Red was the dominant color of last year's Pentecost celebration, just as it has been for every "birthday of the church" in recent memory. Added to the visual excitement were bright red, orange and yellow "ribbon sticks" swirled in the air by children of the parish as they processed to the altar.
Catechist Shea Maloney prepared these special movement ministers before Mass began, teaching them how to make figure 8's with their sticks held high in the air, a poetic representation of "tongues of fire."
For some it was the first time they'd had an opportunity to be part of a liturgical celebration, and their enthusiasm indicated it wouldn't be their last.
Since it was June 9th, the second Sunday of the month, the 10:30 Mass also celebrated the graduating high school students wearing their graduation gowns. The seniors' liturgical task at this Mass was carrying the gifts of bread and wine to the altar. Later, after Communion, they would be introduced by Confirmation Director Elizabeth Borges and given the gift of a prayer by Thomas Merton, a long tradition at Holy Cross. [A copy of the prayer can be found in the Comments Section by scrolling down.]
Pentecost '19 also featured a festive Parish Breakfast in which the Council of Ministries was introduced, and everyone had an opportunity to meet people from other Masses by sitting at tables with those they didn't know. Bilingual conversation starters were at every place, and responses to the questions were shared. Like those gathered at the first Pentecost we discovered we had come from every corner of the world, sometimes speaking a different language, mostly experiencing life differently but recognizing that we all share the same Spirit of God's love. "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." Alleluia!
"Prayer for Our Community" by Fr. Richard Rohr:
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. [Please add your own intentions.] . . . Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen.
Thank you for a fascinating account of the post earthquake period and how it affected Holy Cross Community.
Thomas Merton's Prayer of Trust given to High School Seniors when they graduate:
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will…