05/13/2026
To help prepare our hearts for the Solemnity of Pentecost, attached is the Novena to the Holy Spirit. We humbly invite you to begin praying this Novena on Friday, May 15th, and continue through Saturday, May 23rd.
Pray with expectation. Entrust yourself fully to Him. Open your heart to His movement—and be ready for something extraordinary to unfold in our midst.
Come, Holy Spirit!......................
“Let It Happen Today”
Day One – Wisdom Friday, May 15, 2026
The Gift of Wisdom teaches us to see life through the eyes of God.
It helps us place heavenly things above earthly concerns and
recognize Christ working in our daily lives. Today we pray for
wisdom within our homes, our parish family, and our communities.
We ask the Holy Spirit to guide parents, grandparents, teachers,
clergy, and all who shape the lives of others. May we become
people who seek holiness, peace, and truth in all things. As the
Apostles gathered in hopeful prayer before Pentecost, may we too
open our hearts to God’s transforming grace. The Spirit still moves
among His people. It can happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Wisdom, guide our hearts and minds
according to Your holy will. Teach us to seek what is lasting and
good. Bless our communities and all who gather in prayer during
this novena. Help us become what You would have us be: a place
of welcome, peace, healing, and hope for those who are lost,
searching, or burdened. We surrender ourselves to Your direction
and trust in Your loving care. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day Two – Understanding Saturday, May 16, 2026
The Gift of Understanding deepens our faith and helps us
recognize the beauty of God’s truth. Through this gift we come to
better understand Sacred Scripture, the life of the Church, and the
ways God continues to work in the world. Today we pray for all
who seek meaning, healing, and purpose in their lives. May the
Holy Spirit open our hearts to one another with patience,
compassion, and mercy. We ask God to bless our children and
youth as they grow in faith and wisdom. The same Spirit who
enlightened the Apostles continues to guide the Church today. Let
it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Understanding, enlighten our hearts
with Your truth. Help us to know Christ more deeply and to follow
Him more faithfully. Bless our neighborhoods, schools,
workplaces, and communities. May we become a refuge for those
seeking comfort, guidance, and faith. Lead us away from division
and fear and guide us toward unity and love. We place ourselves
into Your care and direction today and always. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Day Three – Counsel Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Gift of Counsel helps us make holy and faithful decisions.
Through this gift the Holy Spirit directs our paths and teaches us to
choose what is right. Today we pray for guidance for our parish
leaders, for Father Jim, and for all entrusted with the care of God’s
people. We pray also for our families and for our young people
who are making important decisions about their future. May the
Holy Spirit guide us to become a community that reflects Christ’s
mercy and welcome. God continues to call His people forward
with hope and purpose. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Counsel, direct our thoughts, our
words, and our actions. Give wisdom to those who lead and serve
Your people. Bless Father Jim, parish leaders, and all who labor
for the good of the Church and community. Help us become
instruments of peace and encouragement to those who feel
forgotten, displaced, or uncertain. We surrender our plans and
desires to Your loving guidance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day Four – Fortitude Monday, May 18, 2026
The Gift of Fortitude gives courage and strength in moments of
struggle. At Pentecost the Apostles were transformed from fearful
followers into bold witnesses of the Gospel. Today we pray for all
who are weary, discouraged, suffering, or afraid. May the Holy
Spirit strengthen families facing hardship, those burdened by
illness, and all who feel overwhelmed by life’s difficulties. We ask
God to renew our faith and help us stand firm in hope. Through the
power of the Holy Spirit, fear gives way to courage and despair
gives way to joy. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Fortitude, strengthen us when we are
weak and encourage us when we are afraid. Protect our
communities and bless all who struggle physically, emotionally, or
spiritually. Help us become a haven for the hurting and a source of
hope for those who feel alone. Guide us to trust Your direction
even when the path ahead is uncertain. May Your peace rest upon
Michigan and all its people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day Five – Knowledge Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The Gift of Knowledge helps us recognize God’s presence in the
world and use His gifts wisely. Today we thank God for the
blessings He continues to pour upon His people and for the many
ways He works through ordinary lives. We pray that the Holy
Spirit help us grow in gratitude, humility, and generosity. May our
communities become places where faith, kindness, and compassion
flourish. The Holy Spirit continues to work through His Church
and through all who open their hearts to Him. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Knowledge, teach us to recognize
Your presence in our daily lives. Help us use our gifts wisely for
the good of others and for the glory of God. Bless our nation, guide
its leaders, and bring peace to all people. May we become what
You desire us to be: a people of mercy, truth, and welcome for
those who are searching for faith and belonging. We place
ourselves into Your loving hands. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day Six – Piety Wednesday, May 20, 2026
The Gift of Piety fills our hearts with love for God and devotion to
His Church. It inspires us to pray faithfully, worship sincerely, and
