. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .			Fr. Charles Puthota
	From the Pastor's Desktop
	A Message from Father Charles Puthota
	May 24, 2026
Dear Parishioners of St. Elizabeth,

Pentecost Sunday: This Sunday, the powerful event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem. It is also known as the birthday of the Church. Do take a look at the Pentecost stained-glass window in our parish church. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost changed everything in the lives of those who believed in Jesus. The Risen Christ who ascended to the Father is extended in time and space through the mystery and power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's coming as we will read this weekend was dramatic, even noisy and boisterous! Some of us may be accustomed to too much quiet, and the Spirit stirs up excitement. As the saying goes, God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable! The Holy Spirit came with wind and fire! He's going to blow away all our lethargy and complacency, our cynicism and despair. He's going to burn away our selfishness and sinfulness. He will bring warmth to a cold world; he'll bring light to our dark, brooding lives and the world. He turned the feeble apostles paralyzed by fear and hopelessness into fiery apostles capable of unimaginable courage and compassion, energy and passion, faith and trust. The Acts of the Apostles which we read in Easter season, a book about the great transformation and rapid growth of Christianity, is actually a book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Life in the Spirit is a lifestyle we are called to. It means that we live not for ourselves but for others; that we live guided not by ourselves but by the power and might of God. All our choices and decisions can be made with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If we have passion and energy for life, it's the Spirit who gives us these gifts. With great energy, we can love selflessly, serve joyfully, and share generously.

Traditional Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle 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. Let us pray. O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of St. Agustine to the Holy Spirit: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

Quotes on the Holy Spirit: "I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me." --- William Blake. "The Holy Spirit is your spiritual GPS. He will tell you where you are and where you are going." "My thoughts belong to the Holy Spirit. They are not mine. St. Paul assures us that without the Spirit of Love, we cannot call God our Father." --- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

My Retirement: Effective July 1: Please do come join the 10:30am Mass on Sunday, June 7, followed by a simple reception in Cantwell Hall. It would be a time for you and me to begin to say goodbyes to each other, and for me to thank you for all the blessings of God you have brought into my life the past six years.

New Pastor of St. Elizabeth Church, effective July 1, 2026: Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has appointed Fr. Vito Perrone, COSJ, currently pastor of Mater Dolorosa Parish in South San Francisco, pastor also of St. Elizabeth Parish. We welcome Father Vito with the proverbial hospitality of our parish and wish him all the blessings as he begins his ministry to shepherd our parish community.

Thank You Luncheon for AAA: For the AAA 1.5% donors, thank you luncheon is on Sunday at 10:30am Mass followed by reception in Cantwell Hall. Those invited, please do quickly RSVP!

Faith Formation Graduation Mass and May Crowning: Last Sunday at the 8:30am.Mass, which was the last Faith Formation event for 2025- 2026, I gave out the certificates to the First Communion and Confirmation students. After Communion, children brought flowers to Mary and crowned the statue of Mary. The students were promoted from one grade to a higher grade. Congratulations, students and teachers, for the fine work done! We look forward to the coming year of Faith Formation. Thank you for regularly attending the 8:30am Sunday Mass and for pursuing your classes in Cantwell Hall throughout the year. If you have children or grandchildren of Faith Formation age, please enroll them in our parish program. We'd love to have them. It's part of the mission of the parish to "make disciples."

Faith Formation Catechists Needed: If anyone would like to help our Faith Formation program by volunteering as a catechist, please would you let me know. We do need a couple of catechists for the coming year starting in the Fall season.

Pentecost Humor: 1. Pentecost is the only time in history where tongues of fire appeared, and it was a good thing. If that happened today during youth group, the fire alarm would go off, everyone would sprint outside, and the Holy Spirit would be standing there like, "Seriously? You prayed for revival and now you're running from it?" 2. In Sunday school, the teacher asks, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" One kid raises his hand and says, "He's like God's breath." Another says, "He's the one who helps us do good stuff." A third kid adds, "I think He's the one who reminds me not to hit my brother, even when he really, really deserves it." The teacher nods. "That ... may be the most accurate theology I've heard all morning."

Wishing you all the power, the light, the warmth, and presence of the Holy Spirit in concrete and intimate ways in your lives,

Your Friend and Pastor,

Father Charles Puthota