Pastor's Corner, June 8, 2014

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Today, at St. Patrick’s Church in Pottsville, the now newly ordained priest – Fr. Kevin Lonergan – will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving. He will return to the Cathedral next Sunday and celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome. Please remember him in your prayers that he may be a holy priest and that he will always be faithful to his vocation.

Today we also celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the Feast of Pentecost. The word “Pentecost” comes from a Greek word meaning “fifty.” Greek-speaking Jews used the word to describe the Jewish feast of Shavuot which in Hebrew refers to the Festival of Weeks. In Leviticus 23: 16 the Israelites are instructed to count seven weeks or “fifty days” from the end of Passover and then make a special offering to the Lord. It was originally a harvest festival but it eventually became known as a celebration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.

It was on this day that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and the Blessed Mother and it is consider the “birthday” of the Church. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit empowered them for their mission of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world and baptizing all who believed in the Good News.

Veni Sancte Spiritus. Come Holy Spirit.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker