Holy Spirit Church

07/23/2026

05/24/2026

Today we celebrate Pentecost, our parish Feast Day! The Solemnity of Pentecost marks the end of the Easter season. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the strength to fulfill their commission to spread the Good News of Jesus.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit ignite the fire of faith in our hearts so that we may love our Lord and love and serve one another as Jesus taught us.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
Amen.

05/24/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 9, May 24: Liberating the Spirit

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
“There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge. Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same Spirit another is given the gift of healing, and still another miraculous powers; prophesy is given to one; to another the power to distinguish one spirit from another; another receives the gift of tongues; another the interpreting of tongues. But it is one in the same Spirit who produces these gifts, distributing them to each as he wills.”

Meditation
God will be able to do good works through each of us. We can become a channel for God’s Spirit to flow through and into the lives of others. The works that we do will only be limited by our spiritual development. With our spirits in harmony with God’s Spirit, there is no limit to what we can do for others.

Prayer for the Day
Accomplish your work in me, O God, that the many gifts you have given me through the Holy Spirit may lift up the people around me and bring glory to you. Let your Spirit be free in me to fully serve you with all my heart and unite me to work with others in unselfish love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/23/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 8, May 23: Submission

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Hebrews 12:9
“If we respected our earthly fathers who corrected us, should we not all the more submit to the Father of spirits and live?”

Romans 5:3-5
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Meditation
Complete surrender of our lives to God is the foundation to serenity. God has prepared for us many mansions. We must not look upon that promise as referring only to the afterlife. We must not look upon this life as something to be struggled through in order to get the rewards of the next life. We believe that the kingdom of God has begun within us and we can enjoy eternal life here and now.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, I come before you on my knees, for I believe in my heart that you raised Jesus from the dead and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord of my life. Lord, you promised that as many as receive you, you give them the power to become children of God, who are born of God. In submission to you, I receive you as Lord, and I pray to be filled continually with your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

05/22/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 7, May 22: Repentance

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Acts 2:38
“Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins: and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Meditation
We must seek conscious contact with God more and more each day and become aware of God’s abiding Presence during the day. We must be conscious of His Spirit helping us. All that is done without God’s Spirit is passing. All that is done with God’s Spirit is life eternal. It is the flow of life eternal through the mind, body and spirit that cleanses hearts, restores and renews. When we come to know God’s eternal life in us, we are renewed.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, you said in your words that I am to repent, to turn from sin and turn to you. Then I will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Lord, cleanse me from all ungodliness and unrighteousness so that I may walk in the newness of life according to the Spirit of holiness. Thank you for your forgiveness and for hearing this prayer, for I pray in the Holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

05/21/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 6, May 21: Trust

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Luke 1:35-38
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence the Holy Offspring to be born will be called Son of God. Know that Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived a son in her old age, she who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God. Mary said, ‘I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.’”

Meditation
Once we are “born of the Spirit.” The Spirit is our life’s breath. Within us is the Life of life. It is the same Life that throughout the ages has helped God’s children through peril, adversity, and sorrow. We must try never to doubt or worry, but follow where the Life of the Spirit leads. How often are we unaware of how God goes before us to prepare the way, to soften the heart, or to overrule resentment? As the life of the Spirit grows, natural desires are placed within a new horizon – to be governed by the will of God.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, let me open my heart to your will and fully trust in you. With you all things are possible, and with a willing spirit and a humble heart, grant that I may serve you and witness to your word through Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/20/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 5, May 20: Thirst

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

John 7:37-39
“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, ‘Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’ He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was of course no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

Meditation
We need to be constantly recharged by the power of the Spirit of God, to commune with God in quiet times until the life from God, the Divine life – by that very contact – flows into our being and revives our fainting spirit. When weary, we must take time out and rest. When we rest and gain power and strength from God, then we will be ready to meet whatever opportunities come our way. When we rest, allowing every care and worry and fear to be enveloped by grace, the tide of peace and serenity, love and joy will flow into our consciousness – even in the midst of suffering.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, allow my thirst to be satisfied. May your Spirit direct my heart to be awakened. Allow me to seek you in all things and bring forth your kingdom on earth. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/19/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 4, May 19: Belief

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Luke 11:9-13
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For anyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Meditation
God is all around us. His Spirit pervades the universe and yet we do not let His Spirit in. We try to get along without His help and we make a mess of our lives. We can do nothing of any value without God’s help. Our human relationships depend on God. When we let God’s Spirit rule our lives, we learn how to get along with others and how to help them.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, I believe that Jesus Christ is you Son, and that we are saved through His grace. Grant that the Holy Spirit may strengthen my belief that I may glorify Him in all my works through Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/18/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 3, May 18: Peace

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Galatians 5:22-25
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.”

Meditation
This is the time for our spirit to touch the Spirit of God. We know that the feeling of the Spirit – touch is more important than all the sensations of material things. We must seek a silence in which our spirit can receive and become aware of the touch of the Spirit of God. Just a moment’s contact and all the fever of life leaves us. Then we are well, whole, calm, and able to rise and minister to others. God’s touch is a potent healer. We must feel that touch and sense God’s presence.

Prayer for the Day
Blessed Jesus, please give to me stillness of soul and let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, Lord of gentleness, Lord of peace. Give me great power of self-control over my words, thoughts and actions. Deliver me, Lord, from all irritability, want of meekness, and want of kindness. I ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/17/2026

Pentecost Novena Day 2, May 17: Beloved of God

Opening Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me.
Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.
I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me
and to accept all that you permit to happen to me.
Let me only know your will.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Romans 8:2,5,14-16
“For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death. Those who live according to the flesh are concerned with things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit the things of the spirit. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. You received a spirit of adoption by which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Meditation
Each individual has the ability to do good works through the power of God’s Spirit. This is one of the wonders of the world, that God’s power goes out to bless the human race through the agency of so many people who are actuated by His grace. We need not be held back by doubt, despondency and fear. A wonderful future lies before any person who depends on God’s power; a future of tremendous power to do good work.

Prayer for the Day
Lord, you said in your Word that those who are led by the Spirit of God are your own children. Lord, I turn from setting my mind on the things of the flesh, and I ask to be focused on things of the Spirit that I might please you. Holy Spirit, come to the aid of my weakness and intercede for me in accordance with the mind of God. Oh, how I long to call you “Abba!” Help me be open to the Spirit that I can truly testify that I am your beloved child. Amen.