Dear Parishioners

Today we celebrate with joy the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles as was promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. I will not leave you orphans, “when the advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset” (John 15:26). Even though every Sunday is our weekly Easter, this feast of Pentecost brings the season of Easter to an end, and at the same time, marks the official birth of the Church in the world. Today is therefore, a day of double celebration for us redeemed children of God.

After Jesus has ascended into heaven his disciples returned to the Upper Room in Jerusalem and locked themselves up for fear of the Jews. Being ordinary fishermen without formal education they felt intimidated in the face of Jewish scholars and elders. So, on that day of Pentecost while they gathered in the Upper Room suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; there appeared tongues of flame that rested on the heads of each of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.

The gift of the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to come out from their hiding place to boldly proclaim the good news continuing the mission of Christ. The frightened disciples gifted by the Holy Spirit were transformed into fearless preachers of the word. Their audience which comprised of people from different parts of the world also experience these gifts. They were able to understand each of the disciples speaking in their own native language.
At our Baptism and Confirmation and at different worshipping fora, the Holy Spirit has manifested his presence in our lives. May we be filled with the zeal and joy to go out and witness with joy to our Lord Jesus.
God bless you all.

Fr Vincent