Fr. Aidan Writes:
Pentecost Sunday
We congratulate Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego on his elevation to the College of Cardi- nals. I remember attending an excellent talk he gave to the annual September gathering of priests at the request of Abp José of Los Angeles. It was an overview and guide to the Pastoral Theology of Pope Francis. May Cardinal McElroy serve the Church with grace and wisdom.
This weekend is Pentecost, when we relish the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, forti- tude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Bishop Robert Barron, when he came a couple of weeks ago, preached to our Confirmation candidates about the courage we need, and its link to the fear of the Lord, to go out and be Catholic Christians in the world. Bp Barron referred to Fear of the Lord as that spiritual gift that makes us understand that nothing is as important as following the Will of God. As we know, this is at the heart of the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. If we take courage and Fear of the Lord seriously, we are empowered for the mission of the Church. This is what happens to the Apostles. Having slipped from the heady astonishment and growing belief in the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection, to hiding in fear within ten days of His ascension to glory, they now receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and go out fearlessly proclaiming the Will of God that was incarnated in Jesus Christ.
The obvious implication is for us to do the same; to fearlessly proclaim Christ from the housetops and extend a welcome and invitation for others to come and follow his path in the Church.
This weekend, at SLdM Massess only, we have our in pew commitment weekend #1. Please bear with the pro- cess and be generous in your support of the campaign. Next weekend this process will be at Los Alamos and Sisquoc.
Thank you and God bless,
Fr Aidan –Peter CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter