My Saint Andrew Pasadena

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Today at Saint Andrew Church in Old Town Pasadena celebrated their First Communion with the children who attended Religious Education classes these past two years. So very proud of my class which was one of the classes.

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This weekend at Saint Andrews Catholic Church they are having the exhibition of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

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Okay first off Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! ☘️☘️☘️ What a beautiful day it is in the Church. We have some beautiful readings today on the second Sunday of Lent. We are on the journey to the mountain top, we are walking along with Peter, James, and John who get a glimpse of who Jesus really is.

Don’t you just love Peter in his reactions with the encounters he has with Jesus. Peter’s reaction to the Transfiguration of Jesus is timeless. We will never really know what he truly felt but image for yourself what it would have been like. I’m sure he had to have felt overwhelmed I know for me I probably would have been overwhelmed with emotions.

There is a lot going on here with the Old Testament making an appearance here. The fulfillment of Jesus is coming. Luke 9:31, “who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” We have all heard what happened in Exodus, but this is Jesus’s exodus where he does and will be resurrected.

An encounter with Jesus, something we all seek during this time of Lent. Fr. Paul says, “To get to the mountain top will not be easy, but a struggle, and who wants to come down this mountain when you have an encounter with Jesus.” I know for me I would not want to come down even though I know I have to. We all do at some point have to come down. If we stay up o. This mountain we really never really be able to accomplish our mission for Jesus. When we have an encounter with Jesus our lives will never be the same. Deacon Fausto says, “Our Home is in heaven and they climbed the mountain to have an encounter with Jesus.” Where we are right now is not our forever home we belong with God. This is our final stop on our journey is with God. Yet, while we are here our mission is be be Jesus to others who can not see Jesus. We are to be the hands, feet, mouth, and ears for Jesus.

During this time of Lent how can we have an encounter with Jesus?

#lent #lent2019 #catholic #catholicfaith #peter #james #john #jesus #deaconfausto #frpaul #standrew #pasadena

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Have to say this is one of my top ten Gospel readings. We are asked to go search for God, when we do we are to knock on the door and it will be opened. In Mt 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” When we come to Jesus He might not answer our prayers right away. We have to be ready to be patient, remember He knows what is best for us. Our culture the way it is we want things on demand we want it now. With prayer though we have to be patient with our Father, He will answer us in time. It is not when we want it but when He wills it. The Father knows when the best time for a prayer is to answered and sometimes those answers will come in the most unexpected ways. So keep your eyes, ears, mouth, and heart open for His answer.

How many times have you prayed to God and the things you tell Him you want them as soon as you say “Amen?” #lent #catholic #pasadena #standrew #seekandknock #seek #knock #jesus #catholicchurch

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Our last Sunday before Lent begins and the readings we have do not disappoint. Especially the message for this coming week. I know for me it has me looking at myself in what blocks my vision. A truly beautiful message for the beginning of Ash Wednesday. In Luke 6:39-45, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brothers eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Powerful especially in the season we are about to enter into this coming Wednesday. This is the time to start looking at ourselves in our relationship with Jesus but with others as well. If we want to have a relationship with Jesus we need to look at ourselves first. Deacon Fausto says, “We all have a beam in our eye, life is not easy with a beam sticking out, we cannot are clearly, and we can fix this beam sticking out.” Touched me to the core and something which was on my mind long before hearing what Deacon Fausto had to say. But hearing this reading again I heard something new which stuck out to me. Lent is just around the corner what a beautiful way to start a new season when we get to take a closer look at ourselves. Like really taking a closer look digging deep into our soul and seeing what blocks us from seeing clearly.

As we approach the beginning of Lent, how can we take a closer look at ourselves to remove the beam sticking out of our eye?

#lent #blind #catholic #jesus #pasadena #standrew #christian #lent2019 #ashwednesday #seasonoflent

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We are given a challenge just in time for Lent. All about friendship today. Having friends is important in our life, especially in our spiritual life. When Jesus is our friend one can never go wrong.

We all have social media these days. We have what they call friends on some, yet nothing can beat the actual physical aspect of having friends. These are the people we go to talk about anything going on in our lives. Fr. says, “We should appreciate and work on our friendships and what do you want me to do for you?” Again friendship are important especially having a friend like Jesus. I know I want to be friends with Jesus! How about you? This challenge we are given I’m game if you are? Who will join me in this friendship with Jesus?

