PENTECOST SUNDAY – BE INFUSED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (YR A)
Friday 26th May 2023
BE INFUSED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is Pentecost this weekend! A chance to explicitly receive the Holy Spirit, the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.
During the Saturday Vigil Mass (27 May), we will celebrate Pentecost in a special way. Join us – for Mass, lighting of candles, renewing our baptismal promises, praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Adoration, Confession, and a dedicated prayer team to pray individually for you and your family and all your intentions.
ALPHA and the HOLY SPIRIT
The participants of the Alpha program will also have the opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit in a special way during the Alpha course. Participants of Alpha will be taking part in the Holy Spirit retreat on Saturday 3rd of June 10-4pm, held in the Hall of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish in Gladstone Park. An important event in the Alpha course, at this retreat, participants can personally experience and encounter God through his presence, HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
The retreat is the climax of our eighth Alpha program which is going really well so far, with up to forty participants. It has been exciting and uplifting to see people coming from different faith journey experiences to explore faith, connect with each other, to renew and deepen their relationship with God.
Over the first four sessions, the members have had the opportunity to connect with each other over the delicious dinners donated and cooked by our generous parishioners. During this time, they have met, mingled and eventually engaged in the deeper conversations of life and faith.
The content of the sessions has been very engaging and challenging, an invitation to explore the big questions about the meaning of life. A chance to recognise deep within us our longing for something more, and a chance to discover that this longing is fulfilled only through knowing Jesus, learning about WHO Jesus is, looking at the historical evidence of his existence, what he claimed about himself and his mission, his love, and miracles. Followed by the prompting topic ‘Why did Jesus die” and unpacking the reality of Jesus dying for us; his sacrificial love, forgiveness, and unending call to come to him, to open our hearts to him by listening to his word and believing and having faith in him.
Each Alpha session, questions, ideas, thoughts are unpacked and discussed within small groups of participants, with leaders prompting, encouraging, and providing a safe and comfortable environment for everyone to have the opportunity to share experiences at their level of comfort, accompanying each other in discovering, knowing, and growing in a deeper relationship with Christ.
We ask that you keep us all in your prayers, that through the Holy Spirit our Alpha participants continue to open their hearts to a deeper relationship with Christ & discern the life he intended them to live.
Expressions of interest for participating in the next Alpha will be open soon, with the invitation to come along as you are, God has prepared a seat for you at the table to ask questions about LIFE, FAITH and MEANING!!
By The Alpha Team