Pentecost Sunday marks the end of the Easter Season on the Church Calendar.  In John’s Gospel, Jesus comes to his small group of terrified disciples, hiding in a locked room and offers peace with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This peace transforms the disciples into a community of believers who go forth to preach to the world the very mission that had led to the crucifixion of Jesus!  Pentecost is a good time to stop and acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to take stock of how we are using our gifts and talents to the very best of our ability.  

This week at Holy Spirit we value courage.  I recently read an online article that focused on how to build courage in children and thought the information is too good not to share.  For kids and teens, one of the most important things for them to know is that courage doesn’t always feel like courage.  From the outside, courage often looks impressive and powerful and self-assured.  Sometimes it might look reckless or thrilling. From the inside though, it can feel frightening and unpredictable.  It can feel like anxiety, or fear, or rolling self-doubt.  Courage can be a trickster like that – it often looks different from the outside to the way you would expect it to feel on the inside.  This is because courage and fear always exist together.  It can’t be any other way.  If there is no fear, there is no need for courage.  Courage isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us ‘not scared’.  It’s about something magical that happens inside us to make us push through fear, self-doubt, anxiety, and do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening.  Sometimes, courage only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough.  There’s something else that kids need to know about courage – you don’t always see the effects of it straight away. Courage might mean being kind to the new kid in class, trying something new, speaking up for something they believe in.  Often, these things don’t come with fireworks or applause.  In fact, they rarely do.  The differences they make can take time to reveal, but when actions are driven by courage, the differences those actions make will always be there, gently taking shape and changing their very important corners of the world in some way.  This week we pray for our students to be courageous, especially in challenging situations.

Sunday was the last Sacramental Programme Workshop for all participating students.  The students have worked very well together learning about the importance of the Sacraments they will be receiving.  This Sunday is a very significant day for the Holy Spirit Parish as it is Pentecost.  They are having their Feast Day celebrations with a special Holy Mass at 10am with Bishop Tim Harris as the main celebrant.  After the Mass, in Bibi Goo Yumba, there will be lunch and some cultural activities.  Everyone is invited to attend.  If you would like to attend, can you please let the Parish know so that they can cater for families. 

The Feast of Mary, Help of Christians is May 24th . Mary Help of Christians is the Patron Saint of Australia and also of the Townsville Diocese. When the Bishops of Australia met for their first synod, in 1844, they decided that under the title “Help of Christians”, Our Lady should become the Patroness of the Australian Church. Mary has long been recognised for her powerful role as intercessor to her Son, Jesus, for the needs of the faithful and their protection.

Mary Help of Christians
Patroness of Australia & Townsville Diocese 

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

God bless,

Caroline Fuller