Text Box: reproduced. Reproductions are sometimes displayed in homes or elsewhere. Catholics have, for centuries, prayed to the Blessed Virgin that she intercede on their behalf with Christ. On the current Roman Catholic calendar of saints Our Lady of Perpetual Help is commemorated on June 27, also June 27, – St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop & doctor of the Church – defended Mary as “Theotokos” – God-bearer at the Council of Ephesus (431) against the Nestorians; spokesmen for orthodoxy; noted especially for his Christological formulations; supported growth of Egyptian monasticism. Died 444 A.D. June 28, – St. Irenaeus, martyr – from Smyrna; disciple of St. Polycarp (Feb. 23); for 25 years bishop of Lyons; wrote against the Gnostics, esp. Adversus heresies; first to provide a coherent rationale for Christian Bible including both Testaments, and the first to offer a comprehensive account of belief in God’s universal providential and redemptive economy. Died 202 A.D. June 29, – Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles & Martyrs – St. Peter – Galilean fisherman; spokesman for the Twelve who became “Prince of the Apostles”; two epistles are ascribed to him; patron of those in the fishing industry. Martyred in Rome under Nero 64 A.D. St. Paul – He was a Pharisee who became the “Apostle of the Gentiles”; his letters may be dated from 50-65 A.D.; patron of the lay apostolate, the Cursillo Movement and Catholic Action; also of Malta and Greece. Martyred in Rome 67 A.D. June 30, – The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church – Those many Christians who were tortured, crucified and burned alive in 64 A.D. in Nero’s gardens on the Vatican Hill are honored today. PENTECOST Today; Sunday, May 31st we celebrate Pentecost Sunday - the commemoration of sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Blessed Virgin Mary. 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. Text Box: 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). MONTH OF JUNE We are approaching the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through the month of June, every day after the 8.00AM Holy Mass, we shall recite the Litany to the Sacred Heart followed by Benediction. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very popular around the world. After private revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (patroness of our Church) in 1690 in Paray-le-Monial in France, it became popular to devote the first Friday of each month to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Parishioners would go to the Sacrament of Confession, participate in Holy Mass, and receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive Fridays out of special devotion and to receive special indulgences. It also became common for Parishioners to have an image of the Sacred Heart enthroned in their homes and to burn a candle before it on Fridays. Some have images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and have special devotions on each month’s First Saturday. Some parish calendars still reflect these customs. We would also like to encourage all parishioners to celebrate this devotion established by Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary. Christians in ancient times considered Friday an especially serious day to remember the suffering and death of Jesus with fasting, prayer, and private devotions. Those who violated this tradition did so with the possibility of evil consequences. This contributed to the popular notion that Friday, especially Friday the 13th, is an unlucky day. During the month of June, we will recite Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after morning daily Holy Masses. Litanies became a favorite method of praying in the Middle Ages. In modern times, so many litanies were composed some of questionable content that the Church began restricting their public use. The only litanies officially approved today, are: Litany of the Saints, Blessed Virgin Mary of Loretto, Holy Name, Sacred Heart, Saint Joseph, Precious Blood and Litany of Divine Mercy. PLEASE PRAY LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AT HOME IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO COME TO CHURCH.