Pentecost, or “Green Holiday” as it is known in our church in various parts of the world, is a very special feast day.
It is, we can say, that it is the “birthday of the church”. On this Sunday, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and all gathered as described in Acts 2:1-11. All were filled with the Holy Spirit and with confidence spread out into the world to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord.
St. Andrew who was there that day travelled to what is now Ukraine and proclaimed that there would be a great church in the land. All Christians in the world trace their roots to this day in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago.
This exact same good news was preached on Sunday, 19th June 2016. In Melbourne, Fr. Justin McDonnell, the newest priest in the Eparchy, celebrated his very first Divine Liturgy as a main celebrant. Fr. Brian Kelty celebrated in our Ardeer Parish. Bishop Peter and Fr. Ihor Bakay celebrated Pentecost Sunday in Geelong. Geelong was very special for another reason this year. Fourteen children and their parents came to the church in preparation of their First Confession and First Solemn Holy Communion which will be held later in August. It has been many years since 14 children came together as a class in the Geelong parish to prepare themselves for the Sacraments. Sr. Maria SSMI is preparing them. This is a time blessing and a sign of a new “Green Holiday” Pentecost in our Geelong Parish and our Eparchy.
