THE DAY CHRIST WAS TAKEN UP

For long centuries the Ascension of the Lord was celebrated on a Thursday, leaving a period of nine days between His going forth to heavenly glory and the promised gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Those nine days of waiting were the first and original novena as Mary and the Apostles were united in the Cenacle in fervent prayer and anticipation (see Acts 1:13-14). In recent decades— at least in many Dioceses throughout our country—the celebration of the Ascension is shifted to the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

The idea of the Risen Christ among His Church for forty days is a symbolic and round number that speaks of the completeness of the revelation of His Risen Glory as well as the disciples’ preparation for their new mission. Additionally, the nine consecutive days of waiting and prayer perhaps evoke the nine months of expectancy during the pregnancy of Our Lady awaiting the birth of Christ into the world even as the Day of Pentecost is the birthday of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church. These time periods speak to God’s intentionality and profound care for all the details of His Revelation. All glory be to Him that we can re-live these times of immense importance through the Liturgical Year of the Church and become partakers and recipients of the fullness of His grace!

I want to formally welcome Fr. Miroslaw Szynal, a priest of the Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg in Poland to the Twin Cities and to our parish. Many of you have met Fr. Miro already since his arrival in late February from Madison, WI where he had previously been serving. Residing with me on the Holy Cross campus, he has been settling in to part of his assignment as a Hospital Chaplain at Mercy and Unity Hospitals in Coon Rapids and Fridley. Archbishop Hebda and the Archdiocesan staff have been very supportive of his coming here to serve. Beginning on July 1, Fr. Miroslaw will also be serving as a Parochial Vicar here at Holy Cross, with a special care for the Polish community, as Fr. Cyprian will be receiving a new assignment this summer. Details for the transition will be announced as that assignment is made public.

Please keep our young people in prayer who await the fuller gift of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation. This celebration will place in a bilingual English-Spanish Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul on Tuesday evening, May 21st at 7:00 pm. While the Mass is open to the public, it is necessary to arrive early due to the many guests.

I want to thank Jeromy Darling who has been serving as their principal catechist and our part-time Youth Formation and Confirmation Coordinator throughout the past two years. As our young people are confirmed, Jeromy will be wrapping up his service to our parish, although he intends to be present as a parishioner as well as staying involved in the arts and bringing future theatrical productions to the St. Clement stage. The next play will hopefully take place this coming November. A new version of Jeromy’s position is posted, and we have begun interviewing for it along with the Director of Lifelong Discipleship & Outreach position. Nate and Jeromy will both be missed in their staff roles but we are excited by the candidates who have stepped forward and expressed interest in supporting our parish mission going forward.

Let’s remain united in praying for a fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our parish and the Church throughout the world.

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

-Fr. Howe, Pastor