My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Happy Pentecost! Happy Birthday to the Church and Happy Birthday to the members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), and to all Spiritan associates!

It is with great joy that I write this Pentecost message to you. At Jesus’ Ascension, he instructed his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit, who would bestow upon them the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. These gifts of the Holy Spirit will cultivate the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control within them. Thus, filled with and empowered by this Spirit, the disciples would serve as witnesses for Jesus, beginning in Judea and extending to the entire world (Acts 1:8).

On Pentecost Day, Jesus’ disciples experienced the Holy Spirit in a unique manner, enabling them to proclaim the Good News of Christ in various languages. This event coincided with a pilgrimage for the Jewish feast of First Fruits and the giving of the Torah (Law) at Mount Sinai, where attendees were amazed to hear the disciples speaking in their native tongues. Pentecost contrasts with the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), where humanity was divided and unable to understand each other. Currently, approximately seven thousand one hundred and seventeen languages are spoken globally, with thousands becoming extinct. Australian residents speak over three hundred languages. Some of the languages belong to the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. According to the 2021 census, while 72% of Australian residents speak English at home, 22% of residents speak non-English languages at home. Pentecost was an event where people from various backgrounds and nationalities communicated and understood each other, highlighting unity in diversity. Each gift is important and should be appreciated and utilized for the dissemination of the Gospel of Christ. Pentecost teaches that every language is a gift from God and valued by Him.

The Holy Spirit, who is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, is considered both an agent and catalyst of mission. According to the Nicene Creed, “He is the Lord, the giver of life who proceeded from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified.” Before the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus, they were hesitant and lacked the confidence to spread the Gospel of Jesus, which is the Gospel of life. However, after receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, their fear dissipated. They then began to share the Gospel, and many who heard the message about Jesus were influenced and a notable number asked to be baptized (Acts 2:40).

Fr Claude Poullart des Places who founded the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), was led by the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost Sunday, May 27th, 1703, he gathered some impoverished seminarians whom he was helping to feed in France and dedicated them to the Holy Spirit. The members were committed to working among the poor in society and in areas where the Church has difficulty finding workers. Consequently, the Spiritans serve as missionaries in first evangelizations (areas where people have not heard or scarcely heard of Christ), parishes, hospitals, prisons, and among refugees. Presently, the Spiritan Fathers and Brothers are working in about sixty countries which include Australia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Ethiopia, Nigeria, France, United Kingdom, United States, French Guyane, Brazil, Mauritius, Madagascar, Gabon, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Sierra-Leone, Paraguay, Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Peru, Ireland, Ghana, Uganda, Congo and so forth.

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with the oomph to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ as his witnesses in the world. Amen.

Happy Pentecost!