ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE.....ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES / CONFESSIONS BEGIN IN THE AMERICAN RIVER SUBURBS..........

St. Andrew the Apostle, whose liturgical feast day we celebrate today, was a disciple of John the Baptist, ever before he heard an answered the Call of Jesus, to, "Come Follow Him".  At the Sea of Galilee when Jesus Caled Andrew and his brother Simon Peter, Christ began the selection process of choosing the Twelve Apostles, who formed his closest circle of followers during His 3 year Public Ministry.  St. Andrew was unwavering in responding and following jesus the Christ, and in preaching the Gospel in several places after the Resurrection and scension of Jesus, to Achaia, in Greece.  Sacred Tradition tells us, St. Andrew the Apostle was finally crucified upside down for being a Christian.  As this First Week of Advent unfolds how does our "Foloowing" pf Jesus mirror the fervency and dedication of apostolic witness St. Andrew's discipleship did ?  If we were prosecuted for being Christians, would their be enough evidence of our Christianity to cause us to be crucified upside down for being a Follower of Jesis the Lord.....Two of the parishes in the American River Suburbs Deanery open the Advent Reconciliation / Christmas Confessions ministry in our parishes tonight, the earliest I remember since being having them start.  I am scheduled to assist at Divine Mercy Parish in Natomas tonight, as the conclusion of what is stacking up to be a fairly full day.............St. Andrew the Apostle - In This Advent Season Pray For Us,   Fr.  Troy