This weekend, our parish celebrates the feast of our patron, St. Andrew the Apostle. St. Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of St. Peter. He was also a disciple of St. John the Baptist and was the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, declaring to his brother, “We have found the Messiah”.
St. Andrew was a faithful courage disciple and courageous witness of Jesus. When Our Lord called him and Peter to be “fishers of men,” they immediately left their nets and followed Him. After Pentecost, Andrew traveled widely, preaching the Gospel throughout Greece, Turkey, and the Black Sea region. He was ultimately martyred in Patras, Greece, and crucified on an X-shaped cross (now known as St. Andrew’s Cross). He requested this form because he felt unworthy to die on the same kind of cross as Christ. His relics are preserved in the Church of St. Andrew in Patras, Greece. St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, singers, and those seeking motherhood.
Let us honor St. Andrew by sharing the Good News with, just as he did. May his example inspire us to be bold witnesses of Christ in our families, communities, and the world. May his intercession strengthen us as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord.
“Come after me,” says the Lord, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Fr. Pierre