Today, the Church celebrates its “birthday” with the feast of Pentecost. It is a scene of great drama: rushing wind, tongues of fire, the uttering of many languages. It is also a scene of transformation: timid disciples empowered to speak boldly, such that no matter what the religious, cultural, and linguistic differences, each hears the message in a language they can understand. Such is the power of God’s Holy Spirit: to break down the walls of division and to create the unity that is the Father’s desire for all creation. From the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church is born – and reborn, in every age.

This year, inspired by Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, the Quebec Bishops have invited all local churches to embrace what they call le tournant missionnaire. It calls us to conversion, to a profound realignment of our priorities. We are to place Christ’s mission – to announce the Reign of God, to proclaim Jesus directly and explicitly, to reach out to the poor and excluded, at the centre of our pastoral preoccupations. To do this, we may need to let go of our tendency to be “self-referential”, more focused on preserving our ecclesial structures, buildings, and patrimony. This is indeed the “transformation in the Spirit” which has been our focus throughout this pastoral year!

Here at St. Monica’s, we form a richly diverse community. We come from many lands, we speak different languages, we express our faith in a variety of devotions and spiritualties. Yet in the Spirit, gathered around the Lord’s table, we truly form One Body. May this poem by Fr. Philip Chircop S.J., inspire us to celebrate our birthday with great joy and anticipation:

WINDS BLOWING