Your Sunday Connection for September 20, 2020

Dear Friends,

There are still spaces available to join us for Mass tomorrow Sunday, September 20, 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.

This Sunday we hold our annual appeal for Mundelein Seminary. Our homily today is provided by Deacon Falasiko who studies at the seminary. Find our more about the appeal and make a donation at the end of this note.

A special notice that starting next week, Sunday, September 27, 2020, in addition to the Your Sunday Connection at-home prayer guide, Saint Andrew Parish will begin to livestream the 9:00am Mass. More information on how you can tune in will be provided next week.

The remainder of this email 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

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. 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.

The Readings

Reading 1 IS 55:6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Reading 2 PHIL1:20C-24, 27A

Brothers and sisters:

Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. Alleluia

Gospel MT 20:1-16A

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’

So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’

When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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 strive always to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For political leaders at every level, that they may be compassionate to those who are most vulnerable, to those who have been overlooked or forgotten. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For those who work in fields, on farms, and in vineyards, harvesting the food we eat, that they may be rewarded generously for their labor. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

For our Jewish friends and neighbors, whose celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the new year, ends Sunday (today. We pray to the Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.

That our parish community may invite and welcome others at all times with the generosity modeled by the landowner in today’s Gospel. 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 those who are affected by COVID19 that God will assist them in recovery of mind, body, and spirit. 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: Vincent O’Malley, Mary Joan Range and Gerry Wozny. 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

Graciously raise up, O Lord, those you renew with this time of prayer, that we may come to posses your redemption both in mystery and in the manner of our life. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Announcements

FALL FLING – Golf Outing

Sign up to play golf as a foursome, threesome, twosome or single along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront!! The more the merrier! Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Sydney Marovitz Golf Course (3600 North Recreation Drive, Chicago, IL 60613) 1:00pm first tee time followed by scheduled tee times thereafter every 10 minutes. Boxed dinners available to order from GT Prime – delivered to your door. To find out more and the sign up, read more…

Give to the Annual Seminary Appeal

Mundelein Seminary – the University of Saint Mary of the Lake – is responsible for the training of our Archdiocesan priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers. Support for this institution is vital for the future of the church. Please support them by donating now!

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

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