Dear Friends in Christ,
Our celebration of Pentecost today commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles and the birthday of the Church!
After the Ascension of Jesus, they gathered in the Upper Room and prayed earnestly for nine days for the gift of the Paraclete, Advocate, Sanctifier, the Holy Spirit who descended upon them giving them powerful gifts of speaking, praising, preaching, and witnessing. With this gift of the Holy Spirit, the Church is born, so today we can sing: Happy birthday Mother Church! Have some birthday cake today!
What happened on that first Pentecost is wonderful and amazing, but so is the ongoing event of Pentecost in the life of the Church—in your life and mine, in our life together in our Pastorate, and throughout the world. Pentecost continues every day for every one of us.
The unfailing prayer “Come, Holy Spirit” brings the reality of Pentecost into our own hearts, our Pastorate, our domestic churches, and wherever we find ourselves day to day. The Holy Spirit prompts us in many ways—sometimes quite clearly, sometimes more subtly—to welcome anew as well as to share the light and joy of Jesus and His Good News.
Do not be afraid to share and to witness to what you have received and to what you have seen. Trust and be confident! God the Holy Spirit is with us and in us. So, pray often this prayer “Come, Holy Spirit” so that the Spirit, Whom we call in the Creed “the Lord and the Giver of life” may reign.
In this month of June, we celebrate with special devotion the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Leo recently reminded us of Pope Francis’ final encyclical Dilexit Nos where the late pope meditated on the Sacred Heart: “[The Sacred Heart is] that stream which is never exhausted, never passes away… offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity” (no. 219).
We urge our families to register for Vacation Bible School. You don’t want to miss it!!
Support our youth group by making dinner plans this Wednesday at Brian Boru in Severna Park. $10 of every fixed price $30 meal will support our youth group as they spread the Gospel in Appalachia this summer.
Let us continue to pray daily and fervently, “Come Holy Spirit! Renew your wonders in our hearts and in our Pastorate!” And to the Sacred Heart, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like yours!”
God bless!
Father John
