“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body … and we were all given to drink of one Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:13
In Christ, we are “one,” and in Christ, this “one” is fed. When one suffers, we all suffer, and when one is joyous, we’re all joyous. This is the definition of being “one,” of the unity that Christ invites us to partake. To be then “one” in this way means that we commit to the Holy Spirit – the Spirit which we celebrate today at Pentecost – to live in this Spirit and to serve one another in this Spirit, building a community founded, sustained, and thriving in the Holy Spirit. And now by living in this community, we now share in the lives of one another, and one way that we do this is through prayer.
In the Spirit of unity, this week, we pray in gratitude and with joy for the accomplishments of the graduating class of 2026. We also ask the Lord to bless them as they move forward into the next chapter of their lives, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they may persevere and remain in the path of Christ. Our lives have been enriched by having them in our lives, and our hope for them is that they may continue to shine the light of Christ in the world. Graduates – Congratulations on your achievement and may God’s blessing always be upon you.
Finally, this week, we also fondly remember those in military service who offered their lives for our freedom. In the Spirit of unity, we pray for their eternal rest and offer them our sincerest gratitude for their sacrifice to our nation and to protecting our freedom, especially our freedom to practice our faith – something that at time, we take for granted. And this week, as we remember these great men and women, we also take the opportunity to pray for all those that have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. As we continue to prepare for the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray for healing in our nation, this week, we pray that the Lord’s mercy may come upon the souls of our departed brothers and sisters that they may have found peace in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and live on in the light of God’s face.
“With charity towards the dead, we practice all the works of charity. The Church encourages us to aid the souls in Purgatory, who in turn will reward us abundantly when they come into their glory.” – Saint Francis de Sales
In Christ
Fr Robert