Saint Andrew

November 30 is celebrated as St Andrew’s Day, the Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle. Saint Andrew is the patron of Fishermen and Scotland, and also of the Small Christian Community (SCC) I belong to. For this, we had an Eucharistic Celebration in the evening followed by a get-together. During this Eucharistic celebration, I read out the PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL.

Our response: Lord hear our prayer

1. God of love, we pray for our Holy Mother Church, may our Pope, Bishops, priests, religious and laity continue to experience your tender love and compassionate care as disciples of Jesus. For this let us pray to the Lord, Lord….!
2. Lord, inspire and guide the leaders of our nation and all the surrounding nations that they may rule the values of liberty, equality and fraternity. We also pray for those holding important positions in society, various organizations, churches, etc. that they may use their power and position for the welfare of the fellow brethren. For this…….!
3. We pray for all the sick people in our parish and in our community that through the healing power of the Lord, may they receive the healing from all kinds of illnesses. For this…..!
4. We pray for all the priests of our parish, our SCC spiritual director, parish coordinator, area coordinator, animators and their families who are working tirelessly for the parish that You may bless them abundantly. For this……!
5. Let us pray for our personal and local needs. For this……!

But sadly, I couldn’t get a chance to distribute communion because there were too many ministers already present.

It is believed that after Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach though he was a native of Bethsaida, a town in Galilee, upon the banks of the lake of Genesareth. He was the son of Jonah, or John (Matthew 16:17; John 1:42) and was the brother of Simon Peter. But whether elder or younger the Holy Scriptures have not acquainted us. It is usually said that St Andrew was among the top three Apostles of Jesus.