to your Parish”. Then follow the prompts to make your donation. Thank you!

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 19

April 6 My sisters and brothers in Christ, It has begun!  The most sacred time in the church’s year, Holy Week.  This is the week in which is rooted all we do and say and believe as Catholic Christians.  It is the most challenging week of the year as we are reminded that in this life there is great suffering and great love, as there was for Jesus. Yet our suffering cannot define us.  It doesn’t have the power to.  Although at times we may suffer deeply, suffering does not have the depth of love.  (Believe me!  Love always wins!) Suffering cannot define us.  Only love has the power to define us. We are invited to hold our suffering lightly, with hands wide open, as we still love, as Jesus did.  If we do so, then we can accept what is real, “friend do what you have come for…” Mt.26:50; and still be open.  We can work for peace and reconciliation, “put your sword back in its place…” Mt.26:52, even when being attacked.  We can be non-argumentative, “You say so…” Mt.27:11-14, even when we are right, and we can still cry out in lament, knowing and trusting the promise of God to deliver us, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mt. 27:45-47. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me”, is only the first line of Psalm 21.  Read Psalms 21 and 22 to get a clearer picture of what Jesus was saying/praying on the cross.  Our human minds are not made to hold opposites together.  Check out Baby Suggs sermon on YouTube from the movie/book “Beloved” by Toni Morrison. (Put into your browser “Baby Suggs sermon”.)  Only the human heart is big enough to hold the tensions, as she invites laughter, tears, and dancing to a suffering and oppressed people. Peace to you and yours as we continue to hold each other and our world close to our hearts. Fr. Leo Thank you to all those who have mailed your offertory to the church or used the diocese’s online link to make a donation. Your offertory is greatly appreciated! Mailing your offertory is easy, simply seal your offertory envelope and place a stamp on it. It is already addressed to the church. To donate online, please go to this link https://www.orlandodiocese.org/landing/ and click on the yellow button labeled “Donations to your Parish”. Then follow the prompts to make your donation. Thank you!

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 18

April 5 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Palm Sunday has arrived as we begin the most important time of the year for our church. Please make time to participate in the Palm Sunday Mass by praying with us, in Spanish, English, or French at 10 a.m. today. You will find the links to these Masses on the church website: www.standrew-orlando.org, and our Facebook page. In the coming week we will post the times and links for the Bishop’s Holy Week liturgies. Let us continue to keep each other in prayer. Fr. Leo Thank you to all those who have mailed your offertory to the church or used the diocese’s online link to make a donation. Your offertory is greatly appreciated! Mailing your offertory is easy, simply seal your offertory envelope and place a stamp on it. It is already addressed to the church. To donate online, please go to this link https://www.orlandodiocese.org/landing/ and click on the yellow button labeled “Donations to your Parish”. Then follow the prompts to make your donation. Thank you!

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 17

April 4 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Tonight is the vigil of the most holy week in the church year and no one could have imagined that we would not be in church gathered together to celebrate this most Holy Week. There is sadness and grief at our sense of loss but Scripture reminds us that we do not grieve like the unbeliever, because the same God who called Jesus to new life calls us to newness of life. This newness of life takes effect now in how we gather in our homes to engage as deeply as we can in the mystery of God’s love for us poured out in the Eucharist. Without a doubt, for the majority of us, it will be a brand-new experience and something that will take some getting used to. But to engage in this Holy Week we have very little choice. Palm Sunday Mass at St. Andrew will be available on our church website: www.standrew-orlando.org on Sunday, April 5 at 10 a.m. I encourage you to take advantage of my suggestions on how we might be present during Mass, as we participate in our own homes. It might help to put on your Sunday clothing. Although I am not sure many of you will do that. LOL!  See the list of suggestions on how to prepare to participate in any online version of Mass below. I pray for you. Please keep me in your prayers. Although my options are limited because of social distancing, if I can be of help to you in any way during this time do not hesitate to email me at standrewchurch@standrew-orlando.org Together. we will get through this! Always, may God’s peace, a peace the world cannot give, be yours. Fr Leo   Guidelines for Preparing for Mass from Home First, prepare yourself for the Mass by being purposeful and being aware of your mass intention. Remember you have the keychain and the Gospel Reflection book. Use them. Second, do not just turn technology on and begin to watch Mass as you might a sporting event or the news. As much as possible, you do not want to be a spectator. Be mindful about the sacred mystery you are about to enter into. Third, if you can, and if it is safe to do so, light a candle and place it in your sight as a reminder of the presence of Christ. Make sure it is safe so you don’t have to think about it while it is burning. Fourth, if the technology you are using to view the Mass can be in your sacred space, that might help you. I mentioned in one of my previous emails about making sacred space, a prayer corner in your home. If you have not created sacred space, this is the time to do so. Fifth, picture yourself at church, in the pew where you normally sit. The people who normally sit behind you are behind you. The people who normally sit […]

