FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK - MAY 26, 2023
Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,
A Blessed Solemnity of Pentecost! Fifty days after Jesus’ glorious Resurrection and nine days after his Ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit is sent down upon the apostles gathered with our Blessed Mother in Jerusalem. We are redeemed and saved by Jesus’ death and Resurrection, so what then does the Holy Spirit add to our Lord’s work? In short, the Holy Spirit continues Jesus’ own mission. Just as Jesus calls us to repentance, so the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin ( Jn. 16:8). Jesus, as his name implies, came to save the world, and now the Holy Spirit continues his saving work in us (2 Thess. 13). Jesus reveals himself as the Truth, and he promised to send the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth ( Jn. 16:13). Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, and St. Paul reminds us that we have received the spirit of sonship, leading us to cry out, “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). There are many more examples, but suffice it to say that the Holy Spirit carries on and completes the work of Christ in the Church and in each individual Christian. Jesus, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that God’s plan of redemption and transformation might be fully realized in us!
I want to highlight the events of the two following Sundays. Sunday, June 4 is Trinity Sunday, and we will celebrate our annual Field Mass and Parish Picnic that afternoon. I invite you to attend our 12:00pm trilingual Mass under the tent on Fr. Meyer Field, and then enjoy out-of-this-world food, music and activities for all ages, from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Note that there is no 1:30pm Spanish Mass on June 4. The Sunday following, June 11, is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. We will publicly show our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist by having a Eucharistic procession from the church to the Sisters’ convent, immediately following the 9:00am Mass. I hope that many of you will be able to join us for these special events in early June.
Lastly, many thanks for all of the birthday well-wishes and gifts from this past week. I am extremely grateful and blessed to serve as your pastor and to offer the sacrifice of the Mass with and for you on a daily basis.
In the love of the Holy Spirit,
Fr. Dave