05/27/2026
A Message from Father Stack: Giving Thanks and Calling on the Holy Spirit
My Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. Anthony's,
First of all, I want to give heartfelt thanks to all who came to my anniversary parties after the Masses this past weekend. I was not expecting anything like this. I was deeply touched by your love and appreciation for my ministry of the past 40 years and the 10 years I have been privileged to be at St.
Anthony's. I have loved all the parishes where I was assigned but this, which will hopefully be my last, has been especially great. I love being a parish priest as you probably gathered from my homilies this past weekend.
I personally want to thank all
those who spent their time and energy preparing for these events which took place after each of the Masses. My mother was so happy to be with all of you, even though she was not feeling the greatest.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
We now prepare fot the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is the feast we celebrate today. I was very fortunate to celebrate my first solemn Mass on the feast of Pentecost, on May 18, 1986, at St. Michael's Church in Silver Spring, MD, so, I have always had great love for the third person of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God within our hearts and minds. It was Jesus' promise to the apostles that they would never be alone in their ministry, and it is our source of consolation that Jesus, Emmanuel, who is God with us, will be with you and me until the end of time. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be guided to our heavenly homeland at the end of our lives.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem made some profound claims about the Holy Spirit in his letter which was in the office of readings today. I will share some of this saint's insights into the power of the Spirit:
"The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophecy, gives another the power to cast out devils, enables another to interpret Holy Scriptures. The Spirit strengthens one man's self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of ascetism, makes another oblivious to the needs of the body, trains another for martyrdom. His actions are different in different people, but the spirit himself is always the same.
The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches.
The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to have, to heal, to teach, to council, to strengthen, to console.... ....so light floods the soul of the man counted worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit and enables him to see things beyond the range of human vision, things hitherto undreamed of."
Happy Pentecost, Fr. Stack
