Whispers of the Spirit

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

As most of the readers are aware, Pope Benedict XVI declared 2009 as the Year for Priests. In commemoration of this declaration, I have decided to publish a new vocation support blog. The blog will go live sometime in the next few days, probably early next week and will be titled, “Whispers of the Spirit.”

Whispers of the Spirit will not only cover vocations stories and thoughts, but will feature interviews with priests and seminarians  from St. John Vianney College Seminary, seminary statistics, etc. The site will also  include any remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI regarding the Year for Priests. If there is something you want covered, please email me and I will do my best to put it up on the site. A special email address will be created for this purpose (to be determined at a later time).

Now, to another major announcement about the blog: Seminarian Cliff Whitty, from the Diocese of St. Petersburg will be a co-writer on the blog. Cliff is the author and creator of Catholic Eye Candy, blog that features different liturgical aspects of the Catholic Church. It is an awesome site and I am very thankful that Cliff has decided to help out in this ever important and necessary endeavor.

I would like to take this time to thank all of you, my readers, for your support and prayers over the last few months. I am quite new to this whole blogging thing and your feedback is much appreciated. Please keep it coming!!

May God bless all of you and may He continue to bless the Roman Catholic Church. St. John Vianney…Pray for us!

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.

From the Cathechism of the Catholic Church

Throughout the month of June, I have been reflecting on the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the world, more specifically, within my own life over the last year. Throughout the last week, I have been reflecting on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

[Each of the seven gifts] perfect certain basic virtues. Four of them perfect the intellectual virtues. Understanding gives an intuitive penetration into truth. Wisdom perfects charity, in order to judge divine things. Knowledge perfects the virtue of hope. The gift of counsel perfects prudence.

The other three gifts perfect virtues of the will and appetites. The gift of piety perfects justice in giving to others that which is their due. This is especially true of giving God what is His due. Fortitude perfects the virtue of fortitude, in facing dangers. Fear of the Lord perfects temperance in controlling disordered appetites.

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/Teachings/spira3.htm

It is important for all of us to remember that the Holy Spirit is there to help us when we face difficult situations – whether it be experiencing some kind of doubt about our faith or some temptation that we are having difficulty overcoming. God the Father has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and strengthen us; the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to us for this purpose.

Over the past year, I have turned to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to send the Holy Spirit to guide me throughout the difficult periods of my life, especially when I have experienced a “dry spell” in my prayer. Whenever these “dry spells” come about in our spiritual life, we must remember to push them, persevering in our prayers. Remember to pray to the Holy Spirit -  ask the Spirit to continue to guide you and strengthen you in your prayer. Remember to reflect on your life; what things are you doing that is turning you away from the Father’s loving kindness? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome those struggles and temptations. Finally, don’t get discouraged! Nothing happens in our time – God decides what is best for us and at what time we will receive a particular grace. Be patient!

May God continue to bless all of you and may He send the Holy Spirit upon all of us, to strengthen us and guide us along our journey of faith. Bye for now…

Finally…Some Rome Pictures

I am taking a short break from the posts on the Holy Spirit, which will continue next week, to post some photos of my recent trip to Rome. I hope all of you enjoy them!!

We were this close to Pope Benedict XVI

For more photos, please go here!

Pentecost

Last weekend, the church celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, which represents the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, signifying the end of Christ’s mission. This Feast of Pentecost also marks the completion of the New Covenant between God and His people. For this reason, Pentecost is the birthday of the church. Here is some brief information on the Feast of Pentecost.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that the Holy Spirit descended upon the followers of Christ as they hid in the Upper Room. When the apostles received the spirit, they began to “speak in different tongues” to the numbers of Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. [The original Feast of Pentecost signified the completion of the covenant between God and the ancient Israelites by Moses on Mt. Sinai.]

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

-Acts 2:2-4 (USCCB; New American Bible – Online Version)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to say about the Feast of Pentecost:

• On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ’s Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance.
• On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity. By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the “last days,” the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited though not yet consummated.

Throughout the month of June, I will be reflecting on the Holy Spirit. My reflections will include some information about the God’s Gift of the Holy Spirit (according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church), Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Prayers to the Holy Spirit and maybe a couple of more things (depends on my responsibilities at Divine Mercy).

Bye for now….

Good News for the Orlando Diocese

News from the Diocesan E-Scroll!!

Bishop Thomas Wenski has accepted Mr. Bernard Kiratu Ngugi, formerly of the Diocese of Pensacola – Tallahassee, as a seminarian of the Diocese of Orlando. He has fulfilled all the necessary seminary requirements, making him a suitable candidate for the order of deacons and consequently to the ministerial priesthood. Bishop Wenski, upon the recommendation of those in charge of his formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach and the good recommendation received by Bishop Ricard of the Diocese of Pensacola – Tallahassee, has formally called Mr. Kiratu for orders. He will be ordained a transitional deacon along with the 14 men who will be ordained permanent deacons for our diocese on Saturday June 13th at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. Please keep Mr. Kiratu in your prayers as we welcome him with joy to our diocese.

Diaconate Ordination Coming Up

On June 13, 2009 Bishop Thomas Wenski will ordain fourteen men to the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Orlando. The following is a post from the Diocese of Orlando website.

All are invited to attend the ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE on Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m. at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. There are many reasons for the existence of the Permanent Diaconate in the Church, but all of them presume the praise of the Most Blessed Trinity.

The deacon’s sacred ministry is at the service of God’s revelation of Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The deacon’s work must serve to lead the people to know, love and serve the One and Triune God. The following men will take their place among the successors of the first deacons, in a close and sacramental partnership with the Bishop and priests of the Diocese of Orlando, a partnership in the Gospel of Christ. It is a vocation of special service to the people of God, special service closely associated with the priests. It is a service of charity; it is an outreach in the name of Jesus Christ and the Church. The service of each deacon is more than a personal contribution of an individual. It is part of the life of the Church and the mystery of Christ.

Please pray for these men and their families:

• Don Andrews, Resurrection, Lakeland
• Juan Contreras, St Rose of Lima
• Kevin Crawford, Our Lady of Grace
• Juan Cruz, St. Mary Magdalen
• Alan Espinoza, St. Isaac Jogues
• Joseph Gassman, Holy Name of Jesus
• Bruce Gesinski, Prince of Peace
• Norman Levesques, Sts. Peter & Paul
• Patrick McAvoy, Holy Family
• Michael Mintern, St Joseph, Palm Bay
• Robert Steve Roe, St. Joseph, Lakeland
• John Rumplasch, Jr., St. Mark the Evangelist
• Vincent Trunzo, Holy Name of Jesus
• Paul Volkerson, St. Charles

Special congratulations to Mr. Paul Volkerson! Mr. Volkerson is a member of my parish and has been very helpful to me this year as I have continued to discern priestly ministry.

May God bless all of these men and their families as they approach ordination.