BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH 518 W. State St., Grand Island, NE 68801 308-384-0532 Emergencies Only: 308-249-0009

Website: blsachurch.net E-Mail: bscc_1@msn.com

Sunday, May 31, 2020 Pentecost Sunday

Facebook: www.facebook/blessedsacrament Livestream will be on Facebook at 10:00 a.m.

Reconciliation: Wednesday – 11:30 a.m.-Noon Saturday – 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Happy Birthday! And no, I haven’t lost my mind! Today, we come together on the Feast of Pentecost Sunday. We hear in the Acts of the Apostles about the “Birthday of the Church,” when a strong driving wind came upon the disciples, and tongues as of fire came to rest on each one of them, and then the fear that they were experiencing was changed to courage, and their ears were

opened, and their tongues were loosed. No longer could the doors be locked on the Good News! Jesus, the Christ who had returned to the Father,

had brought salvation to all of humanity, and all we need to do is believe, and let the Good News guide our

lives! Alleluia!!

This is an exciting day, but not a celebration. If you’re like me, change makes me uncomfortable. I want to

experience the good old days, when I knew my role and place in the community. The people around the

apostles had to feel this same way. Those in power didn’t want to change because they wanted the outcasts

to stay outcasts. But God had other plans! In God’s world, all are welcome, and no one is an outcast. His

world is one of forgiveness and love.

If you’ve decided to continue to watch Mass on TV, or on our Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/blessedsacrament, or even if you’ve decided to come to Mass at Church, my guess is that

you’re feeling a bit of the discomfort that the Apostles felt on that first Pentecost day!

Our discomfort helps us to realize that we need the Holy Spirit in our lives, as we step out of our comfort

zone. Sometimes, discomfort manifests itself as depression, anger, excitement, confusion, or all of these

emotions at the same time. So that we don’t feel completely abandoned by God, God sends us the seven gifts

of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, courage, right judgement, reverence, and wonder and

awe in God’s presence. These gifts are there to uphold us and to always give us hope!

So Happy Birthday to all of us! We are the Church! Come Holy Spirit, Come! Fr. Marty

Date Time Intention

Saturday, May 30 5:30 p.m. John & Josephine Petska +

Sunday, May 31 8:00 a.m. Parish Family

Sunday, May 31 10:00 a.m. George & Bernie Zabka +

Tuesday, June 2 12:05 p.m. Anna Blake

Wednesday, June 3 12:05 p.m. Fr. Mark Maresh

Thursday, June 4 12:05 p.m. Arnold & Glorene Harders +

Friday, June 5 12:05 p.m. Lori Farrell +

Saturday, June 6 5:30 p.m. Parish Family

Sunday, June 7 8:00 a.m. Georgiann Husen +

Sunday, June 7 10:00 a.m. Loretta Bonczynski +

SCAM ALERT: If you receive a text message

or an email from Fr. Marty asking you for an iTunes gift card for patients battling cancer, please ignore it and don’t respond. It’s a scam. Just continue to support your church financially, and we’ll be fine. Thank you so much! Blessed Sacrament Preschool

Has openings in our 3 year old morning and 4/5

year old afternoon classes for 2020-2021. Call Mrs.

Seier at (308) 583-2885 for more information.

Please remember the following individuals in your prayers, who are experiencing serious health problems/issues: Roseann Anderson Anna Blake Cari Cobler Dawn Ferris Agnes Fila

Cookie Gilroy Anita Graf Karen Hulit Marie Jakubowski Earleen Moroney Larry Palacz Evelyn Rech Bill Reher Teresa Scarborough Ted Schlick Rosalie Schriner Joanne Vodehnal Emily Webster Elizabeth Webster

Hymnals for sale in the office. If you are interested in purchasing a hymnal for your personal use during Mass, please stop by the Parish

office. They are $10 each. If you can’t afford this, we can make other arrangements.

Events & Meetings: that are routinely held at Blessed Sacrament will not be scheduled, at this time. We will resume these activities at some point in the future when we consider it safe to do so. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Daily Mass: If you plan to attend daily Mass, beginning on June 2, we will be in the Church, rather

than the Chapel. Please enter through the south and west doors of the Church. Also please sit in the pews in the front center of the church first. This will help us know where to disinfect after each Mass. Thank you for your cooperation!

