Text Box: excomunication of Henry IV; expanded authority of the Roman See.; Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi +1607; Carmelite mystic of Florence; instrumental in the reform of her Order. May 26– Philip Neri, priest; founder of the Congregation of Priests of the Oratory to promote holiness of priestly life and foster effective preaching; noted for his joyful and simple spirit. Died 1595 May 27 – Augustine of Canterbury, bishop; monk of Mt. Coelius in Rome; sent with 40 other monks by Pope Gregory I to England; baptized king of Kent; ordained bishop in 597; established the Sees of Canterbury, London & Rochester; in 601, received pallium as Primate of England. Died 604. May 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On that day the Church celebrates Our Lady's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. After the Archangel Gabriel leaves, Mary hastens to visit and help Elizabeth. Inspired by God, Elizabeth greets Mary for the first time as the mother of God with the words "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. MONTH OF MAY This month is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Crowning of Mary takes place during the 9.30AM Holy Mass on First Friday, May 2 and on 10.30AM Holy Mass on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Every morning after the 8.00AM Holy Mass, we shall recite the Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary followed by Benediction. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. PRAY FOR ALL SICK: For all who are sick: members of our families, friends, parishioners, and, especially: Fr. Joseph Fiedorowicz; Titus Ekanem; Angie Leitao; Maynard & Irene Omernik; Harry McVey; Andy & Vic Miloslavich; Lianne Claver; Martin Koch; Bro. Paul McCarthy; Jenny Maderious; Rachel Ott; Donald Braten; Nellie Lydon; Zbigniew (Ziggi) Wawer - father of Fr. Robert Wawer ; Dave Van Sciver; James Maloney; Harry Garland; Jose Isidro; Joseph Catanzaro; the Reichmuth Family; Halina Osinski; Gregory Grayson; Claire Cortright; Scott Bailey; baby Monica Rose Hockel; Kasia Boron; Roy Zahn; and those whose names are written in the Book of the Sick and all sick people in the entire world, let us pray to the Lord. Text Box: PRAY FOR THE DEAD: For deceased members of our families, friends, parishioners & benefactors of our Parish: Bill Leitao; Harry Winkler; Inetta Calori; those who died recently: Fr. Emmanuel Muessiggang, OFM; and for all the faithful departed, especially, for all the Poor Souls in Purgatory; and that their intercession may assist us in this life, let us pray to the Lord. PRAY FOR SERVICEMEN & SOLDIERS: Robert Hoops; Thomas Campana; Brian Duka-Smith; Steven Mayer; Connor O’Keefe; Matthew Valenzuela & other American soldiers and serviceman - for their safety. PENTECOST (this year May 11) The Easter season lasts for fifty days, ending with Pentecost (from the Greek pent ekoste, “fiftieth”). Ranking second only to Easter, the feast of Pentecost must be understood in the con­text of the Jewish feast by the same name. Its other name in Jewish tradition is Feast of Weeks, a full season of seven weeks of thanksgiving beginning with Passover Sabbath (see Tobias 2:1; 2 Macabees 12:32). This prolonged festival cele­brated the theme of harvest and thanksgiving. It evolved before the time of Christ into a memorial of the covenant and, by 300 CE., a memorial of the giving of the Law. By the end of the 2nd century, Christians were observing a similar fifty day festival of rejoicing after the annual Pascha. It seems that originally the followers of Jesus continued to ob­serve the Jewish festival, a time of “first fruits” (see I Corin­thians 16:8 and 15:20, 23) rather than a distinctly new theme. During these weeks, fasting and kneeling were forbidden be­cause of the joyful experience of resurrection. By the late 4th century, the feast of the Ascension was cel­ebrated in some parts of the church on the fortieth day after Easter (see Acts 1:3, 9-11). Originally, this mystery of the end­ing of Jesus’ visible presence among his followers seems to have been observed as part of the outpouring of the Spirit on the 50th day, or Pentecost. For the first time, the original 50-day festival was broken. The weekdays between the Ascension and Pentecost are a