Pentecost Sunday

Go Time!

AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU.

Come Holy Spirit. Come. Stir our complacent and tired souls. With the force of wind and power of fire, kindle in us a new passion. Replace our fear and anxiety with peace. Remind us that we were created from love to be love. Come Holy Spirit. Come.

Share a time when you were struggling or afraid, and someone met you with compassion and support rather than judgment. How did their presence impact you?

Maryknoll Fr.Paul Sykora n Cochabamba, Bolivia, (Adam Mitchell/Bolivia)

Maryknoll Father Paul Sykora, known as Padre Pablo, embodies the Pentecost spirit of meeting people where they are, journeying to some of the poorest neighborhoods of Zona Sur, Cochabamba, Bolivia, in his old VW Beetle. Through the Apoyo Escolar (School Support) program, he and his team provide after- school tutoring, meals, and mentorship to children who face significant challenges, including poverty, family separation, and lack of basic services. Rather than waiting for students to come to them, they go into the heart of communities, ensuring that education and support reach those most in need. The program, which started informally in a chapel nearly two decades ago, has grown into a network of neighborhood tutoring centers, offering not just academic help but also a sense of stability and hope.

Apoyo Escolar goes beyond the classroom to accompany families in their struggles. Many of the parents, working as laborers, or street vendors, have little time or formal education to assist their children. Recognizing this, the program meets families where they are—both physically and emotionally—building trust and adapting to their needs. The newest site, Tikuna Wasi, meaning “house of encounter” in Quechua, reflects this mission: a place where faith, education, and community come together. (From South Dakota to Zona Sur, Maryknoll Magazine, Dec. 2, 2024)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:19-23

The risen Jesus appears to his disciples in their fear and uncertainty, offering the words they long to hear:
“Peace be with you.” He doesn’t scold or condemn them for their doubts or for hiding.; instead, he brings peace, joy, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This encounter reminds us that Jesus meets us where we are, amid our struggles and fears, and calls us forward with purpose. As missionary disciples, we are called to do the same: to meet others where they are, offering presence, peace, and accompaniment on their journey.

How is the Holy Spirit inviting you and your community to step beyond comfort and truly meet others where they are—with peace, presence, and accompaniment?

Fear and uncertainty can cause us to turn inwards instead of outwards. As missionary disciples, instead of retreating, how might you become more involved in the community to spread peace and joy? To challenge yourself to go on a mission of encounter. Consider a program such as our Maryknoll immersion trips, where you will have the opportunity to meet people and diverse cultures. Visit our website to learn more about upcoming trips.

God of hope and new life, inspire us like Mary of Magdala to act with love and compassion. May our lives reflect the light of Jesus, breaking through uncertainty and bringing peace to all we encounter. Strengthen us to be messengers of justice and mercy, fully present to those in need, so that through our faith, we may become signs of new life in the world. Amen.