Our Deepest Sympathy

to the Families of: PATTY PERRIE, daughter of Darlene Christensen; LINDA HEMMINGSON,

sister of Diane Lucht. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE!

WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: For the

safety of all during this COVID-19 Pandemic, and to be cost efficient, we would like to begin sending more of our correspondence electronically. Please call the parish office at 384-0532 or email to bscc_1@msn.com with your email address so that we can keep you informed. Your understanding and cooperation with this matter is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance! EVENTS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE

Upcoming Events at St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, NE. Contemplative Photography, June 13, one-day retreat with Rita Otis. Seeing deeply is an act of intimacy; it

is to see ourselves in relationship to God’s created world, rather than only observing. When we really see, we become one with creation. Please bring your own camera, laptop computer to upload your pictures, paper for journaling, mask and hand sanitizer. Social distancing will be observed. Limited to ten participants. Lunch is available at the Center for $11.02 (includes tax). Register at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402) 352-8819. Real Presence: Encountering Jesus in Word & Sacrament, June 20, one-day retreat with Father Jeffrey S. Loseke, Ed.D., S.T.L. Christ is truly present in His Church, especially in the Scriptures, the Eucharistic species, and whenever two or three are gathered in His Name. Join Fr. Jeff for a day of retreat, as he guides participants through scriptural prayer and sacramental wonder, to an encounter with the Real Presence of Christ. Social distancing will be observed, please bring a mask and hand sanitizer. Lunch is available at the Center for $11.02 (includes tax). Register at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402) 352-8819.

OUR GIFTS OF TREASURE May 23 & 24, 2020

Adult Envelopes $3,665.00 Plate .00 Children’s .00 Online 1,320.00

Diocesan Appeal Our Goal $70,823.00 Pledged to Date (241) 78,871.00 Received to Date 76,064.00

Solemnity of Pentecost

May 31, 2020 Blessings and Prayers through the Year by Elizabeth McMahon Jeep

Copyright 2004 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications

The risen Jesus told his disciples to wait prayerfully for the coming

of the Holy Spirit, who would strengthen and guide them. They

were waiting in Jerusalem when the Spirit came with signs of wind

and fire. The Spirit brought them energy for a new mission and formed them into a people of

love and courage. They immediately began preaching on the street corner, excited to share their

story of Jesus.

People from many countries and languages were able to understand the words of their

preaching. This miracle is a sign that the Gospel is for every land and people. It is a sign of the

power of the Spirit helping those who share the good news of Jesus. Because of this we say that

the Church was born on Pentecost.

These things happened on the Jewish feast of Shavuot, which falls seven weeks and one day

after Passover (which makes 50 days altogether). For this reason, we celebrate the coming of

the Spirit seven weeks and a day after the Easter Passover of Jesus, and we call it “Pentecost,”

which means “50th” day.

Pentecost is our annual celebration of the Holy Spirit, who is the life and unity of the Church,

the source of its holiness, dedication and wisdom. Pentecost is a solemnity, which means a

feast that deserves special notice and preparation. The “novena” or nine days between

Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday are a time of reflection on the presence of the Holy

Spirit among us and prayer for the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings. It helps us prepare a place

in our lives for a new coming of the Spirit.

On Pentecost, we can pray for the good of the Church and for the strength of our parish, as well

as for a deepening devotion we have for the God who made us, who saves us, and who is with

us at every moment.

Red is the color of Pentecost decorations. Red and red-orange remind us of the flames that

signaled the coming of the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost in Jerusalem.

Red flowers can be brought to the prayer corner. We can also use doves, clouds and wind as

Spirit symbols. Prayer can take place outdoors, where we can feel the breeze or wind for

ourselves. Wind chimes or streamers of fabric or paper that flutter in the breeze remind us of

the quiet way the Spirit of God moves in us and in the world. Many small candles can be

lighted.

On Pentecost, we can focus our attention on “the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Those gifts are

promised to all who join in doing the work of God. In addition, Saint Paul writes that the Holy

Spirit makes us “loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-

controlled.” These virtues along with modesty, continence, and chastity, have been called

“fruits of the Spirit.” The gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are ours to use and share throughout

the upcoming year with all of the people we meet!