Five Ways – May 24

May 20, 2024

Please note my e-mail has changed. It seems the old one still works.

On Sunday, May 19, Sixty Minutes interviewed Pope Francis in a very intriguing 20-minute section. If you google “60 Minutes Overtime, Interviewing Pope Francis,” you will find some very important insights about his papacy. I welcome hearing from you about it.

The Gospel for May 19, Pentecost Sunday, explains Jesus breathing on the apostles to give them the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. Please notice that God breathed on the first human beings and the entire Garden of Eden at the beginning of creation (Gn. 2:7). So, as we repair the harm we have done to our planet, we need the breath of the Holy Spirit to help us ensure a healthy creation all around us.

May 21 is the feast day of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. May the entire de Mazenodian Family rejoice.

Two humorous items from the late Father Gil Boucher, O.M.I., to continue Easter joy. 1) I had been teaching my three-year-old daughter the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word right up to the end of the prayer: “Lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some E-mail. Amen.” 2) Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to get into their pews or their favorite church parking spot.

Many thanks to all who commented on the April 16 e-letter.

Fr. Winter