“O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gift of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth.”

The Collect of Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the mystery of the day. We ask our Heavenly Father to fill the face of the earth, and His Church as well, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that the faithful may continue Jesus’ mission. On the day of Pentecost the Apostles, along with Mary, were gathered together in prayer at the same place that Jesus had His last supper with them. After receiving the Holy Spirit, the scared Apostles became courageous heralds of the Gospel. They not only started speaking various languages but they began their mission to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. On Pentecost the Church began its public mission and this mission is still continued by the disciples of Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit. The key idea of experiencing miracles is to remain faithful to the Gospel. Fear always appears when we want to change the Gospel even of a small amount.

This Sunday concludes the joyful Easter season in the Church. The paschal candle will be back to its place near the baptismal font and the liturgical colour will be again green as we enter Ordinary Time. We begin this new liturgical season on Monday with celebration of the memorial of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church that was established a year ago by Pope Francis as a feast day for the Universal Church.

On Tuesday, June 11th, we observe a memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle, who introduced St. Paul to the community of the Church as we can read in the Acts of the Apostles.

On Thursday, June 13th, we celebrate a memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church, who was known as an outstanding preacher and protector of the poor.

We continue the renovation of the men’s washroom in the basement and the installation of the air conditioning system in the church. We hope they will be completed soon.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!

God bless,
Fr. Peter