Mission accomplished at St. Anthony's in Fresno! Wed. night we all heard about and received the Holy Spirit as we await Pentecost on Sunday. What a gracious reception I received from the people after! I'll never forget the people in Fresno. Wow.

I'm up in the Sierra Nevadas (Google Lake Almanor) and with my friends at their parent's cabin right on the lake. Lovely place. Brrrr. In the 40's right now and it rained last night. The clouds should clear later today and warm up some. What a refreshing change from the hussle and bussle of the mission. I'll be here until Sunday, then I will drive to our retreat center in Sacramento, then fly out of Sac on Monday back to Houston. On Sat. Janice is giving a "mercy" retreat for the parish up here and I will preside at Mass Sat. am. On this last mission they bought so many books! Perhaps 5th all time out of all the parishes I've been to. I won't forget the folks in Fresno. What a blessing. Come Holy Spirit! Pentecost dawns soon.

The two pictures below were taken at the mission. Top: Main Sanctuary about 500 per night. Bottom: Guadalupe chapel about 250 each morning.

In years past we used to extinguish the Paschal (Easter) candle on the feast of the ascension. The meaning was that Jesus had ascended and was now gone. Now we leave it lit because his ascension means he is actually closer to us now through the Holy Spirit! During this Pentecost novena, may you be filled with power and the wonderful sense of God's presence in your life. Jesus is Lord and now fills the world with his presence. I pray that you receive explosive, energizing, electric power.

Easter is a 50 day season of grace. Read my reflection at: EASTER