Happy Birthday! Today marks the official beginning of the Church. As promised, God sends the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus as our advocate and guide. When the Spirit descended on Mary and the Apostles, they were no longer afraid; they were compelled to go out and proclaim the Good News. The Holy Spirit gave them courage and fortitude, wisdom and understanding, proper judgement and reverence, knowledge, and a spirit of wonder and awe. Moreover, they were given the gift of tongues to speak the Gospel to every person on earth.
In the subsequent years, from that house in Jerusalem, the Church grew and spread throughout the known world. Today, the Gospel is proclaimed on all seven continents and in 195 countries. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, but the work of the Church begins with each of us. In many senses, we are the Church that people meet.
Many people see the church as a building—a physical space. In reality, the Church (notice the capital C) is the People of God. We carry Christ in us, and people meet Christ through us. We are the catalysts that bring people into the physical building. However, the real work of the Church is done by people outside the building—in schools, factories, offices, sporting arenas, hospitals, and stores.
We bring Christ to others through our lives and actions. People choose to follow Christ not because of a building but because of a person who represents Jesus. Each of us is a living temple of the Holy Spirit who invites others to conversion and eternal life.
Here’s to another year of living Church and bringing the Gospel to every creature on earth.
June 22 is the Feast of Corpus Christi, and following the 11:45 AM Mass (weather permitting), we will have an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
There are many events planned for the summer. Please see the bulletin and website for more details.