Today we celebrate the great feast of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Sunday marks the conclusion and culmination of the Easter season. Today Jesus, risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, pours out his greatest gift. The Holy Spirit brings forgiveness and healing, enabling us to become sons and daughters of God. The Holy Spirit is the reality of sacraments such as baptism and confirmation. Pentecost Sunday is rightly called the birthday of the Church.

On the eight Sundays of the Easter season, we have used the same “propers” (Gloria, Holy, Lamb of God, etc.) at our English Masses. I appreciate your effort to learn them. Our choir directors are working hard to provide beautiful and uplifting music for the Masses. If you value music, I encourage you to consider offering your abilities by contacting either Paul Grady or Anca Wilson. Besides singers we are looking for people who play a musical instrument. A wind or string instrument such as a flute or a classical guitar can help a congregation to enter into prayer. Over the summer we will be forming a children’s choir that can occasionally sing at the 11 a.m. Mass. If you have a child or grandchild who enjoys singing, encourage them to contact Mrs. Wilson.

This week we also bring to a conclusion a special month of prayer. May 31 is the Feast of the Annunciation, which culminates a month of devotion to our Blessed Mother. We have been asking her intercession for a just and merciful reform of our country’s immigration laws. There are many different opinions and much emotion around this issue, but everyone agrees that the current state of affairs is terrible. Many people in our parish have been fasting on Wednesdays of May for good leadership and positive solutions.

In today’s bulletin you will find a list of Holy Family parishioners who have responded to the Annual Catholic Appeal. I thank each of you for doing that. Some sent their pledge directly to the Archdiocese and the Archdiocese in turn sent us a list of Holy Family donors. In this process one or other names may have been missed. Let us know if you turned in your envelope before May 23 and do not find your name on the list. Again, thanks to all who have participated.

Next Sunday we will have the final push for the Annual Catholic Appeal. In order to involve all parishioners, we will take up a two-bit collection at our seven weekend Masses. We naturally want people to make a pledge, but we recognize that some are still reluctant to fill out an envelope. Besides supporting the work of the Archdiocese, we have a project in our parish to renovate the room at the Roxbury entrance. More about that next week.

You may have noticed last weekend the presence of Crossroads Pro-Life Walkers. These young people are walking from Seattle to Washington, D.C., as a witness to the dignity of each human life. We had the honor of hosting them as they prepared for this pilgrimage.

Crossroads Pro-Life Walkers at Holy Family
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On a sad note, last Sunday night someone(s) slashed our Silent No More banner. It seemed to be more than a random act of vandalism because of the way they destroyed the sign and the fact that they did not bother other banners, like the ones we have promoting our parish school. Earlier this month vandals used a stencil to paint the word “Impeach” on the banner. All this is unfortunate. When our Knights of Columbus put up the banner at the beginning of Holy Week, we made it clear that our goal was to reach out to people who are hurting. What we offer is deep healing through prayer, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and through weekend retreats. As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Spirit, we recognize that healing is possible.

Pro-Choice Vandalism

A recommendation for summer: Buy, beg or borrow a copy of Pope Benedict’s new book, Jesus of Nazareth. I just finished listening to an audio version of the book. It takes fourteen hours, but you can listen to it while exercising, doing chores or riding in your car. You will be surprised at the pope’s clarity and how he addresses so many contemporary issues. Above all, he helps the reader with the crucial question which Jesus himself posed: “Who do you say that I am?” If you read (or listen to) no other book this summer, don’t miss Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI.

Finally, in his column, Mr. Glen Lutz, has an invitation to the parish carnival (“kermes”) next Sunday. Don’t miss the delicious food, games for children and enjoyable activities for all.

Que Dios los bendiga hoy dia al celebrar la gran fiesta del Espíritu Santo - Pentecostés

Tuvimos una linda sorpresa esta semana con la visita de la primera dama del Perú, la Señor Pilar Nores de Garcia. Ella estaba en Seattle para hacer una propuesta a Bill Gates para ayudar a las comunidades más pobres del pais. En camino a Microsoft ella se reunió con la comunidad peruana de Seattle en SeaMar.

Habia tambien una noticia triste. Quizas ustedes vieron la destruccion del pancarte “Silent No More” para promover sanación y reconciliación para los que hayan participado en un aborto procurado. Los Caballeros lo pusieron al comienzo de la Semana Santa. En la parte en inglés se puede ver el resultado del vandalismo.

Y finalmente una invitación: Como se puede ver en el columna del Señor Glen Lutz, todos son invitados a participar en un Gran Kermés, el proximo domingo, desde las 11 a.m. hasta las 4 p.m. No lo pierdan.