God our Father created us for a purpose.  To know him, to love him, and to serve him every day.   He loves us so much that He sent Jesus into the world to teach us about His great love for us. 

But did you know that even though Jesus lived for 33 years, he was only teaching for 3 years.  He was able to teach his followers many things, but when he died, his work was not done.

There was still so much that he still had to teach everyone! 

There were still so many people that needed to be healed!

There were still so many people all over the world that had not even heard about God and Jesus yet! 

The church hadn’t even been started!  How were these 12 men, who had been chosen by Jesus to be his Apostles, going to do what God was asking of them? 

Because God loves us all so much, He already had a special plan to take care of all those things.  And not just for the people who lived in Jesus’ time, but for all of the people all over the world who would live long after Jesus had died….like….us! 

In the bible, in the book of John, chapter 14 Jesus tells his Apostles how he was going to make sure that they were never alone!  God would send the Holy Spirit who would help them, teach them everything they would need to know, and remind everybody of everything that Jesus had said. 

In the Church, we remember this special day and everything that happened to the disciples- how they were not afraid to talk about Jesus anymore, how they traveled all over the region teaching everyone, how they worked miracles - as the day of Pentecost.  

What does that all have to do with you and I? 

Well, when Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them alone, he was saying that to them, and to all the disciples who would come after them…that’s US!  Even though Jesus lived over 2000 years ago, we can still learn about God, how to love Him, and how to serve Him. 

The Holy Spirit is still with us today!  When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us 7 special gifts to help us grow in our faith so that we come to know and love God, ourselves, and our neighbors. 

When we play sports, we have a coach who will help us learn about the sport, will teach us knew skills as we grow and learn, and who helps get us ready for the “big game”.  In life, our “Coach” is the Holy Spirit!

This is why it is important that we pray and ask him to come and be with us every day, to guide and teach us 

STOP HERE AND READ CHAPTER 2, PAGES 11-18 IN YOUR Confirmation BOOK.   AFTER READING FROM THE BOOK, CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT SECTION

 The Holy Spirit helps us to love God, and to be good.  Below 
are some of the things that the Holy Spirit helps us do. 

 Read through the list below, and find one of the things that you are good at already.
     
 * Love God and others  *  Act fairly with others * Be happy with all God has given us  *  Treat others with respect  *  Take care of those who need help  *  Teach others about Jesus  *  

 Write a prayer to God thanking Him for that gift! 
Then, find one of the things that you are not so good
at. 
Write a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking him to help you to
be better with that one. 
 
Pray everyday!  The Holy Spirit gives us  Fortitude , the gift that helps us to do what is right, even when it is very hard!   Have courage!  Pray often to the Holy Spirit, asking him to help you be better in all things!   
 

Come, Holy Spirit , fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful.  Grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

The church celebrates the feast of St Dismas on March 25 

As we draw closer to Holy week when we remember how much Jesus loves us, how much suffered for us, and how he died for us, we will be reminded of one of the only people who spoke with Jesus before he died.

 In the Book of Luke, chapter 23:32-43, we read about a man who was only known as “the Good Thief”, one of the two criminals who were being crucified next to Jesus.  One of the men did not even feel sorry for the bad things he had done, and insulted Jesus.  The other, who we now know as Dismas, was different!  He recognized that he had sinned, done many bad things, and deserved to die.  But he also recognized that Jesus was God,and he defended Jesus. 

 Dismas did something that many people ask Jesus to do even today!  He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.   Dismas was reminding all of us of God’s mercy, and Jesus did not disappoint him!  He said to Dismas  “Today you shall be with me in Paradise”.  You see, Jesus forgave Dismas because he knew that he was sorry for his sins.  When you watch the Mass on your computers or television sets on Good Friday and you hear this story again, thank Jesus for his love for you!   
Saint Dismas is the patron saint of those who are condemned to die.  
Saint Dismas pray for us, but especially pray for all those who are in prisons!

Holy Spirit:  The third person of the Blessed Trinity, who helps
us to know and love God. 

Pentecost:  The day the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples.  We celebrate the  Feast of Pentecost in the church 50 days after Easter.

Confirmation:  The Sacrament that seals us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and which helps us live as children of God. 

Wisdom:   One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that helps us realize how important God is to us.