#jesus #friends #jesusisfriend #catholic #catholicfaith #christian #catholicchristian

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Is our faith strong enough? Are we sometimes the blind man in the Gospel, where the mud comes off but not completely? “Do you see anything,” (Mk 8:23). Can you see anything when your eyes are covered in mud? Again how big or how strong is your faith? If the blind man’s faith was strong enough he would have been able to see clearly. But yet, still he can only partly see clearly. It took, “then he laid his hands on his eyes a second time,” (Mk 8:25). Are we like this sometimes where our faith is not strong enough, we have doubts and question things.

When in our life has our faith been weak and not strong?

#catholic #blindman #faith #stongfaith

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Another favorite reading of mine. Being called to go out into the deep is personal for me. For our Catechist Appreciation dinner the Catechist received a gift with this theme. A beautiful message don’t you think? We are called by God, we are visited by Jesus who jumps into our boats.

As disciples of Christ we will have bumpy roads we will have ruff seas ahead of us. But what happens when Jesus comes into our boat. Fr. Paul says, “This is an encounter with God, go out into deep water, take a risk, feel His peace, we see our weakness and sinfulness, and we cannot be on the shore.” Like I said in the beginning this is one of my favorite readings. We are going to be tested, we are going to be shown our weakness. Because we are sinful beings, yet Jesus needs our help. Are we willing to help when He calls?

We are made for holiness so do not be afraid for when He enters into your boat, He will use you for great things.

Has Jesus ever stepped into your boat? How will you answer His call?

#catholic #standrew #jesus #simonpeter #peter #gooutintothedeep #fishersofmen #catholicchurch #catholicchristian #frpaul

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“Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am - you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.” - #SaintAgathaofSicily . Today, the Church celebrates ‘The Feast of Saint Agatha of Sicily, Virgin and Martyr’. #HappyFeastDay . 📷 'Religious Canvas Painting of Jesus with a Lamb (Jezus z Barankiem)’ #SacredArtandImages #Catholic_Priest #CatholicPriestMedia . . . https://www.instagram.com/p/BtfolM4HBWf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fo7tc9p0fb3i

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What a beautiful homily by Fr. Paul at the 8 AM Mass and Deacon Fausto at the 9:30 AM Mass. We have these readings filled with beauty as well as a message that goes with it. Fr. Paul says, “ We we’re born for a purpose, love is; sacred, holy, comes from God, love never fails, and when we love God we want to do good.” How beautiful is that? In the first reading we hear God knew us before we are even born. So we have a purpose in this life, God chose us, we are children of God. God’s love is for is it is sacred, it is holy. How beautiful is that a love so grand it comes from God.

How does it feel to have a love from God like this?

#catholic #loveis #standrew #pasadena #frpaul #deaconfausto #jesus #god #godslove

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“We do not go to Holy Communion because we are good; we go to become good.” - #SaintJohnBosco . Today, January 31, the Church celebrates ‘The Feast of Saint John Bosco, Priest’. #HappyFeastDay . 📷 'The Host and Chalice with Crucifix and Bible’/© JanPietruszka/Stock Photo Secrets #Catholic_Priest #SacredArtandImages #CatholicPriestMedia . . . https://www.instagram.com/p/BtSwmx4nfFh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qc8j5ae645uy

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“The Parable of the Sower” another one of my favorites. Have you ever watched a flower grow from a seed and blossom into something beautiful? As followers of Jesus our mission is to bring His love to others. Of course this is not an easy task, we will plant seed that will blossom and others that will flop. Yet, do not give up we are Jesus to others. “Jesus is the Divine Sower and His Word is the Seed. Therefore, we should realize that we are also called to act is His person by sowing the seed of His Word in our own lives,” (My Catholic Life). We also need to take care of our own spiritual needs as well. If we are going to plant seeds in others we have to remember we serve the Lord and He needs us. But remember the Lord is always sowing always planting seeds. People have a hunger for Jesus.

How is your hunger for Jesus?

