Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Holy Spirit Parish:                                                         May 16, 2021
         “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?
                                                                                        (Acts 1:10)
 
I found myself standing looking up a lot this week, wondering if our painters were going to finish in time for us to celebrate Pentecost in Church next Sunday.  At the time of this writing (Tuesday) it was still too early to tell.  A decision will be made and announced verbally at all the Masses this weekend as well as by email.  Even though there is so much “up in the air” there are many things we still know for certain.
 
We know for certain that UW classes have ended and final exams begin Monday.  This difficult year unlike any other in history is ending and hope of a return to something much more normal next semester is growing.  Because students will finish exams on Friday and head for home, tonight will be our last 6:00pm Sunday Mass until next Fall.  With Covid and the need for reservations our non-student attendance  Sunday evenings has been small.  We will resume year-round Sunday evening Masses as Covid leaves us.
 
At Monday evening’s last Point Catholic Bible Study of the year, thirty-one students attended…. a record number. It would be easy to conclude it was the approach of final exams that drove them to prayer.  But we are certain it was because a wonderful community of young adult Catholics has formed despite this most challenging year.  And they all wanted to have the chance to gather once more before heading their separate ways for the summer.  At the 10:00am Mass today we will call forward, bless, and send forth the six seniors  among them who won’t be coming back to us next fall.  The well-wishing and farewells will continue after Mass at the annual end of year Campus Ministry picnic.
 
We know for certain that Saturday May 22 Pacelli High School will be holding graduation exercises. SPASH will be holding its on May 30^th.  We will call forward, bless and send forth our High School graduates at the 10:00am Mass on Sunday June 6^th.
 
At last week’s meeting of parish committees, I gave everyone some homework to take home for the summer.  If everyone gets their vaccination shots and is disciplined with safety measures this summer, we could be ready to gather in full or close to full numbers in the fall.  But, will people come back? Over this past year some have grown closer to God and their faith community and some have slipped away.  We need to make an extraordinary effort to call people out of isolation and back into community this fall.
 
In preparation for that challenge, I asked all committee and parish council members to read a book this summer entitled Divine Renovation:  Bringing Your Church From Maintenance to Mission by Fr. James Mallon.  We are reading this along with the councils and committees of all the parishes in the Deanery.  Fr. Mallon, a pastor who has brought to life several dying parishes and started a renewal movement in the Catholic Church, explains how and why he has done so. 
 
I invite you to get a copy of the book or let the parish office know you would like one ($12.00) and we will order one for you.  My summary of the book is: “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?”  The apostles were tempted to wait around until Jesus returned.  They wanted to simply “maintain” the status quo.  The angels told them to “go” back to Jerusalem where they would receive the Spirit.  Throughout the Gospel it is when people “go” at Jesus’ command that they are cured of leprosy, their eyes are opened, they discover the power to heal has been given them and they receive the outpouring of the Spirit.
 
Holy Spirit Parish, let us not stand looking at the sky. Let us go and be filled.
 
Fr. Steve
 

 

To make a one time gift
or to set up regular contributions 
to Holy Spirit Parish
using your debit or credit card
please click here.  
Thank you for your support!!