Dear Parishioners,

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bestowed upon us at Pentecost, are interconnected and interdependent, working together to empower and transform us as disciples of Christ. Each gift serves a unique purpose, yet they harmoniously blend to form a symphony of divine grace within us. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While some Christians accept these as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them merely as examples of the Holy Spirit’s work through the faithful. It’s easy to contend that one gift cannot exist without the other. Piety could be considered a result of understanding and fear of the Lord, also referred to as “wonder and awe.” Knowledge can be seen as the gateway to wisdom and understanding.

If knowledge truly is a gateway to the other gifts, then I wonder just how much knowledge we all have for the events of Pentecost. What happened to the disciples the day the noise came from the sky and “filled the entire house in which they were?” Our first reading (Acts 2:1-11), and the rest of chapter two from Acts of the Apostles provides us the facts of Pentecost, so here are a few trivia questions for you, to test your gift of knowledge:

In the Book of Acts, how many days after he ascended into Heaven did the disciples celebrate Pentecost?

a. Ten
b. One
c. Five
d. Three

When everyone was gathered in a room celebrating the feast, what sound did they hear, as described in Acts?

a. Fire Crackling
b. Children Laughing
c. Water Gurgling
d. Rushing Wind

What is the description of what happened to the disciples when the Holy Spirit entered them?

a. Fell Into a Deep Sleep
b. Spoke Different Languages
c. They Ate Lamb
d. They Began to Cry

What did Peter say would happen to those that call upon the Lord?

a. They Will Be Saved
b. They Will Dream Dreams
c. They Will See Jesus
d. The Lord Will Remember Them

Which of Jesus’ disciples stood up and spoke to the crowds?

a. James
b. Peter
c. Matthew
d. Thomas

Who was Peter describing as sitting at the right hand of God?

a. David
b. Moses
c. Solomon
d. Jesus

While speaking, what does Peter say would happen to the old men in the city?

a. Dream
b. Pour Out their Spirit
c. Prophecy
d. See Visions

What liturgical celebration or holiday does the Solemnity of Pentecost follow?

a. Easter
b. New Year’s
c. Christmas
d. Memorial Day

In what city did the first Pentecost celebration described in Acts take place?

a. Bethlehem
b. Nazareth
c. Jerusalem
d. Canaan

In Acts 2, what did God tell David would happen to his enemies?

a. David Would Kill Them
b. They Would Become his Friends
c. His Enemies Would Burn
d. They Would Be his Footstools

As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, let us open our hearts to receive these gifts anew, allowing them to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. May we humbly embrace the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, and may these gifts propel us towards holiness and an ever-deepening relationship with God.

Dear Heavenly Father, on this day over 2000 years ago, you inaugurated the Church by having the Holy Spirit indwell in your believers. We rejoice that you have allowed us, men and women, Jew, and Gentile, to experience new life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, our guide, and so many other things. And may we continue to celebrate this day until you return. Amen.

Peace and All Good,
Friar Henry

Dear Parishioners,

Saints of God, the Lord be with you!

Growing up I remember this great feast, or better referred to as the Solemnity of the Ascension, was celebrated on a Thursday, and to be honest, some dioceses still keep to that day of the week.  However, it makes sense to me to celebrate the Ascension of the Lord on a Sunday, since this is another way to describe the mystery of Easter.

On Easter Sunday, the church focuses on Jesus’ victory over death through bodily rising, albeit the body is now not merely physical, but somehow more. In theological parlance it is a glorified body, able to pass through doors and a bit unrecognizable to Jesus’ disciples. In the Creed, Jesus, “was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell (sheol, the place of the dead) on the third day he rose again from the dead.”

Today, the church focuses on the fact that this glorified body that rose from the grave is now one with God. As we recite in the Creed, “He ascended into heaven, as is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.”

Think about this: where Jesus is, we too shall be!

Jesus, in the Gospel according to John states, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” Not only is there a place for us, but our bodies that will one day lie in death will also be raised and glorified. As the theologian N.T. Wright says, “there is life after life after death.”

Today’s solemnity is one of joyful hope. It gives us a glimpse of our destiny if we live, here on this earth, the faith we profess that Jesus is indeed “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”

Easter is such a mysterious mystery that the solemnity of the Ascension is not the final word. There is at least one more feast to celebrate and describe the Easter event. If you know what it is, let me know. I’ll be at the door of the church.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Steve

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend, 30 of our parish youth are receiving their First Communion, with one other coming to the Table of the Lord later this month. It is a time of great joy for these children, their families, and for our parish. These children have been preparing for this moment for nearly two years. The Friars and I were able to join these youth during their final preparation, a retreat centered on their upcoming sacrament, which took place at the North Campus last weekend. There was a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm that was palpable. We must thank our Faith Formation Staff and Catechists for creating that atmosphere, because it is meant to be an exciting time in the faith journeys of these children.

Four years ago this weekend, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart Church….in Rakovski, Bulgaria. Rakovski is a predominantly Catholic community in Southern Bulgaria, where their Sacred Heart, which is tied to a nunnery of Franciscan Sisters, is one of the largest churches in the Balkans. While he was there, Pope Francis celebrated the sacrament of First Communion for more than 250 children from around the country. I would like to share with you Pope Francis’s homily to the children from that occasion, as it provides a brilliant summary of the experience:

“Dear boys and girls, you have come here from every corner of this “Land of Roses” to take part in a wonderful celebration. I am sure you will never forget this day: your first encounter with Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist. One of you might ask me: How can we meet Jesus? He lived a long time ago, but then he died and was laid in the tomb! It is true: Jesus carried out an immense act of love to save human beings of all times. He remained in the tomb for three days, but we know – the Apostles and many other witnesses who saw him alive have assured us – that God, his Father and ours, raised him up. Now Jesus is alive and is here with us. That is why we can encounter him today in the Eucharist. We do not see him with our physical eyes, but we do see him with the eyes of faith.