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 16

April 3 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Thank you to all who participated in the Scavenger Hunt! I hope it was a fun and educational experience for you. The final answers are attached. Before we pray together the Palm Sunday Mass on April 5, I’d like to make a few comments to help us all better prepare for this new remote experience. Hopefully these suggestions will help us to situate ourselves in this unfamiliar space of participating in Mass on TV or other devices. I know for most of us it’s not the norm to watch Mass on a television, phone or computer screen. I realize that it’s a very different experience and I’ve been told it is difficult to engage and to stay focused, because you are not at church but at home. You are not in the same space. Even if you sit in the back of the church, you are still in church, so I understand the challenge this may be. Let me make a few suggestions that might help us worship together even while we are apart. First, prepare yourself for the Mass by being purposeful and being aware of your mass intention. Remember you have the keychain and the Gospel Reflection book. Use them. Second, do not just turn technology on and begin to watch Mass as you might a sporting event or the news. As much as possible, you do not want to be a spectator. Be mindful about the sacred mystery you are about to enter into. Third, if you can, and if it is safe to do so, light a candle and place it in your sight as a reminder of the presence of Christ. Make sure it is safe so you don’t have to think about it while it is burning. Fourth, if the technology you are using to view the Mass can be in your sacred space, that might help you. I mentioned in one of my previous emails about making a sacred space, a prayer corner in your home. If you have not created a sacred space, this is the time to do so. Fifth, picture yourself at church, in the pew where you normally sit. The people who normally sit behind you are behind you. The people who normally sit in front of you are in front of you. The people who normally sit next to you are next to you. See yourself in church as you normally are with the regular folks sitting near you. Now to keep yourself in church it might be helpful to close your eyes. I know that sounds very odd to close your eyes as you sit in front of a screen, but these are odd times. It might be helpful…maybe you want to alternate between having your eyes open or closed. Whatever is going to work for you will be fine. You know the responses to the Mass, so respond audibly. You also know the appropriate times to sit, stand and […]

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 15

April 2 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This is the last day for the scavenger hunt. Let us see who wins the grand prize! If you have been listening to the news you have heard the report about the number of people who may die in this pandemic. It is shocking and very sad. Butt only God knows the future, so we continue to trust and lay our burdens on God, especially as we move towards Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Pray for each other and for all those affected by this terrible pandemic. Stay safe. Do not travel. I pray the slowness of this pace provides the opportunity for each of us to cultivate a deeper relationship with God. Please tune in for mass at St. Andrew on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Check for the link on the church website www.standrew-orlando.org and in this Saturday’s email. May the peace that this world cannot give be yours. Fr. Leo   Scavenger Hunt continued…. PART 4 What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) say in paragraph 608 about Jesus? Go to the Saint John’s Bible online http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/see/explore.htm. Find the following illuminations (picture) and take screenshots: The Creation story in Genesis. Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry bones The birth of Jesus in Luke The Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark The Lamb of God enthroned in John’s Revelation   What do the following symbols represent for Christians? The Pelican The Fish Triangle   Find examples of the following symbols and record it with a screenshot and write down its meaning. Jerusalem Cross Crosier Chi-Rho   What is the significance of the number 8 in baptism? Which apostle replaced Judas Iscariot? Find an online liturgical calendar. Whose feast day is on this day, April 3 (or nearest to this day)? Take a screenshot of the prayer form that is on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral. *****CLUE #4***** Roman Catholics use the Gregorian Calendar (est. by Pope Gregory XIII in 1572); Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar (est. by Julius Caesar in 46 BCE)  Using the 4 clues you received, can you solve the Final Question?  FINAL QUESTION: The day that Our Lord arose from the grave, / Is an annual feast, a movable fete. / Alas, when to dye the hen’s eggs, I do not know, / For the Son’s rise is not set in stone. / Tell me dear friend, what can it be / That illuminates learned minds to solve this mystery?  How is the date for Easter determined each year? PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Email your answers to Kathy at kmorgan@standrew-orlando.org and let her know if you have any questions.

How We Endured the Pandemic of 2020 Day 14

April 1 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I hope you were successful in Part One and Two of the scavenger hunt.  I hope it has given you a different focus than the virus.  Part Three is today!  It is good to change your focus from time to time so we are not overwhelmed with the news and our own fear.  That is why I encourage you to have some fun with the scavenger hunt. The podcast is also helpful in maneuvering through this awkward space we are in now.  We are not alone.  The whole world is affected by Covid-19.  Remember in your prayers not only this community of St. Andrew, but our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are enduring and suffering from this pandemic. Here is the podcast link again, in case you missed it yesterday: https://cac.org/podcasts/bonus-finding-presence-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/. The staff and I are preparing for Palm Sunday Mass. More information will be forthcoming regarding when to watch it. I wish your peace, Fr. Leo Also, please note our temporary church office hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., M-Th (not 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. as mistakenly posted yesterday). Scavenger Hunt continued…. Part 3 Visit the Catholic Relief Services virtual chapel https://prayers.crs.org/ Light a candle and add a genuine prayer intention. Take a screenshot of the prayer. Saints Who is the patron saint of cooking? What is the story that connects this saint to cooking? Whose feast day is on May 30? What is St. Fiacre known for? Find Pope Francis on Twitter (@pontifex) and retweet your favorite message (create a Twitter account if needed). Take a screenshot of the retweet. Find a YouTube video of Pope John XXIII. Play it for your youth ministry leader. Who was Dorothy Day? What organization did she start? How many books are in the Catholic bible? Visit www.SpiritandSong.com and find a song that is appropriate for use in the Easter season. Play the song for your youth leader. ******* CLUE #3: Paschal (see dictionary.com) ******* PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Email your answers to Kathy at kmorgan@standrew-orlando.org and also let her know if you have any questions.