care for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Today we
pray for deeper faith within our homes and communities. May our
worship renew us and our acts of kindness reveal Christ to the
world. We pray especially for our children, youth, families, and all
who seek to grow closer to God. The Holy Spirit continues to
gather His people together in faith and love. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Piety, deepen our love for God and
strengthen our devotion to prayer and service. Bless Father Jim,
parish leaders, and all who dedicate themselves to caring for
others. Help our homes and communities reflect the peace and
mercy of Christ. May we become a welcoming refuge for those
who are searching for hope, healing, and faith. We trust ourselves
completely to Your holy direction. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Day Seven: Fear of the Lord Thursday, May 21, 2026
The Gift of Fear of the Lord teaches us reverence, humility, and
awe before God. It reminds us that true wisdom begins with
recognizing God’s greatness and trusting in His mercy. Today we
pray that the Holy Spirit help us live faithfully and humbly in
God’s presence. May we never take His blessings for granted and
may our hearts always remain open to His will. The Spirit who
descended upon the Apostles continues to renew and strengthen
the faithful today. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Holy Fear, fill our hearts with
reverence, humility, and love for God. Protect our communities,
our nation, and all who seek peace and safety. Help us walk
faithfully in Your ways and guide us away from sin and
selfishness. May we become a light for those who feel lost and a
place of welcome for all who seek Christ. We surrender ourselves
fully to Your holy will and direction. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
There needs to be two days added, come holy spirit, lord send thy
Holy Spirit, Fill us, guide our seminarians, youth clergy, we prayer
for the congregations through our neighborhoods may they been
engulfed with the Holy spirit, may our neighborhoods cities, state
and nation be engulfed by His sprit with the greatest of
expectations we prayer. Let it Happen Today.
Day Eight – Come, Holy Spirit Friday, May 22, 2026
From the very beginning of the Church, the cry of the faithful has
been, “Come, Holy Spirit.” The Apostles waited in prayer with
hopeful hearts, trusting in the promise of Christ. Today we join
that same prayer with great expectation. We pray for our
congregations, our clergy, seminarians, youth, children, families,
and friends. May the Holy Spirit renew our hearts and awaken
within us a greater desire to serve God faithfully. We ask the Spirit
to move powerfully through our neighborhoods, cities,
communities, and nation. May all people come to know the peace,
healing, and hope that only God can provide. The Holy Spirit still
descends upon His people. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit. Lord, send forth Thy Holy Spirit and renew the
face of the earth. Fill us with holy expectation, living faith, and
joyful hope. Bless our clergy and seminarians as they prepare to
serve Your Church. Strengthen our youth and children that they
may grow in holiness and courage. May our congregations become
shining lights of welcome, mercy, and truth. Engulf our
neighborhoods, our cities, the State of Michigan, and the United
States with the fire of Your divine presence. Guide us according to
Your holy will and make us what You would have us be. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day Nine – Filled with the Holy Spirit Saturday, May 23, 2026
As this novena draws to a close, we stand spiritually with the
Apostles on the eve of Pentecost, waiting with prayerful
anticipation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We pray that our
hearts may be filled anew with God’s grace and power. May the
Spirit strengthen the Church, renew our communities, inspire
vocations, and awaken faith in those who have drifted away. We
pray especially for those who are searching, burdened, displaced,
or longing for hope. May our parish family and all Christian
communities become havens of peace, healing, and renewal. The
same Spirit that descended upon the Apostles continues to move
among us today. Let it happen today.
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them
the fire of Thy love. Pour out Your Spirit upon our clergy,
seminarians, parish leaders, youth, children, and all who seek to
follow Christ. Bless our homes, our congregations, and all gathered
in prayer throughout our communities. May our neighborhoods,
cities, state, and nation be engulfed by the presence of Your Holy
Spirit. Lead us into truth, strengthen us in holiness, and guide us in
peace. With the greatest expectation we pray for renewal, healing,
unity, and faith. Let it happen today. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As we conclude this Pentecost Novena, I want to sincerely thank
each of you for joining me and our All Saints Parish family in
prayer. Whether you gathered with us through Zoom, prayed
quietly at home, or carried these intentions with you throughout
the day, your prayers mattered. Together, we joined our hearts
with the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary in hopeful
expectation of the Holy Spirit.
Over these days, we prayed for our families, youth, children,
clergy, seminarians, organizations, communities, and nation. We
prayed for the searching, the weary, the displaced, and all longing
for hope. Most importantly, we opened ourselves to the direction
and movement of the Holy Spirit.
I truly believe God is doing something beautiful among us. The
blessings already being poured upon our parish and community
are signs of His presence and grace. May we continue forward
with faith, courage, and joyful expectations, believing with all our
hearts that the Holy Spirit is alive, active, and still transforming
lives today. Let it happen today.
Borrowed from Fr Jim Ploskonka , All Saints Parish, Sterling Heights, MI
