Your Sunday Connection for October 4, 2020

Dear Friends,

There are still spaces available to join us for Mass tomorrow Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 9:00am. A reservation is required to attend. Please click on the button below to make a reservation.

Make your reservation to attend Mass at www.standrew.org/reopening.

The remainder of this webpage is the Your Sunday Connection prayer guide. Please pray with your household and draw comfort from our God who is ever near to us.

Opening Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN

The Readings

Reading 1 IS 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.

My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?

Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!

Reading 2 PHIL 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel MT 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”

They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”

Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

The Homily

Please click on the video link below to watch the homily for this week.

The Prayers of the Faithful

For the Church, that we may be made worthy of producing good fruit to build up the kingdom of God. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For those living in regions of the world marked by ongoing hostilities and resentments, that they may find in their hearts a way to reconciliation, acceptance, and peace. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

That we may foster and encourage a true and lasting respect for all human life, especially for the most vulnerable and those at the peripheries. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For those who harvest in fields and on farms, in orchards and vineyards, that they may be paid a just wage and treated humanely. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For our parish community, that we may work together to bear fruit that helps our neighbor materially and spiritually. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For those impacted by the wildfires, help heal their pain. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

For our president, the First Lady, and all who have been effected by COVID-19. May God’s healing presence be comfort to them and bring them to health and well being. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For the departed, who remain with us in our prayers and our memories, and for the promise of a joyful reunion, and especially for: Sandra Burns, Loretta Ferenzi, Robert Ledvina, and Antonio Seranilla. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

Submit Your Special Intentions

Sunday Offertory

Stewardship of Saint Andrew Parish is the responsibility of us all. Consistently throughout the year, we remind parishioners about stewarding the gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure to support the mission of Saint Andrew Parish.

During this pandemic, there are many urgent needs, among those needs are caring for the financial obligations of Saint Andrew Parish. If you do not regularly contribute electronically ether weekly or monthly, please consider making a Sunday Offering online through Give Central through the link below.

Give to the Sunday Offertory

Spiritual Communion

In many places in the world receiving Holy Communion is not possible. Catholics in these areas are encouraged to make “Spiritual Communion.” St.Teresa of Jesus wrote about this practice:

“When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you”

You can make Spiritual Communion by the bringing this prayer to your heart…

“My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

Closing Prayer

Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by this time of prayer so as to be transformed into the likeness of Christ whom we adore. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Announcements

Blessing of the Pets

Bring your beloved pet to the front steps of Saint Andrew Parish this Sunday, October 4, 2020 (the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) at 10:30am. Bring your canine, feline, or other furry companion — the pet or pets that have assisted you through this time of the pandemic — and share with them a blessing given by Deacon Mark. Please remain socially distanced from one another on the steps and sidewalk of the church for the blessing.

Live Stream

In addition to Your Sunday Connection provided by Saint Andrew Parish, the Sunday 9:00am Mass will be live streamed. Join the broadcast.

Please click on the button below to see a copy of the Sunday Bulletin.

Click for Sunday Bulletin