From the Pastor's Desk - 11-May-2008

We celebrate today one of the greatest feasts of the Church, Pentecost. Without Pentecost, there would be no Church, since, without the Holy Spirit and His gifts, the Apostles and Disciples would have dissipated and returned to their former life before they met Jesus. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave them the courage and ability to take on Christ, to grow in His image, and to courageously proclaim His passion, death and resurrection, even in the face of persecution and death. Pentecost celebrates the rebirth of the Apostles and Disciples, it celebrates the birthday of the Church. You and I have also been reborn in the Holy Spirit, at Baptism and Confirmation. We have received the very same gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The language used by Peter on that first Pentecost, so that everyone could understand him, is also ours to use: the language of love. Healing of others can come through us by our willingness to forgive them. We too can stand up in the face of persecution, violence, and hatred and confront these evils with our loving gift of peace. Pentecost is God's gift to all the Church, including us. Today, we pray that we will be filled by the gifts and fruits of the Spirit so that each and every day we can re-create a new Pentecost in our world.

Happy Mother's Day to all our Mothers, Grandmothers, God-Mothers, Aunts, Foster Mothers, and all women who give themselves, as a mother, to others. May you always imitate the motherly love and concern of our Blessed Mother, and may she always ask her Son to bless you for your goodness. May everyone affected by your loving care always appreciate you, today on your special day, and every day of your lives.

Our children Carol Doyle, Elizabeth Edwards, Anatea Einhorn, Laura Willard-Lancos, Maximilian Meland, Anna Paviglianti, Anna Riecker, Patrick Sashin, and Joseph Downes Vresilovic, are joining us today for the first time at the Eucharistic table of the Lord. It is exciting for them and should be a source of joy for all of us. The Lord, and His Cathedral parish family welcome you to His table. We gather around it each day to be nourished and strengthened by the Bread of Heaven, and, by it, to grow daily into the likeness of the Lord of Heaven, Jesus Christ. May the gift of the Eucharist always be your greatest gift and joy, and may this gift sustain and bless you all throughout your lives. We give a special thanks to the teachers and parents, who by their teaching and example, have guided these young people to the Eucharist.

As we honor Mary during this, her special month, please remember to pray for peace among all people. The following prayer is a beautifully inclusive prayer for peace on earth:

Mary, Queen of Peace, we turn to you, our Mother. Into your hands we place our prayers for our women and men serving in the military, protect them! For innocent victims of war and violence, spare them! For those who mourn and are injured, comfort them! For people of all nations, unite them in the love and peace of your Son, the Prince of Peace! Amen.

Next Sunday we welcome Bishop Zubik for two wonderful celebrations at the Cathedral. At the 10am Mass he will join with the men and women of the Police, Fire, and EMS departments to celebrate the annual Blue Mass for their deceased. Everyone is welcome to this very special Mass and special opportunity to thank our Police, Fire, and EMS members for their service to us. At 3pm Bishop Zubik and Bishop Bradley will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to candidates from all over the diocese, including our own Cathedral candidates. This week, let us pray for all those candidates so that they will truly appreciate the gifts of the Spirit and use those gifts in living their faith each and every day.

Please join us after the noon Mass today as we say farewell and thanks to Fr. Tom. He has served us lovingly and generously for the past 4.5 years, and, we should be most grateful for this. I will personally miss him as a co-worker here, but will continue to value his friendship. Blessed Leo Dehon, SCJ, founder of the priests of the Sacred Heart, wrote,

The Heart of Jesus is overflowing with compassion for all those who suffer - those beset by troubles, difficulties, and hardships. He has the heart of a Father, the Heart of a Mother, the Heart of a Shepherd.

May Father Tom be always blessed with "the Heart of a Father, the heart of a Mother, and the heart of a Shepherd," as he shepherds the people of his new parish. Thanks, Tom, and God bless you!

Father Andrew and I will try to assume the duties and tasks that Fr. Tom undertook as parochial vicar. Please be patient with us, and, in particular, support Father Andrew in his new responsibilities. The Personnel Office of the Diocese has assured me that they will try very hard to replace Fr. Tom with another parochial vicar. In these days of an extreme priest shortage, this will most likely not even be possible until the new assignments are given at the end of June. Don't forget to continue to pray for, support, and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Fr. Donald Breier