Pentecost Multicultural Vigil

On Pentecost, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the Apostles as the first fruits of the new creation and manifesting the Church to the world.  This continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit enlivens and unites the Church as the one Body of Christ, even to this day.  Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which enabled all those gathered in Jerusalem from various parts of the world to hear and understand the preaching of the Apostles in their native tongue, God highlights what was first revealed by the star guiding the Magi: salvation is for all peoples and nations!

    Although we come from different places and cultures, the Holy Spirit makes us one in the Church, the Body of Christ.  Therefore, we gather together to give thanks to God for this manifestation of His love.  At the same time, we pray that by humbly following the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we may be more perfectly united to Christ and each other as members of his body.  We eagerly await the day when all are made one in Christ.

    This year at St. Albert the Great, we will observe Pentecost in a way which helps us remember that we are made one in the Body of Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit.  On the Vigil of Pentecost (Saturday evening), the Church presents an option for an extended vigil much like the Vigil of Easter.  During the extended Vigil of Pentecost, we hear from multiple readings the plan God had from the beginning to unite and give life to all of humanity through the Holy Spirit.  As a parish, we will observe this extended Vigil of Pentecost in a way which celebrates how God unites the many cultures of our parishioners in the one Body of Christ.  Instead of our usual two Saturday evening Masses, we will celebrate one vigil at 6pm.  This vigil Mass will be multilingual with the six readings proclaimed in the different languages of our parishioners.  We invite those who attend to wear their traditional attire so that we may be a visible reminder of how God calls all humanity to be one in Christ, united by the Holy Spirit.