Padre’s Points to Ponder – 6/6/25
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This weekend, as the Church Universal celebrates the end of the glorious Easter Season, we also celebrate her birthday–that first outpouring of the promised gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit, at Pentecost, that sent the Apostles out to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. As we celebrate with our family of faith across the world, I ask each of us to fervently pray to the Holy Spirit to be with our parish of All Saints in this summer of transitions, giving us the fire of confidence in God’s providence, and all the graces we need to grow as a parish according to His will.
Our long-serving, faithful Parish School of Religion Coordinator, Dozie Bowen is retiring after 37 years teaching, catechizing, and leading our elementary faith formation program. We pray the Holy Spirit fill her heart with the gratitude of the generations of parishioners who have had the seeds of faith planted in their souls through her dedicated witness. And we pray the Holy Spirit to raise up excellent candidates to further the mission of catechesis here at All Saints.
Fr. Tan Pham, our energetic and passionate Parochial Vicar, has been asked to take up an assignment at Holy Vietnamese Martyrs parish, and the Archbishop has assigned Fr. Anthony Baffour-Awuah as our new parochial vicar, both taking effect July 1. Let’s invoke the Holy Spirit to fill both these faithful priest’s hearts as they are asked to uproot and begin a new assignment. Seminarian Will Whitlow is taking up a summer assignment at St. Catherine Laboure parish in Jefferson, GA. May the Holy Spirit keep him in a spirit of docile joy and peace! And we are blessed with two summer seminarians of our own, the newly-ordained Deacon Eric Baylot and Mr. Thaddaeus Iorkyar. Join me in imploring the Holy Spirit to provide them with every grace and experience that will help form them into the priests He desires for His Church.
I pray that the Holy Spirit would show up in power in each of your lives, in any transition or challenge in which you find yourself, bringing healing, reconciliation, family unity, peace, strength, kindness, boldness…whatever is most needed. And I humbly ask you to pray for me, that the Holy Spirit would provide what I need to love and serve you well as your pastor.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle 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.
Praised be Jesus Christ ALLELUIA! Now and forever ALLELUIA!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor