Religious Education

This Sunday is the feast of Pentecost,  the day we recall that the Apostles began their mission to share the good news about Jesus, God with us. The Church was born. Hence Pentecost is known as the church's birthday. 

Pentecost Sunday comes fifty days after Jesus’ death and resurrection at Easter. After a period of waiting and praying by the disciples,  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. They received baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel was then preached to people from all over the world and heard in all their various languages.  

The Apostles were called to be witnesses to Jesus’ life and his message to us. A witness is someone who tells what they have seen and heard. They do not need to persuade or convince people to change, that is the job of the Holy Spirit to change peoples’ hearts.

We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a particular way at Baptism and Confirmation,   and like the Apostles, we are able to spread the Good News by sharing these gifts.

In the church calendar, Pentecost is followed by ordinary time – a time of waiting and praying.

Pentecost continues to remind us that, both in our personal lives and society, God does not do everything at once, but works in stages. As we know with children who want everything now, when we do things in stages we need to remind ourselves that saying please, waiting and saying thank you are essential parts of our relationship with God and with one another. As the saying goes, "Good things come to those who wait!"

This weekend at the Pentecost masses, we welcome our Year 6 students who will be pledging their commitment to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation later on in July. We pray that the Holy Spirit guides and strengthens them on their faith journey and that they use the gifts of the spirit to be the face of God in the world.