Dear Friends in Christ,

As we celebrate the birth of the Church on this Pentecost Sunday, we recall that glorious moment when the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire, and came to rest on each of the disciples.  From the time of our baptism even until this very moment, Christ breathes forth anew His Holy Spirit upon us, bestowing upon us the most precious gift we could ever receive.  

Through the Holy Spirit, we have peace, which the world with all its problems cannot give.  Through the Holy Spirit, we have love, which no one and nothing can ever fulfill.   Through the Holy Spirit, we have lasting happiness as we share in the divine life of God. There is no other place where we can find true happiness than in God alone.  

The Holy Spirit brings us to this sacred space where God unites us with Him, making His dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit abides in Scripture, in the Sacraments, in the Church.  The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to call on Him, He is just a whisper away, and as our Advocate, Paraclete, Helper, Comforter, He will rush to our aid, rescue us from all darkness and turbulence and lead us to the life, light and peace of Christ.

As we gather together at the Lord's Eucharistic Sacrifice at St. Luke's (or online at home) to celebrate this great feast and to thank God for such a great gift, let us invoke the Holy Spirit to bring God's peace, healing and salvation to the world, and, to guide us and strengthen us in our mission to bear the Spirit's fruits for the sake of Christ and His kingdom. 

With our Blessed Mother who is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, with St. Joseph, and with all the angels and saints, let us plead: 

Come, Holy Spirit, O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill!

Spirit-filled graces in Christ,

Rev. Jonathan Paala