#catholic #sower#parable #parableofthesower #jesus

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Yesterday we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord. Do you know your Baptism date? Deacon Fausto says, “Why did Jesus get Baptized, God sent His only Son to be with us, Christ walks with us, and we are not alone.” Beautifully said from Deacon don’t you think? God loves us so much that He sent His only Son who became one of us. With Jesus He shows us the way, He teaches us how it should be done, and He walks with us. No matter what we are going through He is right here with you with us. Jesus did not have to get Baptized, but He did He did it for us. As Fr. Gustavo said at the Mass before, “we are on a mission.” This mission Jesus started and today we continue that mission. In our Baptism we remember who we are.

Challenge I have for you, do you know your Baptism date? If not, find out and celebrate it every year. Remember who you are with your Baptism. We are children of God.

#baptismofthelord #catholic #catholicchurch #standrew #pasadena #jesus #childrenofgod #baptism

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From Wednesday.

Fr. Corral love to hear him speak when he gives his homilies! We are asked to love repeatedly in the first letter of St. John. God loves us all so why can’t we extend that love to others? Fr. Corral says, “love is repeated throughout the first letter of St. John, I challenge you to read this, and to love each other.” Beautifully said of the power of love and the importance it is for us. God has loved us from the beginning without any conditions.

What can you do to have a heart like Jesus?

#catholic #jesus #god #catholicchurch

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A beautiful day we have in our faith today. The Epiphany of the Lord where the magi come and seek for Jesus. They are searching for something and this bright star is leading them to something that will leave them transformed. But as any journey bumpy roads will follow. Fr. Paul says, “Magi are searching for something, Jesus has manifest them, they are determined to find Jesus, we find Herod’s in our life, and to find Him and be transformed.” Another beautiful message from Fr. Paul. What an amazing journey these magi had, they see this bright star in the sky so off they go in search of what is causing this bright star to shine. They go in search of this new King this new Messiah who will one day die for all of us. But while on this journey they meet King Herod who upon hearing this news does not like it. He lets them to continue on their way, but tells them to come back and report what they have seen. Herod was not being very nice because he had something up his sleeve. How many Herod have we met in our life that who have tried to take us away from our way to Jesus? Along this journey we have each made some type of contact with someone of this nature. This does not stop them they are on a mission, they are determined to search and seek for this new King and they do find him and when they do their life is never the same. When they meet Jesus they are warned not to return the way they came but to go a different way. They had met and seen Jesus the boy who would one day die for all of us their lives were changed for the better they found the truth. What happens to you when you finally meet Jesus?

#epiphany #epiphanyofthelord #catholic #catholicchurch #jesus #magi #threewisemen #mary #joseph #standrewchurch #pasadena #rcia #love #star #seek #seach #kingherod #herod #frpaul

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“The Child Jesus with Mary and Joseph are the icon of the family, simple yet illuminating. The light they radiate is the light of mercy light of mercy and salvation for the whole world…” - #PopeFrancis . 📷 ‘Holy Family Figurine’/Karen Hahn/Enesco Foundations #Christmas #ChristmasTide #FeastoftheHolyFamily #Catholic_Priest #SacredArtandImages #CatholicPriestMedia

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What a year it has been. 2018 I will never forget, will be with me until the end. It had begun at the end of 2016 with a new job at my Parish @saintandrewpasadena what a blessing that was for me and miss it dearly. It was a joy to work along side Ana, Denise, Isabel, Brenda , Alison , Lucy, Michelle, Fr. Corral, Joachim , Deacon Fausto, Luis, and our newest member Mrs. Alma, and last but not least Fr. Paul. Amazing people to work with and love all very much. Had a great opportunity while I was there I learned a lot especially about myself and what I want to do as well as some other things that have come along. Not only was I working there but I was also I charge of there social media (I am no longer a part of this ministry). That was even more of a blessing and thank you for liking, commenting, and sharing the post that I would create. St. Andrews will always hold a special place in my heart no matter where I go in life. It has become my Home and will remain even when I move on.

Now I am back at Happy Day love being around those children they always seem to make me happy.

Wow this year has taught me so much. I know that I am capable of doing things and I know what I want. Let’s see what 2019 will bring!! I feel another journey coming along!

#newyear #december2018 #2019 #changes #catholic #catholicchurch #catechism #socialmedia