Paulist President Father Eric Andrews, CSP

Dear Friends,
 
Allelulia! He is Risen!
 
This year, Easter came a few days early for me as I had the great honor to concelebrate morning Mass with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and have a brief audience with him.  It was a morning I will not soon forget.
 
What was most remarkable about the experience was how normal it was.  As we were taking off our coats, the Pope appeared in the lobby of the residence to ask a question of the receptionist.  He looked our way and smiled.  Later, as Mass started, one might have anticipated a grand entrance. But there Pope Francis was again coming from the side, approaching the altar with the utmost simplicity and humility.  During his homily, he preached on the theme of the humble but strong virtue of hope.  He said:

“Hope, that humble virtue, that virtue which flows under the water of life, but that bears us up so we don’t drown in so many difficulties, so we do not lose that desire to find God, to find that wonderful face which we will all see one day … ”

After Mass, I had a chance to greet Pope Francis.  His peaceful presence helped calm my nerves enough so I could speak in broken Spanish and present him a plaque of the “Woman at the Well” made by artist and Paulist Father Frank Sabatté, C.S.P. 
 
The plaque symbolized the mission the Paulists and the Pope share to reach out to the marginalized.  He took a moment to appreciate the beauty and significance of the piece and blessed it.  I begged his indulgence a bit further to share with him that everyone in our Paulist Community, which includes our priests, students, novices, associates, parishioners, families, and friends, send their love and prayers, including my mom.  He laughed and asked that we all keep praying for him.
 
In both words and actions, the Pope showed the very core of his ministry: to be a humble but strong servant who shares the joy of the Gospel, encouraging a weary world to have hope in a God who never fails. During this Easter season, may our joy in the Risen Lord be a sign of great hope to all we encounter!
 
On behalf of all the Paulist Fathers, a blessed and joyous Easter to you and your loved ones!

Yours in the Risen Christ,

Very Rev. Eric Andrews, C.S.P.
President