Dear Parishioners:
After Jesus had ascended to heaven from Mt. Olivet, the apostles and disciples
returned to the Holy City. They remained together in the Upper Room and waited for the
Paraclete. Ten days had passed, it was Sunday, the seventh Sunday after the resurrection.
At about nine o'clock in the morning, as they were together praying fervently, the Holy Spirit
descended upon them.
The descent upon the apostles was internal and invisible in nature although accompanied by certain visible phenomena.
There came a mighty roar, like the onrush of a violent wind. It came suddenly, from heaven; but unlike storms that strike a structure
from without, this one penetrated and filled the room where the disciples were gathered. Therefore it was not a natural wind, it was a
miracle peculiar to the occasion. A second visible sign consisted in tongues of fire that descended upon each one present. These fiery
tongues gave visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had descended upon them.
Today at Mass, particularly at Holy Communion, the power of the Holy Spirit will come down upon us; fiery tongues will not
be seen, but invisible tongues of fire will not be absent. There was still another external manifestation of the Holy Spirit; the apostles
and disciples were enabled to speak various languages.
Pentecost was one of the three festivals which obliged all Jews to be present in Jerusalem. Jews from distant lands, and
Jewish converts from paganism too, attended these feasts. As a result, a colorful crowd speaking a variety of languages surrounded
the house. Now the apostles, who so shortly before had hid in fear behind locked doors, came forth and courageously walked among
the multitude speaking to each in his native tongue.
But the malicious too were present; they had the answer. Nothing marvelous at all! Those Galileans were simply drunk, and
their drunken babble sounded like a foreign language! Peter showed no hesitation in answering the charge. None of their number, he
said, were intoxicated; it was but nine o'clock in the morning, and at that hour men usually are sober. What the multitude saw was, in
fact, the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy: In those days (of the Messiah), God will pour forth His Spirit upon men and they will prophesy. .
. . Then the apostle pointed his words more directly against the accusers: they had killed Jesus, had nailed Him to the Cross; but God
had awakened Him and after His departure to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit.
The pilgrims who had heard Peter give this first Pentecost sermon "were pierced to the heart and said: Brethren, what shall
we do? But Peter said to them: Repent and be baptized; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Three thousand responded.
One final question: why the miracle of tongues? In answer, recall the story regarding the tower of Babel. Puffed up by pride,
men attempted to build a tower that would touch the heavens. To punish their sin, God confused their speech. Sin causes confusion
and division. Now Christ came to gather all people into His Church and thereby to unite them to Himself. This event puts on display
that unity which Christ desires for us.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Nick Wichert
P.S. I hope everyone is remembering that Bishop Elizondo will be here next Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass to celebrate the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
For our Parishioners – information about your parish school:
Only 14 more days until Summer! We are enjoying the last days of school and looking forward to
our summer break. Registration is now open to all interested families. Spread the word and help
us fill the seats! The Flagpole Dedication ceremony is scheduled for May 29th at 10:30 AM, all are
invited. We hope to see many of you there for this special occasion. Roads will be closed on 58th St
between S Birmingham and S Lawrence for this event. Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Thank you for your support of Catholic education here at VCSA!
For more information visit our website: http://www.visitationstemacademy.org/ or our
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VisitationCatholicStemAcademy
Isaiah told us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the
Lord.” (Is 11:2) They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude,
knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We are to pray to the Holy Spirit and
ask for one of these gifts. If He gives us a gift, we may ask for another, and so on. The
practice of virtue, enabled by the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, bring us the
Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are charity (or love), joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, long suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, self-control,
and chastity. These works we perform only with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the performance of such works is an indication that the Holy Spirit
dwells in all Christian believers.
Thank you for your support!
Baptism Prep
Thurs June 11, 6-8pm
Required for parents and
godparents of infants and
children under 7 preparing for
baptism. Pre-register for classes
with Kristen at the office.
Religious Ed
We’re now on Summer Break but
we’ll be starting registration for
2015-16 soon!
If you are interested in joining
the teaching team for the coming
year, please talk with Kristen at
the parish office. We’d love to
hear from you!!
Confirmation
May 30 – 9am (Church)
Mandatory Practice for
Candidates & Sponsors
May 31 – 11am Confirmation
celebration with Bishop Elizondo.
