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I am happy to return to St. Mary’s Parish, albeit belatedly, on this occasion to celebrate with all of you the Solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in this joyful setting, to celebrate with you the 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination of your good pastor, Father Henry Kunkel.

In these days when the Church ministers in an increasingly secular and hostile world, we do well to attend to the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our Church.

Over these past few days, I have had the joy and privilege of visiting with you, dear brothers, and with your wives, as we prepared for this Ordination.

It is a pleasure to welcome you once again to the Basilica of the Assumption, first, because we can once again be together, worshipping in person, and second, because this is a special moment in the history of this Basilica.

In these days leading up to Pentecost and in these beautiful days of May, our minds and hearts turn to the presence among us of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is a distinct pleasure and honor to take part in the 75th annual Lancelotta Family May Procession in honor of Our Blessed Mother.

Encountering you, others are to encounter the Christ who came, not be served but to serve. Encountering you, others are to encounter the Church, the Church that is called out of the darkness of sin and death into the lightsome realm of God’s Kingdom where those who serve are greater than those who are served.

In and through the sacraments, the Risen Lord is present and active among us, no less than he was with the Apostles in the Upper Room.