Pastor's Letter May 28: There is no church without Pentecost

   Dear Parishioners, the mystery of Pentecost is the event of the Church's true “baptism,” birth and beginning. However, this event is ongoing. The Church in fact lives constantly from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, without which she would exhaust her own strength, like a sailboat without the wind. Pentecost has been renewed in the church in special ways throughout its entire history. Especially in the Church’s liturgy, use of Scripture, the Catechism, Councils, the lives of the saints, works of mercy, missionary activity, etc. Thus, there is no Church without Pentecost. And we must also add that there is no Pentecost without the Virgin Mary. 
    This is how it was at the beginning, in the Upper Room, where the disciples "with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren," as the Acts of the Apostles says (1: 14). And this is how it always is, in every place and in every time, Mary is in our midst, the Mother of Jesus and the Church. Where Mary is, there is the Church and the Holy Spirit. Take time this Sunday to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit and to be accepting and responsive to that gift when it is given: Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. (Saint Augustine)