ST. FINN BARR PARISH
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
PASTOR'S CORNER
THE STORY OF PENTECOST
Fr. Raymond Tyohemba, VC
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
On this day of the birth of the Church, I am so grateful to all of you for the support you are giving me in my work as Parish Administrator. I am also thankful to the Parish staff/volunteers and the Parish Council, who continue to point me in the right direction and support me in achieving what God desires of our faith community.
What is the story of Pentecost?
On the night before Jesus died, he promised the disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to enlighten them, guide them, strengthen them, and give them everything they would need to carry the Good News to people all over the world. They didn’t understand what this meant. But on Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit came like the wind and descended on the apostles gathered in the Upper Room. They were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they understood everything, and they immediately went out into the streets to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ!
The Gifts of the Spirit
When the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost, the apostles received the gifts of the Spirit. At baptism, we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are strengthened during the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Wisdom, to see the world as God sees it (not from our perspective).
Understanding, to recognize that what lies below the surface is sometimes more important than what is obvious.
Judgment (counsel), to know the difference between right and wrong.
Courage (fortitude), to stand up for what is right.
Knowledge, to always seek the truth.
Reverence (piety), to recognize what is holy and sacred and the divine presence of God.
Wonder and awe (fear of the Lord), to appreciate the mysteries of life.
The Holy Spirit and Us
In 2 Timothy 1:6, St. Paul encourages Timothy, ‘For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands.’ Which of these gifts do you need to deepen or fan into flame at this time in your spiritual journey?
The Holy Spirit and St. Finn Barr Parish
As a faith community, please pray the Holy Spirit to renew our parish into what we aspire to become. A community of love, true faith, compassion, understanding, wonder, solidarity, joy, patience, and holiness.
Let us pray in the words of the second Vatican council Fathers:
“Renew Your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost. Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of St. Peter, it may advance in the reign of our Divine Savior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.”
MAY: the month of our Mother MARY
The month of May is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] tthe Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance" (Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May, no. 1).
Pentecost: Worship with Us
Saturday - May 22 4pm English Mass
Sunday - May 23 9am English Mass
11am Spanish Mass
NEWS AND UPDATES
- The Children’s Faith Formation Program at St. Finn Barr Catholic School will be receiving their Confirmation Saturday, May 22nd. Please keep these beautiful children in your prayers as they complete their final preparation to receive the Holy Spirit!
THE PENTECOST NOVENA
“The Pentecost Novena is the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.”
On May 4, 1897, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed: “We decree and command that throughout the whole Catholic Church, this year and in every subsequent year, a novena shall take place before Whit-Sunday (Pentecost), in all parish churches.” (Encyclical On the Holy Spirit, 13)
Let’s join the world in praying a novena in preparation of Pentecost – beginning on Friday, the day after Ascension Thursday. Here are links to a few of the Pentecost Novena formats available on the web
New for 2020: The Archdiocese of St. Louis will be posting daily video reflections and Pentecost Novena (coordinated by Jane Guenther). For more information here is their Pentecost Novena Page.
Novena to the Holy Spirit – Prepare for the Pentecost Vigil with Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, The Wild Goose Project / Vigil Project. For more information click here.
Holy Spirit Novena SLCCRO – developed by Jane Guenther, Chairman of the National Service Committee and Coordinator of the St. Louis Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office.
Burning Bush Novena – developed by Kim Kollins. Multiple formats are available to download and print.
Pentecost Novena – available on Presentation Ministries Website
Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts – available from the Companions of the Cross, focusing on the seven sanctifying gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in Isaiah 11
Holy Spirit Prayers – The Pentecost Sequence (Come, Holy Spirit) and the Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest) can both be found on this page.
FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE
USCCB: Help Stop Taxpayer-Funded Abortion
Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion. HOW? The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century.
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS? Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion. TAKE ACTION. Because Congress’ process of determining where money goes takes months, we’ll be needing help at several points from now through Fall. To start, sign the petition to Congress, below. We’ll be asking for additional action in the coming months, please stay up to date here:
Sign petition to Congress: www.NoTaxpayerAbortion.com
https://sfarchdiocese.org/abortion
Retrouvaille Marriage-Saving Weekend June 4, San Francisco (starts June 3 at 6:45 pm)
Many married couples have struggled with the fallout of the pandemic, putting additional stress on marriages. Lawyers say the impact of being together 24/7 is causing stress in mental health of couples and coping mechanisms; they reported 30% increase in requests to start divorce proceedings.
Retrouvaille provides a lifeline for married couples. Many come with no hope, as a last effort to save the marriage, but leave with the tools and confidence to rebuild the marriage to better than they’d ever hoped. Please tell everyone about the virtual weekend. Please visit the link for more information and to register. www.themarriagehelp.com
PARISH SCHOOL
Admissions for the 2021-2022 school year is under way now. Please refer to the "Admissions Process" link below for details on how to schedule a visit.
https://stfinnbarr.org/admissions/apply-now
Please enjoy the "Rise Up" video of the St. Finn Barr Parish school community
https://vimeo.com/508803834/832c215157
PARISH BULLETIN
Pentecost Sunday, Cycle B
May 23, 2021
RECTORY HOURS:
Monday through Thursday
9AM - 4PM
CLOSED FRIDAYS
CONFESSIONS: Saturday - 3PM-4PM
Collections: Weekly Goal:5,000
Weekend of May 15 & 16
Offerings Total ................. $ 1,255.00
Thank you for your continued support!
Archbishop Annual Appeal 2021
2021 Campaign Goal ........ $29,603
Contributions received $8,829 / 29%
Upcoming Feast Days:
May 24: Mary, Mother of Church
May 25: St. Bede the Vulnerable
May 26: St. Phillip Neri, Priest
Pentecost Sunday, Cycle B
Sunday, May 23, 2021
First Reading
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles gathered in Jerusalem.
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles gathered in Jerusalem.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34
God’s Spirit renews the earth.
Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34
God’s Spirit renews the earth.
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-23
Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 20:19-23
Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Background on the Gospel Reading
On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church. After his death, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send to his disciples a helper, an Advocate, who would enable them to be his witnesses throughout the world.
Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He breathes the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and sends them to continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ act of breathing the Holy Spirit upon the apostles mirrors God’s act of breathing life into Adam. In fact, both the Greek and Hebrew words for “spirit” can also be translated as “breath.” This Gospel reminds us that the Church is called to be a reconciling presence in the world. The reconciling presence of Christ is celebrated in the Church’s sacramental life.
- Loyola Press
Mass Assignments - May 22 & 23
Saturday - May 22, 2021 - 4PM Sunday - May 23, 2021 - 9AM
Lector: ................ Alice Abiva Lector ....................Kenny Nieto
Eucharist Ministers ....... Sallly Ilao Eucharist Ministers .....Melissa Campos