Sixth Sunday of Easter
From the Pastor’s Desk
May 14, 2023
“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
~John 14:18
Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, aunts, and the many maternal figures in our lives! I also offer special prayers to those, for whatever reason, who might find today’s celebration to be one that causes them sadness. Please know you are not alone. You can depend on the support of your parish family and the unending love of Mary, our Blessed Mother.
A good Mother’s love can give us a glimpse into God’s devotion and care. After all, a mother’s love embraces sacrifice for her kids’ wellbeing. Not to mention how often a mother’s words have helped to restore broken things, like strained relationships or trust. And when they have, these excellent mothers call to mind our Lord’s plan to restore humanity by uniting us, despite our flaws, to Him. So be sure to extend your gratitude and thanks to these incredible women this Mother’s Day by offering your prayers and expressing your love and thanks to them.
Today’s gospel reminds us that God will never leave us to our devices to build his Kingdom. Just as Jesus made clear to his disciples, intent on building up His Church, we’re not alone in doing His work. An Advocate, the Spirit of truth, is with us always. The Holy Spirit unites God’s people, even conforming them to the Body of Christ. When we feel isolated, marginalized, lonely, or at odds with the community, let us call upon the aid of the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit!
When we offer our lives to Christ, we are assured in God’s time, and through His grace, we will exhibit the gifts of His Advocate: wisdom, understanding, proper judgment, knowledge, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe of the Lord. With that in mind, this Friday, May 19, our parish will enter into our annual Pentecost Novena, which includes nine days of prayer to the Holy Spirit. Join us each evening at 7 pm in the Church as we ask the Holy Spirit to fill our parish with these gifts and guide us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s intention in our lives.
The Novena will culminate in the celebration of Pentecost, including the Saturday Extended Pentecost Vigil at 7 pm on Saturday, May 27. We are thrilled that Bishop Bruce Lewandowski will celebrate this Mass and lead us in imploring the Holy Spirit’s aid. The Pentecost Novena and Saturday’s Mass, followed by a time for adoration to worship and adore Jesus plus fellowship, will invigorate our love of the Lord and our parish community. If you have yet to take full advantage of Pentecost at OLPH, your participation is welcomed! Let’s pack our Church with praise for the Spirit; I can’t wait!