Exiit qui seminat

Almost 20 years ago, on May 29th, 2004, I was ordained a priest by Bishop Joseph Galante at St. Agnes Church in Blackwood, NJ with my classmate and friend, Fr. Michael Goyete. It was an unbelievable moving experience, especially as I was surrounded by family and friends and a multitude of the People of God. The very next day, Sunday, May 30th, I celebrated my first Mass at my home parish, St. Peter Church in Merchantville. It was the Solemnity of Pentecost and, in my mind, was no accident. From my ordination onward, I have always felt a close connection to the Holy Spirit. I almost always begin my meetings with this prayer: "Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fre of Your Divine Love! Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth!" That's why I'm so excited about celebrating the Vigil of Pentecost for the first time ... EVER! The celebration of Pentecost can become an afterthought liturgically. After celebrating the Resurrection and the Easter season for 50 days, it comes to abrupt close with a weekend celebration of the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Birthday of the Church. Pentecost used to be celebrated in the life of the Church in the same way that we still celebrate Christmas and Easter - as an octave. From the 7 th century until 1970 the Roman Catholic Church celebrated the Octave of Pentecost as a way to remind us that "the Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and, by revealing Christ Crucified and Risen, indicates the way to become more like him ..." (Pope Benedict XVI Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 4th, 2006). The Holy Spirit still guides and strengthens the Church and guides and strengthens us. While Pentecost is still only one day, as a people of faith we can't afford to ignore the presence of the Spirit in our lives always. So let us call out to the 3rd Person of the Most Holy Trinity and have the Holy Spirit kindle the free of His Divine Love in our hearts, not just in this 50th day of Easter, but every day.