Fifty days after Easter, the Church celebrates Pentecost. The word comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth." For Jewish people, it was already a major feast, marking the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. For Christians, it took on a new meaning. It became the day the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and the Church was born.

The account in Acts 2 is vivid. The apostles were gathered in one place.

Happy Mother's Day
This Sunday, we pause to honor the women who shape our lives through love, sacrifice, and faith. Mothers are not accidents of biology. They are part of God's design. Every mother in this parish reflects something real and true about who God is.

God Is Love. Mothers Show Us What That Looks Like.
God gave us mothers so we would have a living picture of unconditional love.

May: The Month of Mary

Every May, the Church dedicates the entire month to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This tradition dates to the 13th century and became widespread by the 18th and 19th centuries, when Catholics across Europe began holding special devotions, processions, and prayers in Mary's honor throughout the month.

The Gospel of the Road to Emmaus shows us two disciples who are discouraged, confused, and ready to give up. They had hoped Jesus was the One who would redeem Israel, but the Cross seemed to have shattered their expectations. As they walk away from Jerusalem, they are really walking away from hope. In this moment of disappointment, the Risen Jesus quietly draws near and walks with them, even though they do not recognize Him.

I wonder if anyone understood John the Baptist when he called Jesus the Lamb of God. Did they associate that name with the paschal lamb whose blood protected the Israelites from the Angel of Death?

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostles began to understand that Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, freed us all from sin and death. Yet here is the Baptizer already acting like a disciple before Jesus has gathered any disciples or even begun to preach.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord falls on Sunday, January 11. This feast closes the Christmas season and opens a new stage in the life of Jesus.

Jesus goes to the Jordan River. John the Baptist baptizes Him. This moment marks the start of Christ’s public ministry. Heaven opens. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove. The Father’s voice reveals Jesus as the beloved Son.

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord proclaims a public revelation. Christ reveals His identity to the nations. The visit of the Magi marks this moment. God draws every people toward His Son.

The Magi arrive from distant lands. They study the heavens. They read signs placed before them. Their journey shows faith through action.