“He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’” (John 20:22–23)
For those of us who go to confession regularly, there is often a familiar frustration: “Why do I keep confessing the same sins?” It can feel like a loop, cleansed but unchanged.
Pentecost reveals a hopeful perspective. When the Risen Jesus breathes on his ashamed and fearful disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit, he echoes Genesis, when God breathes life into Adam. This is not just primarily the removal of guilt, but new creation.
In confession, we receive more than forgiveness. We receive a fresh outpouring, the breath of the Spirit, and a renewed mission. Jesus does not say to us, “You’re forgiven, now go back to your old life.” He says, so to speak, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
That is why penance is not just saying a few prayers. It is reorientation. It is the Spirit summoning us to live differently: with mercy and healing.
Just as Adam was sent into the world, and the Apostles were sent out after Pentecost, so too we are sent from the confessional — not just clean, but consecrated.
Pentecost Challenge: After your next confession, ask the Holy Spirit for one way you can participate in Christ’s healing will for you. Then take one small, concrete step, and do not look back.
— Father John Muir
©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to St. Joseph,
As we begin our liturgy, we would like to extend a special welcome to everyone visiting our parish for the first time. We also warmly welcome all of you who are here today. We are so grateful and blessed to have you with us. As we settle in and prepare our hearts for Mass, please take a moment to make sure your cell phones are turned off so as not to disturb our prayer.
(Wait a few seconds to allow people to turn off their phones)
Let us now take a moment to prepare for Mass and open our hearts and minds to the message we will hear today. The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and for…
Please stand and greet those beside you.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, that we may proclaim a message of love, mercy, and redemption in every tongue in every land, let us pray to the Lord.
B. That the peace the Holy Spirit brings may reign in the heart of every man, woman, and child, breaking down the barriers that divide us, resolving the differences that lead to enmity among us, and making hate and prejudice inconceivable, let us pray to the Lord.
C. That those graduating this spring may take pride in their accomplishments while never losing their joy of learning, let us pray to the Lord.
D. That we may listen closely for the Holy Spirit calling us to use our gifts to minister to the people of God, let us pray to the Lord.
E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
Today we have our Ministry Fair. We invite you to walk around the Church and visit one of our ministries and see how you can integrate to our Parish community.
The Parish will be closed Monday, in observance of Memorial Day. Daily Mass at 8am and 5pm will be celebrated but we will not have confessions or exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
A replica image of the Holy Child of Atocha from Zacatecas Mexico will be visiting our Parish on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.
