Father Hathaway’s Column — June 8, 2025
PENTECOST
Today, June 8, is Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ – 40 days plus the nine days of prayer (the first novena!) of Mary and the Apostles as they awaited the arrival of the Spirit that Jesus promised to send as their guide and advocate. Our Gospel reading today describes the Spirit’s arrival as Jesus breathed on His disciples, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
We hear the “Golden Sequence” – Veni, Sancte Spiritus (“Come Holy Spirit”) – at Mass today. Part of the Roman Missal since the 16th century, its opening words are: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium,” or “Come, O Holy Spirit, come! And from Your celestial home shed a ray of light divine!” These words implore the Holy Spirit to grant us a stronger relationship with Christ, just as the Spirit did when it descended on His disciples.
MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
Tomorrow, Monday, June 9, is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, celebrated annually on the Monday after Pentecost. “Mary, as Mother of Christ, must also be regarded as Mother of all the faithful … that is to say, of the Church,” according to Pope Saint Paul VI. Mary, Mother of the Church, with your loving help, may that Church be more fruitful, day by day.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 12 NEW DIOCESAN PRIESTS
Yesterday, Saturday, June 7, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge ordained 12 new priests for our Arlington Diocese: Fathers Timothy Banach, Emmanuel Carreño García, Joseph Connor, Jordan Evans, John Fimmuchime, Ray- mond Goins, Andrew Lewandowski, Richard Malebranche, John Meyerhofer, Christian Njodzela, Michael Sampson and Alfredo Tuesta. (Learn about them at www.arlingtondiocese.org/vocations/ordinations)
Father Meyerhofer begins his priestly ministry as our new parochial vicar on June 26. Please keep Father Meyerhofer, and his newly ordained brother priests, in your prayers as they serve Christ, His Church and His people.
WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER SEMINARIAN!
Daniel Moreno has been assigned as our new summer seminarian, from June 9 through August 10. He begins Pre-Theology II this fall at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, near Philadelphia. His home parish is Saint Patrick in Fredericksburg. (See page 9 for more about Daniel.) You may remember Daniel as one of three Arlington Diocese seminarians who spent two weeks at the Basilica in early 2024 as part of their propaedeutic, or introductory, stage of formation. It will be good to have him back for the summer, giving him the opportunity to further experience the life of a parish priest.
A THANK-YOU RECEPTION FOR FATHER JOSEPH – June 15
Although he isn’t actually leaving us until June 26, our parish “farewell” reception for Father Joseph will follow the 11:30 a.m. Mass next Sunday, June 15, which he will celebrate. Please join us to thank Father Joseph and wish him well in his new assignment as parochial vicar at Saint Andrew the Apostle parish in Clifton. He will be missed!