Potluck reception in UH to
follow
Our Confirmandi
Marco Arceo
Andrew Ayton
Jack Dooley (confirmed at
St. Anne’s May 20)
Andrew Ellison
Sua Liufau
Alexandra Rodgers
Ayla Sutherland
Andrea Levato
Kenneth Overfield
Youth Group
Ignite Your Torch NW –
July 30-Aug 2 at St. Martin’s in
Lacey. A diocesan wide event
for High School students. Early
Registration ($275) Deadline is
May 31 . After June 1 registration
is $305. Registration Fee is $50.
Sponsorships are available upon
request. Check out
www.ignitenw.org for more
information. Contact Kristen at
the office if you’re interested!
st
Watch
for new
classes
and
events
coming
soon!
May
May
May
May
May
03 $ 7,293.00 Floor $ 820.00
10 $ 6,776.50
$ 1,635.50
17 $ 4,542.00
$
41.00
24
31
St. Vincent DePaul
We need: Soup & Tuna
Coming soon:
Century Link Food Drive
June 1st.
Your gift to the Annual
Catholic Appeal is still
needed! Thank you to
all who have responded to the needs of
our Church in Western Washington
through the 2015 Appeal. One person or
Parish could not possibly accomplish all
that is needed to support the over 60
ministries and services supported by
ACA. It is not too late to fill out a pledge
envelope today or go online to donate
from the Parish website:
www.visitationchurch.org and click on the
cross of the Annual Catholic Appeal logo.
 Any amount is appreciated
 If you are unable to donate, please
let us know that you are praying
for a successful campaign and the
ministries supported. Please list
“will pray for ACA success” on the
envelope that you turn in.
Let us hear from you!
Honoring our
Veterans
Visitation is honoring
all its Veterans on a
Plaque which will be
displayed in the Church. If you are a
Veteran or know a Veteran who was/is
a member of Visitation Parish, please
be sure to place their/your name on the
signup sheet in the back of the Church
in the Bulletin Board area. Thank you!
Ministry Leaders:
It’s time to plan your 2015-16
Calendar year. Packets are on
their way. Contact the Parish
Office with questions.
Spiritual Adoption
Are you remembering to
pray for your baby every
day? This baby was
given a special Guardian
Angel at conception, to watch over this
little one. Everyone in Heaven is excited
about this new little soul. “Jesus, Mary
and Joseph, I love you very much. I
beg you to spare the life of [baby’s
name] the unborn baby that I have
spiritually adopted who is in danger
of abortion. Amen.”
May 24, 2015
MONDAY, May 25
Sir 17:20-24
Mk 10:17-27
Office Closed
TUESDAY, May 26
St. Philip Neri, Priest
Sir 35:1-12 Mk 10:28-31
Mass Intention: Jean Mandy
WEDNESDAY, May 27
Sir 36:1,4-5a Mk 10:32-45
Mass Intention: Carmen Juan Franco
THURSDAY, May 28
Sir 42:15-25 Mk 10:46-52
Mass Intention: Mary Kerr
FRIDAY, May 29
Flag Pool Dedication 10:30am
Roads closed on 58th St, between
S Birmingham & S Lawrence
Sir 44: 1,9-13 Mk 11:11-26
Mass Intention: +Jessie Faniel
SATURDAY, May 30
NO Confessions 3:30pm
Sir 51:12cd-20 Mk 11:27-33
Mass Intention: +Josephine C. Carter
Special Intentions:
For our Confirmandi
That the flame of the Holy Spirit
be ignited within and continues
to shine bright in them.
For our Visitation Faith
Community that we take time
to fan the flames of the Holy
Spirit in our daily lives to
become more like Christ.
Coffee Social Hosts
May 24 Liturgy
May 31 Ushers
NEW LIST
Thank you all who called
in to verify names which
needed to remain on the list.
Updated for
5-03-15 thru 9-30-15
Please pray for..
Justine Fleck, Ruth Leingang, Helen &
Joe Matteo, Martha Gatbunton, Thomas
Wodja, RoseAnn Bridges, Mick Flynn,
Marta Palmquist, Rochelle Garcia, Tina
Kanesta, Peter Pagano, Margie Rivers,
Bill Bradley, Claudine Elizaga, Rose Ann
Berntsen, Lynn Kanesta, Vicki
Hall-Kanesta, Jesusa & Juan Franco,
Dolores Aichinger, Jose Ramirez Jr.
Deployed:
James Cornette & Christopher Schmidt
All men and women in the Military