Sunday :15th of May 2005

Pentecost/Whit Sunday
Fr. Teddy.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be created, And you shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful By the light of the Holy Spirit, Grant us in the same spirit to be truly wise, And ever to rejoice in his consolation, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The great feast of Pentecost marks the end of the Easter season. The Church has celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord from the dead for forty days. Then for the last week since the Ascension - the return of Jesus to the Father - we have prayed for the coming of the Holy Spirit just as the Apostles and disciples did along with Mary in the Upper Room. Today is the Day.
The waiting is over, the expected guest has arrived. In the upper room the disciples could have been so shell-shocked that they froze and did nothing, but they welcomed the Spirit, allowed the Spirit to fill them with energy and courage. They accepted the variety of the Spirit's gifts 'working in different ways in different people'.
We, in our time, are challenged to allow the Spirit freedom to work in and through each one of us. The apostles did not confine the Spirit within the boundaries of themselves, their fears, their prejudices and their limitations. They gave the Spirit freedom to speak through them. This meant that all heard the Spirit in their own language. The long wait is over. The Good News is here.
Each of us, through our Baptism and Confirmation, has received the same Spirit as the disciples did on the first Pentecost. The challenge for each of us is to allow the Spirit total freedom to work in us.
One such person is Gobnait of Ballyvourney. As you know today, Whit Sunday, is also Pattern Day in Ballyvourney. There is a very long and strong tradition of devotion to that remarkable woman known locally as Abbey. Her gifts of caring for and curing the sick have been a significant part of her cult through the centuries. Why not bring the children and introduce them to St. Gobnait and the rounds at Ballyvourney?
It is opportune today too to mention the matter of Easter duty. This is a precept or law of the Church that every Catholic who has made First Communion should go to Confession and receive the Blessed Eucharist at least once a year, if at all possible during the Easter season, which for this purpose is extended to next Sunday, Trinity Sunday.

Stations
The Spring Stations are now complete. The priests of the Parish would like to thank the various families who hosted the Stations. Thank God, the custom is alive and well in Kilmurry, Cloughduv and Canovee. It helps greatly by keeping things simple. The cup of tea and a scone is a great idea. The priests would also like to say a sincere thank you for your generous offerings in the Station Dues.
Some people have already accepted to host the Autumn Stations. If there are areas where it's not clear who might host them for the Autumn, or if you would like to host them yourself, you might talk to one of the priests over the coming months. Thanks again.