The Holy Spirit is the gift of the Risen Lord to the Church to propel its missionary expansion. He is also the gift in order to become the life-giving energy that enables the community of believers to bear abundant fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control. The Holy Spirit was given to the disciples before the Lord’s ascension; but before the day of Pentecost they were not yet confirmed by his might; they were still in the grip of fear, cowering behind closed doors. On the day of the Pentecost the voice of the Lord has resounded; the Word of the Lord was spoken with power.

The historical first public preaching about Christ occurred on the day of Pentecost. It was the day that people could visibly see the signs of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the principle of the New Covenant and the Church’s missionary expansion.

As narrated by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit, the principle of the new law of love, was poured out upon the believers, who were drawn out from all peoples of the earth, in order to constitute the all-inclusive new people of God, the Church. This Pentecostal event was accompanied by stupendous signs: the noise of a strong driving wind, the tongues of fire that rested on the disciples, and the speaking in different tongues. This was the new Pentecost – the fulfillment of the promise prophesied by the Prophets. The prophetic wind and fire of the first covenant on Mount Sinai has given way to the all-inclusive messianic covenant powered by the Holy Spirit, the Risen Lord’s gift to the Church. According to Luke, the Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke a universal language. He declares by this that the unity lost at Babel, when the one language was confused, is now restored. The Holy Spirit, the principal agent and the protagonist of the Church’s mission, is the principle of the New Covenant ratified by the blood of Christ, poured out by his death on the cross.

May The Spirit of the Risen Lord fill our hearts and empower us to bear fruit.
Fr. Arul Joseph V.

                                    “Among my Heroes”

            Whenever I conduct Communion services at any of our area nursing homes, I refer to the residents as some of “my heroes.”  When I look out at the residents gathered to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, to receive him as “food for the journey” in the Eucharist—they inspire me.  I hope my faith is as strong as theirs when I’m 75, 80, 90+ years old!   During one visit a few years ago, there was one resident, 100 years old.  Because of her physical condition, she couldn’t come to the Service, but the resident staff made sure I visited her with Holy Communion.  She was sleeping when I arrived, but the staff knew how important receiving Jesus in the Eucharist was to her and so they stirred her awake.  She looked up as I gave her Holy Communion, received It, smiled, and said, “now I’m ready to go” with a great look of peace upon her face.  Wow!   I don’t know that I’ll ever forget that encounter. 

            During another recent nursing home visit I was talking to a couple who had been married over 60 years.  And while I was technically there to bring Christ to them, and indeed we said some prayers, I was happy to sit and listen and learn from their experience and modeling of a lifelong commitment to Christ and each other!  

            My wife’s grandfather, “Papa” as he was called, recently passed away, at the tender age of 102!  (Living in San Diego may have had something to do with that!)  Even well into his 90’s, he still would walk to daily Mass early each morning.   In fact, he would never miss it.  His passing reflected the “holy death” that we pray for each time we say the “Hail Mary”. 

            Pope John Paul II wrote a Letter to the Elderly in 1999, writing “as an older person myself”.  The document can be found on the Vatican’s website www.vatican.va or by simply doing a Google Search.  It is a beautiful reflection on the dignity of our older brothers and sisters and the gifts they have to offer.   A few years ago, I even assigned this papal letter to my junior high and high school students.  Far from being a “burden” as society would sometimes castigate them, these folks are amongst the heroes of life. 

The late Pope John Paul II concluded his letter to the elderly with this:

“Despite the limitations brought on by age, I continue to enjoy life. For this I thank the Lord. It is wonderful to be able to give oneself to the very end for the sake of the Kingdom of God!   At the same time, I find great peace in thinking of the time when the Lord will call me: from life to life!”

So to all our older parishioners, I say thank you.  And my prayer is that all of our faiths’ be as strong when we also reach the twilight of our lives! 

God bless you!

Phil Lawson                                                                                     

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

The feast of the Lord’s ascension, moreover, is a celebration of his new and enduring presence. The glorified form of Jesus is present to us profoundly and intimately by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is present in the living Word proclaimed, in the worshipping assembly gathered in his name, in the Eucharist and in the other sacraments.

The continuing presence of the Risen Lord, ascended into heaven, confirms the Apostles and the disciples in the missionary mandate: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). This mandate of The Lord inspired the early missionary Church to go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. The Church’s missionaries had nothing to fear, because the ascended Lord was with them in their preaching and confirmed their message with special signs of his power.

The witnessing Church in mission was powered by an energy that came from on high in accordance with the Risen Lord’s assurance, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In the Acts of the Apostles, the evangelist Luke presents the Spirit uniquely as the divine energy communicated to the witnesses of Christ in view of the tasks they are to perform.

The ascension is the activation of the paschal energy of Christ who fills all things. The movement of the ascension will be complete only when all the members of his body have been drawn to the Father and brought to life by his Spirit. Indeed, the feast of the Lord’s ascension into heaven is an invitation to attain personally to the full stature of Christ, so as to achieve the cosmic fullness willed by God and hoped for by us.

May God bless you

Fr. Arul Joseph V.

             Pope Benedict has spoken a number of times of the need for the Church to engage the digital world with the truths of the Gospel.  In fact, the Vatican even hosted a conference for bloggers, especially Catholic ones in 2011. 

