St. Andrew holds a strong place in the life of the Church. He was the first of the Apostles to meet the Lord. The Gospel of John records that Andrew heard the preaching of John the Baptist, followed the Lord, and then brought his brother Simon to Him. This act shaped the early mission of the Church. Andrew responded to the call of Christ with conviction. His witness shows what faithful discipleship looks like.

The Feast of Christ the King closes the liturgical year and directs your attention to the authority of Christ over your life and over all creation. The Church sets this day apart to remind you where your allegiance belongs and where your hope finds its anchor. The world changes with speed. Leaders rise and fall. Systems shift. Christ remains. His kingdom stands with a strength no earthly power can match. His rule guides your choices, shapes your conscience, and forms your heart for holiness.

Pope St. Leo I, known as Leo the Great, served as Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461. He guided the Church through political turmoil, moral confusion, and doctrinal error with courage and clarity. His leadership, teaching, and devotion to truth earned him the rare title “Doctor of the Church.”

Born in Tuscany around 400 A.D., Leo served as a deacon under Pope Celestine I before being elected pope.

Each year on November 9, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. This feast honors not only a building but what it represents: the unity of all Catholics under one faith.

The Lateran Basilica is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official church of the Pope. The Latin inscription above its entrance declares it the “Mother and Head of all the Churches of the City and the World.”