May 11, 2008 Pentecost Sunday/Mother’s Day

A Community Alive and Ready

     Our community is alive with the Holy Spirit as we celebrate so many special events this weekend. We celebrate Pentecost Sunday and Mother’s Day along with another group of children receiving First Eucharist. All of these are important celebrations in our church community and in the Liturgical Year. We also welcome Fr. Steven Maekawa, O.P., Director of Vocations for the Western Dominican Province, who will address the call for Vocations.

     While these may seem to be independent of one another, there is an overwhelming feeling that they truly are interrelated in this community we call St. Dominic’s Parish. Pentecost is equal to Christmas and Easter. Pentecost reminds us of the Holy Spirit present in us. The Church, a community living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit. We know the Spirit in the Scriptures, in the traditions of which the Church Fathers are timely witnesses, in the Church’s Magisterium, and in the sacramental liturgy through its words and symbols in which the Holy Spirit puts us in communion with Christ. We know the Spirit in prayer, wherein He intercedes for us, in ministries upon which the Church is built, in the vocations to apostolic and missionary life, in the saints through whom the Spirit manifests His holiness and continues the work of salvation, and in the witness of Mary, Mother of Christ, the example of motherhood for all the Mothers we celebrate today.

     We express our appreciation for all mothers, living and deceased on this Mother’s Day. Our Mothers, although not perfect, have given us life in many ways. It is appropriate that we take this day to show our respect and love to them. The love of Mary and the Rosary holds a special significance in the Dominican Order of Preachers. May we pray for vocations to the Dominicans so that this devotion will continue to thrive in the future.

     On this day when we celebrate all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the example of Mary for all Mothers, and offer our prayers for vocations, we must also set aside time in our day for prayers for our young people who are blessed with the grace from the Holy Eucharist. May they always feel His love and the prayers of our community. With the Spirit’s guidance, Mary’s wisdom, the enthusiasm of our youth new to the Eucharist and an enhanced awareness of the need for vocations, we are a special community which is ready for tomorrow!

God bless and love — Fr. Dominic

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