Dear SSJ Parish Family & Visitors, 

Being a High School Youth Minister for the past decade, Pentecost holds a special place in my heart. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of watching 85 teenagers receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at a beautiful and Spirit-filled Mass. Watching them stand before the Bishop, being sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, brought today’s first reading (Acts 2:1–1) vividly to life for me. 2000 years ago the Apostles were also gathered together in community and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The fact we are celebrating the same thing here today in 2025 never ceases to amaze me. 

Furthermore, the feast of Pentecost and this reading brings me back fond, yet fearful memories of my childhood. 30 years ago (I was confirmed in elementary school), I remember being called into the headmaster’s office one day at my school, St Bernadette’s Primary. I was surprised to find that I wasn’t in trouble, but was being asked to read the first reading at my Confirmation Mass that weekend (Acts 2: 1-11). Not being particularly shy, I wasn’t fazed at first, until I read the reading and realized I was struggling to pronounce the place names! How I needed the Holy Spirit to let the congregation hear this in our native language and not be confused. While I had no problem pronouncing Scottish town names like Drumnadrochit and Drimtaidhvrickhillichattan, I struggled with Phrygia and Pamphylia. In the end, I think I did okay and one way the Holy Spirit moved that day was by leaving me with an experience of reading scripture to a large group of people. I would never have guessed that the Holy Spirit would guide me all the way to Huntington Beach from Tullibody to talk about scripture today. 

In today’s first reading, we hear how the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to go out and proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. This was the birth of the Church! Those apostles, once fearful and uncertain, became bold witnesses of Christ.

Similarly, our newly confirmed teens are now sent forth, empowered and equipped, to live and spread their faith. Confirmation isn’t “graduation” – it’s the beginning of an abundant life in the Spirit. 

But this feast isn’t just about them—it’s about all of us. Are we still living out our life in the Spirit? Pentecost is a reminder of our own Confirmation. A reminder of our own mission as Catholic Christians. Whether it was last month or decades ago, each of us has received the same Holy Spirit. And with that gift comes a mission. Our communities, especially our young people, need adult Catholics who are living their Confirmation boldly—witnessing with joy, serving with humility, and showing the face of Christ in daily life.

We are encouraged to ask ourselves, “How am I living out the grace of my Confirmation? How am I responding to the Spirit’s prompting in my life? Are there places where I, like the apostles, am being invited to step out of fear and into bold proclamation?”

Let us pray for our newly confirmed teens and adults, that they remain open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And let us renew our own “yes” to the mission we received at Confirmation. The Church needs every one of us, aflame with the Holy Spirit, to bring Christ to the world.

Happy Birthday, Catholic Church! 

Andrew Watson