Parish School of Religion
As we begin in-person class sessions for PSR in just a few weeks, please be aware that we are not returning to the way we did things before the pandemic. The class is on Sunday now, immediately after the 10:30 Mass. Class lasts only one hour, noon to 1:00 pm. That means that we will be dismissing the children at 1:00; because our PSR staff lacks much flexibility in their own family schedules, please be sure to be ready at the end of that hour to pick up those for whom you are responsible.
We will offer a refreshment for the family members dropping off their children and we promise good conversation. Rather than retreating to your car and waiting there for an hour, please come on in.
We will also provide a snack for the children immediately as they enter the building, something to hold them until class is over. One of the two teachers in each classroom will welcome the children at the door, and guide them upstairs to their classrooms where they will find a snack and the other teacher waiting for them.
- PSR classes will be for one hour on the first and third Sundays of each month from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm, beginning with Sunday, September 18th.
- The complete schedule of class dates is available at the link below.
- A list of the teachers at each grade level is also available here.
- A registration form is available at the link below. Please complete one form for each child you are registering.
Keep visiting this page for further updates and information.
Watchful Wednesday 05/17/2023
We have just two Sundays left in the Easter Season. During this time, we have the celebrations of Ascension and Pentecost. Ascension provides a sign of the union of Father and Son when the resurrected Jesus is taken up into heaven. Pentecost is a celebration of the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus. Both these events celebrate the love shared between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the powerful new life passed on to the community of believers. These celebrations mark the ongoing growth of the new covenant Jesus taught to his followers.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus shared his Spirit of love with the disciples and all he met. He did this by his teaching of the ways of the Father and by his works of mercy, healing, and welcome. Jesus witnessed to the Holy Spirit by both speaking truth to the powerful and comfort to the downtrodden. Jesus’ death and resurrection continued to manifest the Spirit. Jesus taught the disciples that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This power was to be used by them to be witnesses to Jesus and all his teaching and commands. This Spirit filled witnessing was to extend to all the earth. And finally, Jesus promised even though he would no longer walk among them he would be with them always.
Then Pentecost came and the disciples were transformed. They experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire. Earlier in Exodus, God’s presence with the people was seen as fire and smoke. In Exodus, God led the Israelites to freedom and offered them a special covenant. On Pentecost, the outpouring of the Spirit changed the hearts and minds of the disciples. They were able to overcome their fear and confusion. They experienced a new power in the Holy Spirit. The Acts of the Apostles records many ways the Holy Spirit gifted the early faith community. These multiple gifts built up the community and provided witness to the larger world.
One lesson the early believers learned was that there was a danger of division and hostility among people with different gifts of the Spirit. St. Paul and other leaders guided the Church to remember that while there are different gifts, services, and works of the Spirit there is only one Spirit. All gifts are to be of benefit for the community and its mission. Let us pray for an outpouring of wisdom, humility, tolerance, and understanding so we can rightly discern the different manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
Ascension and Pentecost are times to celebrate and praise God for mighty deeds performed through the sharing of the Holy Spirit. It is a time of gratitude for the abundant gifts, works, and ministries provided by the Holy Spirit. Let us continue our prayers for the Lord to send out the Spirit and renew the face of the earth. We pray the Spirit be with all our loved ones, the community of Holy Spirit Parish, and the people of the world.
This is the last Watchful Wednesday Meditation for this PSR year. We plan to continue when PSR resumes in the fall. Thank you for taking time to meditate with us. May your days be filled by the gifts of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.