Dear friends,
Every year our parish offers a novena (nine days) of prayers in preparation for Pentecost. Normally this begins on the Friday after Ascension and ends on the Saturday of the Vigil (day before) of Pentecost. On the Day of Pentecost we all gather for Holy Mass and the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation and reception into full communion of those who have been preparing for these sacraments and rites.
This year, in the knowledge that we will be unable to gather together on Pentecost, we begin the novena today, so that it will conclude on the Solemnity of Pentecost itself. So let us begin this novena in our homes and families today, and conclude it on the day of Pentecost itself by reading together the texts of the Mass on that day, which will be sent out in advance next week.
