St. Andrew Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,

As we begin the Season of Lent, may I suggest the image of the “desert”.  Let us go out into the desert with Christ.  With Christ Jesus, we discipline our Forty Days to face down the temptations of our life through fasting, prayer, and charity.  It is in this way that we repent and grow closer in Communion with God our Creator.

The desert is an image of the desolation of our Godless culture. And we must be disciplined by prayer, fasting, and charity in order to endure. In the history of the Church, the desert was sought out by many Saints as an escape from the lures of society. It was a place to go and encounter God in silence and simplicity.  To begin His Mission, Jesus goes into this isolation,He faces the temptations of the devil in His humanity, and overcomes them.

What a beautiful image for us as we begin our Lent. We are called to escape into the spiritual desert and take the time to reflect on our lives and put in place practices which allow us to grow closer in Communion with God.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Father Richard York, Pastor