A few initial thoughts on St. John XXIII, the patron saint of our new parish on this feast of Pentecost Sunday. I met with Bishop Zubik earlier this past week, where he handed me an envelope which contained the letter that he wrote establishing the our new parish and our new name. He watched me read the letter in front of him and he wanted to see my reaction when I got to the name, St. John XXIII. I smiled. And my initial thought was, “So this is how the Holy Spirit is working.” The Spirit was working in all of us as we submitted potential names last Fall and again as we cast our votes — twice over the subsequent months. The Spirit was at work yet again as Bishop Zubik prayed over the five names which we submitted to him and when, from those five names, St. John XXIII became the choice. I smile again. “So this is how the Holy Spirit is working.”
As I begin to think about what this name, St. John XXIII, means for us, the word “excitement” comes to mind. John XXIII was pope from 1958 to 1963. He was an older grandfather type person thought by many to have a short “caretaker” role after the long reigning Pope Pius XII, until another pope after him could be elected for a longer time. Yet, the Holy Spirit was working through Pope John to prompt him to call the Second Vatican Council; the results of which we are still unpacking today. He used the Italian word, “aggiornamento,” which means to open the window to allow in fresh air at the beginning of a new day. Mass being in the local language (English for us) and the laity being able to have more of a role are just two things which came from Vatican II.
The word “excitement” comes to me because I remember older priests telling me about the time of the council and thinking and the innovation that was happening during that time and how excited they were. The Holy Spirit would have been alive during the council, moving the minds and hearts of the pope and the bishops from around the world who attended. I heard the same word “excitement” used this past week by parishioners describing their own feelings back in the 1960s, during the time of Vatican II.
Our faith does not change, but the way that we teach it and apply it in our lives can and does change. To be able to kindle the “excitement” of our own faith and to be able to apply our Catholic faith to the real situations which we face in our own lives are great goals for any parish but especially one whose patron is St. John XXIII.
On this feast day of Pentecost Sunday the Holy Spirit is alive and active. St. John XXIII, patron of our new parish, pray for us.