From the desk of Monsignor Bride
Today is the birthday of the Church!
Once the Lord Jesus completed the work with which the Father in heaven had entrusted to him here on earth, they sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin to solidify them so they might pursue the work of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God. And the Holy Spirit dwells in each and every believer who has been baptized and filled with the presence of God, because the Lord Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower the believer in the Son of God to follow him and to obey him.
The Holy Spirit is the sanctifying power of the Church.  The Holy Spirit’s presence makes the Church “HOLY”.  And through the work of the Church, those who desire to become ‘holy’, also receive the power to become ‘holy’.  What the Spirit gives to the Church, the Church gives to the believer through the work of the Church.  God is present because the Spirit is present.
The Holy Spirit unites the Church, gives the Church its UNITY.  The Life of the Holy Spirit in the Church is what brings unity and peace to the Church.  When the Church is united, then we know that the Spirit is alive and present and acting in the Church.  If the Church is divided, then we know that the actions of those in the Church are not in conformity with the work of the Spirit.
In reality, the Holy Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful.  The Holy Spirit prays in the members of the Church; the Holy Spirit bears witness in the followers of Jesus (the members of the Church), because they have become the adopted sons and daughters of the Father Himself.
A very important element of the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church is that the Spirit leads the Church to TRUTH. So much so, that when the Church is united in its mission and work and belief, it cannot err. 
The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the foundation of the Church, enables the Church to continually grow young, to be renewed daily, and to always be reunited with the Lord in pursuit of his work and his life.
The Holy Spirit comes to the Church (came on the first Pentecost) and gave the followers of Jesus the PRESENCE OF FAITH, a united faith, a powerful Faith, a courageous Faith, a truthful Faith, a Faith-filled witness to the Lord, unlike anything ever seen before.
In addition to the work of the Apostles following that first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit not only makes the Church holy, and not only guides it by divine authority and the sacraments and the various ministries, but the Holy Spirit enriches the Church with virtues, and gives special graces to the faithful in a variety of states of life and differing vocations.  Thus, the Church is able to act responsibly in its work because the Holy Spirit motivates and strengthens each and every member of the Church, from the Holy Father down to the newest baptized.
Thus, the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost brought the Church into being and the continued presence of the Holy Spirit enables the work of the Lord to continue because the presence of Jesus is here in each of us because he sent us his Holy Spirit.
Many days this is hard to see. But we must believe and try to correspond to that reality.    Monsignor Bride          
                         
                           WELCOME
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is pleased to welcome the Holy Ghost Society of New London to our parish this morning.  Today is their feast day and each year they come and unite together around the table of the Lord to renew the presence of the Lord in their lives and to honor the Holy Spirit by the Crown and Scepter which is the symbol of the Spirit. Thank you for coming and we are most pleased to have you in our midst.
                    
2007 Annual Bishop’s Appeal
“The gift you have been given, give as a gift”
If you have not made a gift or a pledge to the 2007 Annual Bishop’s Appeal, please make one today. Please assist the works of Vocations, Catholic Charities, Pastoral Care, Family Life and all the other services implemented by our Diocese.  Each gift is important to the mission of our Diocese; it takes many people to form the Body of Christ.  Every gift is important to the success of this Appeal. 
We need your help to make our parish goal which is, as of yet, far removed. Thank you.

CRUSADE OF PRAYER ON fRIDAYS
                7:30A.M.   Morning Mass
8:00A.M.   Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
                 followed by Morning Prayer             
8:15 A.M.  to 4:45 P.M. Individual Adoration and
                  Praying for Vocations all day in Church
4:45 P.M.   Evening Prayer /Benediction/Closing

PLEASE MAKE A PLEDGE TO THE
2007 ABA,
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!

Scripture Study in the Morning
Ann Megan wishes to begin a study of scripture one day a week in the morning for women. If interested, telephone Ann at 447-3488.

Important Upcoming Dates
Sunday, May 27th   Pentecost Sunday!   10:30 Mass is for the Holy Ghost Society of New London. The Easter Season ends this night.
Monday, May 28th  Memorial Day   Mass in Saint Mary Cemetery celebrated by Bishop Cote at  10:00 A.M.
Monday, May 28th Ordinary Time returns to the Church for the celebration of the Liturgy,
Sunday, June 3rd  Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity!   Monsignor Bride’s Annual Retreat begins today in San Alfonso Retreat House, New Jersey.  Monsignor will return to Rectory on Sunday, June 10th.
Sunday, June 10th  The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
Friday, June 15th The Solemnity of the sacred Heart of Jesus.  This will be the last Crusade of Prayer for Vocations until Friday, September 14th.
Saturday, June 16th   Ladies Guild Tag Sale and Bread Sale in our Hall. (Bring items for Sale to the Hall anytime now.)
June 17-18-19-20  Monsignor Bride will attend the Graduation from High School of Thomas O. Bride in San Diego.
Thomas has been accepted at Northeastern U. in Boston for September of 2007.

You are invited to attend a workshop entitled “Called to Protect for Parents and Families” at 6:30 PM on May 30th or May 31st in the Parish Hall.  This addresses  protecting God’s children and the  young from sexual abuse as part of OLPH Safe Environments program.  All adults and children 13 and older are welcome and it satisfies the educational requirements of any employee or volunteer in OLPH Parish.  Please contact Jim McMahon at 444-2970 if you wish to attend. 

Announced Masses

Monday, May 28th     MEMORIAL D AY
7:30 A.M.  Our beloved Dead and those who died for USA 
Tuesday, May 29TH  weekday of  8th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.  Intention of the Celebrant
Wednesday 30th      weekday of  8th week of Ordinary Time
7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH
Thursday May 31st   Visitation of the Virgin Mary        
7:30 A.M.  Novena of Masses for Mothers
Friday, June 1st   Saint Justin 
7:30 A.M.   Russell Harman  (Wife, Rose)