Text Box: PENTECOST 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 C.E., 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 1 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 the 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 preparation period for the outpouring of the Spirit. It is popularly called the Pentecost Novena (see Acts 1:14). Pentecost itself closes out the Easter season. It celebrates the overwhelming experience of God pouring out the Spirit upon the first community of those who believed Jesus was the Lord and Christ (see Acts 2:1-4). Pentecost is called, therefore, the birth of the church or the birth of the church’s mission. The color of vestments and decorations for Pentecost is red. It symbolizes the intense love and fire of the Holy Spirit. Other symbols of the Pentecost event are the dove (see Luke 3:21-22), the tongues of flame (see Acts 2:1-4), and wind (see Acts 2:2). ST. ANNE’S GUILD CORNER: Congratulations to the new slate of officers who will lead the Guild next year: Sara Cumbelich, president, Mary Muth, Vice President, Bill Duffy, treasurer, and Lily Mullen, secretary. A heartfelt THANK YOU goes to this past year’s officers who worked tirelessly for our parish: Grace da Silva, Linda Fealy, Hugo da Silva, Bill Duffy and Frances Geiger. Join us on Saturday, May 30 for the installation Mass at 11 am, and end of year brunch which will follow in the parish hall. Everyone is welcome. Text Box: Scheduled upcoming events, please mark your calendars! May 30, Guild Officers Installation Masss at 11 am, and end of year brunch. Sunday, July 19 at 3 pm; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel BBQ. Sunday, October 4; Harvest Bake sale, after all Masses. Sunday October 18; St. Margaret Mary Feast Day Dinner– at 3 pm Sunday, December 13, Gaudete Bake Sale; after all Masses.