A very warm welcome to those of you who are coming for the first time and those of you who are joining our parish today. It's Come And See Sunday. As I always say, you've made a great choice because it's almost impossible to find a better parish, and I am not biased. This is a beautiful community with beautiful hearts where the Holy Spirit really works. I should also say Happy and Holy Feast of Pentecost. I should also say Happy Birthday to all of you, because Pentecost, as you know, the day of the coming and outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also the birth of the church.
Today we commemorate the decent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Mary as they waited together in a locked room for fear of the Jews. This is not just about looking backwards or recalling those events. The beauty of the Catholic liturgy is that we are made partakers of those mysteries. In other words, the Holy Spirit is coming down from Heaven and He's going to be given to us just as He filled the hearts of the Apostles 2000 years ago. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
The Holy Spirit comes to the disciples in what appeared to be tongues of fire. He comes filling the house in which they waited like a strong driving wind, but most importantly He fills their hearts with the fire of His love. We know that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity is the very love of God. So today we receive the love with which God has loved the world. Come Holy Spirit, send forth your life and your grace and we shall be created.