Happy Birthday to the Catholic Church!

06-09-2019Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

The Solemnity of Pentecost that we celebrate today is often referred to as the "Birthday of the Catholic Church." This is because the Church actually started on this day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and gave them the power and courage to go out and preach the Good News to everyone. As we heard in our First Reading today, when the Holy Spirit came and rested on the Apostles, they were all so overwhelmed with the power of the Holy Spirit that they boldly went out of the temple and began to preach in the streets without fear of anyone. From then on, the Apostles and anyone who believed in Jesus were never again allowed to worship in the Jewish temple on the Sabbath day. Therefore, the Apostles gathered together to celebrate the Eucharist on the first day of every week (Sunday) with St. Peter as the first leader of the group (Mt 16:18).

As we all know, the word, "catholic" (in Latin, catholicus) literally means "universal." The Catholic Church is the unity of Christians under one leader, Jesus Christ, with the Pope as His visible representative on earth. Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus appointed St. Peter as the first leader of the Apostles. Our present Pope, Francis, is the 264th successor of St. Peter. From Pentecost day in 33AD to 1519, the Catholic Church was the only church in the whole world. In 1519, Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, left the Catholic Church and founded the Lutheran church. From then on, all other churches continued to split out of the existing church.

With the celebration of the Pentecost today, we have now come to the end of the Eastertide which begins from Easter Sunday to Pentecost (50 days). At the end of the Mass today, we will recess out with the Pascal Candle from the altar as a symbolic end of the Eastertide. Thanks to everyone who helped plan or participated in the different parish events during the Eastertide.

Church Talks!

Recently, a number of parishioners and visitors to our parish brought to my attention that there is too much chatting going on in the Church before Mass begins. I have observed it myself. I would really like to appeal to everyone that in as much as we want everyone to look cheerful and happy when coming to church, let us respect the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle and resist the temptation to chat in the Church. I also encourage everyone to arrive before Mass begins and find some quiet me to pray with the Lord.

Thank you and Remain Blessed.
Fr. James

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