            St. Peter’s is blessed to have a substantial presence online via our parish website:  http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/        and our Facebook Account.  Special thanks to parishioners Jason & Darcy Bunn who both set up and maintain the website and Facebook account!   Unlike most of my generation, I’m not the most savvy with regard to the “New Media” so they’ve helpfully made it simple enough for even me to upload material!    

            Some time back I received an email from a parish in Florida who had come across our website.  They were impressed with the Eucharistic Adoration we have at St. Peter’s and the resources on the website in regard to it.  So they asked if they could use our material as they sought to implement Adoration at their parish.  We happily agreed to do so!  Similarly, every year we get requests from all over the country (and even the Philippines!) for our Vacation Bible School materials, all of which our very talented parishioners have created from scratch.  

            As I’ve written previously, Stevens Point held its first ever 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil this past Lent.  St. Peter’s, and our own Jennifer Dunnett, were a huge part of making this a success.   Pro-Life Wisconsin wanted to put together a short documentary on the experience of 40 Days for Life here as a tool to encourage other communities to take up the effort.   Virginia Zignego, Communications Director for Pro-Life Wisconsin recently spent a day at St. Peter’s doing video interviews of the participants.  Since, St. Peter’s Parishioners were such a huge part of the effort, it seemed natural to do the filming here—and we were only too happy to cooperate!  I’ll be sure to let you know when the finished product comes out! 

It was the first time Virginia had been to St. Peter’s and she was awed by the beauty of the church, so much so that she took lots of pictures and then posted them on a statewide blog she’s a part of, The Badger Catholic.   More good (and free) press coverage for our beautiful church!   You can find the link either off of the Parish Facebook account or at:  http://badgercatholic.blogspot.com/2012/05/st-peter-stevens-point.html?spref=fb         

God bless you!

Phil Lawson                                                                                     

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

There is simply no way we can ever really thank our mother for all she has done for us. She is the one who will be awake all night when we are sick. Praying to God to make us well and be ever ready to bear the pain that we may be experiencing. Mother in fact, worries more for our examinations than we must. She would take pains to complete our school projects leaving all other works behind while we play around with friends or just while away time watching movies.

Mothers Day is the perfect day to celebrate the joy of having a mother. It is the time to make amends for not being able to spend quality time with her. Strive to make Mothers Day absolutely hassle free for your mother and take the responsibilities on yourself for a day. Pamper her a little on this special day of hers just as she pampers you all the year round. Give her a warm hug and a big kiss as you wish her a Happy Mother’s Day! Above all say a Rosary for seeking the intercession of the Mother of all mothers to bless your mother with good health or if not, at least say a special prayer for her.

God bless all moms

Fr. Arul Joseph V.

                                    “The Brown Scapular”

            Last Sunday, our 1^st Communicants were enrolled in the Brown Scapular.  This is a tradition that goes back centuries.  In fact, it was a gift given to St. Simon Stock in the 1200’s.   Mary appeared to him and gave him a brown Scapular, urging him to wear it as a sign of her favor and his devotion, promising her intercession for him.   She promised:  “Receive my beloved son, this Scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor…he who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.” 

            The Scapular is a sacramental, i.e. a sacred sign which resembles the sacraments, and by which spiritual effects are gained.   When I’m explaining the Scapular to young people I use the analogy of a sports jersey. Most young people have an Aaron Rodgers or other Packer jersey.  Why do they wear it?  So that they can show their support of the team.  It represents their beliefs.  Wearing the Brown Scapular demonstrates a person’s love of Mary and the Church.  Significantly however, whereas wearing an Aaron Rodgers jersey won’t make me zip passes like him, wearing the Brown Scapular results in the prayers and intercessions of Mary in Heaven.  Nor is it a superstition or lucky charm, for in order for it to have any effect, the individual must be living a life in fidelity to the Commandments. 

            Numerous miraculous events have been associated with the Brown Scapular, including: 

“In 1845 a ferocious storm came upon the English ship, King of the Ocean.   The water was lashing the ship and threatening to capsize it.  A minister and his family, not Catholic, came on deck and saw the situation.  They were afraid and begged God to save the ship.  One of the sailors on the ship was a Catholic named John McAuliffe from Ireland. He saw how close the ship was to sinking, opened his shirt and took off his Scapular. He made the sign of the Cross with it over the sea and then threw it into the sea.  At that very moment the wind stopped and became calm.  Only one more wave lapped over the deck.  With it, came John McAuliffe’s Scapular right back to his feet.  The protestant minister, named John Fisher saw all this happen.  He and his family would convert to Catholicism.” (Source:  Garment of Grace:  The Brown Scapular).

            Interestingly enough, once you’ve been enrolled in the Brown Scapular, for instance at your 1^st Communion, you never need to re-enroll.   Even if you haven’t worn one for many years, you can simply pick one up at the local Catholic bookstore, “By the Cross” and begin wearing it anew.  

From the Prayer of Enrollment in the Scapular:

“…wear it as a sign of the motherly protection of the Virgin and of your pledge to imitate her.  May the Mother of God help you to be clothed in Christ. May He abide in you to the glory of the Trinity and to dedicate yourself to the Church for the good of your brothers and sisters.”

God bless you!

Phil Lawson                                                                                   

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization