Dear Parishioners, 

Ready, Set, Go! That's what it will seem like around here for the next few weeks - either like a 100 yard dash or a marathon! This week our huge Religious Ed program celebrates its closing and begins gearing up for a June Vacation Bible Camp; our annual Spring Auction, always a great event, takes place next Saturday evening, with our Parish Festival close to follow May 16, 17, and 18.

Then we host the Christ Light experiences and weekend May 23-25, and graduation just behind. And next weekend (wear red!), we bring the fifty day Easter Season to a close with the celebration of Pentecost, one of our Church's really big feasts. However, this year Mother's Day coincides with Pentacost and we all know, courtesy of Hallmark Cards, local florists, and Sunday brunches, that Mother's Day trumps Pentacost!

Here at Christ the King, we will insist on having it both ways. In addition to a special recognition and blessing for mothers, grandmothers, and Godmothers, we'll include a special Mother's Day / Women's Day creed. But we will also have a creative reading of the Pentacost scene and gospel.

Pentecost celebrates the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit to the Church to act as teacher, companion, counselor, advocate and helper. Red is traditionally the sign and color of the fiery love of God's Spirit; so we ask you to decorate our Church and ourselves by remembering to wear red to Mass next weekend. The image of the disciples locked in the upper room is well known and well loved. The Holy Spirit comes into that situation to unlock what needs unlocking, to touch the disciples so profoundly that they go out to proclaim Christ with courage, strength and a brand new way of looking at life.

The roots of Pentecost can be found in the Jewish Festival of weeks, the 50 day celebration following Passover. It was a harvest festival in which first fruits and harvest were offered in praise and thanksgiving to God. Scripture describes that the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles when the Festival of Pentecost was fulfilled. Early Christians saw in this an image of the Church as the first fruit and harvest of Christ's Banquet.

Your Pastor,
Brian T. Joyce