I am looking at you, dressed in your white robes. What a meaningful and beautiful sign. You are dressed for a celebration! First Communion is, above all, a celebration. We celebrate Jesus, who wants to remain always by our side. He will always be with us. This celebration was made possible also thanks to our parents and grandparents, our families and our communities, who have helped us to grow in the faith.

You have travelled a long way to come here. Your priests and catechists, who have accompanied you in your preparation for this day, have also accompanied you on the road that today leads you to meet Jesus and to receive him in your hearts.

Today you have made it possible for us to relive that joy and to celebrate Jesus, present in the Bread of Life. Some miracles can only take place if we have a heart like yours: a heart capable of sharing, dreaming, feeling gratitude, trusting and respecting other people. Making your First Communion shows that you want to be closer to Jesus every day, to grow in friendship with him and to lead other people to share in the joy he wants us to feel. The Lord needs you because he wants to work the miracle of bringing his joy to many of your friends and family members.

Dear children, I am happy to share this great moment with you and help you meet Jesus. For you, this is a day to be celebrated in a spirit of friendship, joy, and fraternity. A day of communion among yourselves and with the whole Church, which, especially in the Eucharist, expresses the communion that makes all of us brothers and sisters. This is our identity card: God is our Father, Jesus is our brother, the Church is our family. All of us are brothers and sisters, and our law is love. I ask you always to pray with the same enthusiasm and joy that you feel today. Remember that this is the sacrament of your First Communion, not your last! Remember too, that Jesus is always there, waiting for you. I hope that today will be the beginning of many Communions, so that your hearts may always, like today, be festive, full of joy and, above all else, gratitude.”

Congratulations to all of our young children who are celebrating their first communion: Genevieve Allender, Autumn Arena, Maryn Buffa, Liam Cabrera, Louis Cabrera, Aaron Caire, Gabrielle Castano, Amelia Chaumont, Liam Cutro, Sam Ferrito, Noah Fundora, Lorenzo Gomez, Mia Hall, Sydney Hernandez, Taylor Hippleheuser, Nadia Joseph, Sean Lannan, Ellie Leuthauser, Maddox Matthews, Adalie Misdary, Ema Mittag, George Pasteur V, Francesca Pomarico, Reina Prince, Heidi Robyak, Ivan Rudic, Lara Rudic, Josephine Smith, Brian Stecker, Jade Swangnete, Patrick Thompson.

Peace and All Good,
– Fr. Mike

Dear Parishioners,

When I began reviewing the results of our recent parish survey, a common thread became apparent in the responses to the question of “If you were a member of Sacred Heart five, 10, or 15 years from now, what would you want the parish to be known for?”. When I say “became apparent,” I really mean something more like a cacophony of voices all exclaiming the same phrases as loudly as possible. It was a survey, after all. As I’m sure many of you could relate, if you’re given the chance to sound off anonymously regarding something you care about or are invested in, you do so emphatically. While many answers also created common threads, from ensuring a welcoming atmosphere, to our dedication to Catholic social teaching, our attentiveness to social justice issues, and the preservation and promotion of our church’s history, more than 40% of responses to this short answer question featured a desire for our parish to be synonymous with outreach to the homeless and vulnerable throughout our community.

Those near and far, veteran or new to our parish know that Sacred Heart has never been an example of ‘insular thinking,’ whether you take the literal or figurative representation of the concept. The parish does its best to be accepting and welcoming of all walks and situations, always aiding when it can. It’s an incredible sight to be met with such passion toward putting our faith into action as these responses suggest. It’s not even a suggestion, really. It is an active function of those who make up our church. James 2 has been a guiding light for my vocations, and it seems to be firmly in the mind of our parishioners.

We have an excellent opportunity in just a few weeks to put our faith into action and specifically assist the unhoused and vulnerable. On Wednesday, May 10, Sacred Heart will host its third Hillsborough Community Homeless Outreach event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Campus. The event will connect those in need to social services and shelters like Tampa Hope, as well as address their more immediate necessities such as food, clothing, showers, and haircuts. We’ll need a fleet of volunteers to join the participating vendors in assisting our guests with these resources during the event. If you have not already considered volunteering from the ads in the bulletin or in the church, please take to heart this chance to embody what so many of you want our parish to be known for, and register your interest at hoceapp.com.

Our staff, clergy, and committees have a desire to host events like these more often, as they are a proven gateway to recovery for those who take part. In a recent article penned by 83Degrees Media, a guest from our January 2022 event recounted her own path to a new home from our outreach. Having been ruled medically unable to work in 2021, and later losing the apartment she shared with a loved one who passed on, the guest met with representatives from Catholic Charities and Tampa Hope at the North Campus, and was accepted to the shelter alongside 17 others that day. That guest had a permanent housing solution arise in December, and credits our event, as well as the staff, volunteers and resources at Tampa Hope with getting her back into a place of her own. You can read her story, and learn about Tampa Hope’s latest expansion at shfla.org/hopecottages.

While the upcoming event is in the middle of the week, and may limit some from volunteering, know that there are always opportunities to assist those in need through parish ministries like Hands of Hope and St. Vincent de Paul, and through our Giving From the Heart drives. Know, too, that we see your commitment and appreciate you for ‘loudly’ advocating for a parish community identified by its commitment to service.

Peace and All Good,
Rob Boelke