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From the Pastor’s Desk
Today we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, alleluia; on this day the Holy Spirit appeared before the apostles in tongues of fire and gave them his spiritual gifts. He sent them out to preach to the whole world, and to proclaim that all who believe and are baptized shall be saved, alleluia.
[Magnificat Antiphon, Vespers II of Pentecost, The Liturgy of the Hours]
On this Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church, Jesus’ Apostles and first disciples — an outpouring of grace that continues into our own day and age. Blessed Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Exhortation Guadete in Domino (“On Christian Joy,” 9 May 1975) wrote: “Thus the Holy Spirit,…is henceforth communicated to the People of the New Covenant, and to each soul ready to accept His Mysterious action. He makes us His dwelling place….” The Spirit dwells in us for several reasons: first, so that we can be united with the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); second, so that the Spirit can assist us in our prayer to God (cf. Rom 8:26); and thirdly, so that we may be joyful witnesses of the Crucified and Risen Christ in the world.
As we celebrate this great Feast of Pentecost, I invite each of you to consider how the Holy Spirit calls you to be a witness and, in turn, gives you His seven-fold gifts to be sent to proclaim to our world the salvation of God!
Love,
Father Tom