Dear Parishioners,

What a joyous and unforgettable celebration we had for Pentecost last Sunday! Our liturgy was a beautiful tapestry of languages and cultures, embodying the true spirit of Pentecost. We celebrated the Mass in English and Spanish, with prayers offered in Polish and Italian. The music added a special touch, featuring songs in English, Polish, and Spanish, all wonderfully performed by our Mariachi group from Mexico.

Following the Mass, we gathered on the Academy grounds for our parish picnic, themed “A Taste of St. John Paul the Great.” The event showcased the incredible diversity of our parish, with desserts prepared by various ethnic groups and delicious food provided by the Oliver Wolcott Technical High School in Torrington. Our Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society members skillfully cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for everyone to enjoy.

Once I was at a meeting with representatives of various religions. On a coffee break, a man from another religion mused to me: “You know, with all our differences, all religions are really about being good people.” I lowered my cappuccino and said as warmly as I could, “That’s not what mine’s about.” His quizzical look begged for clarification. “Mine is about plunging into the life of God,” I said.

When I was twenty-two years of age in August of 2000, I experienced World Youth Day in Rome. As for many of my generation, the event was life-changing for me. Surrounded by joyful, hope-filled young people from seemingly every nation and tongue, we were gathered around the Pope, sharing a common Faith and love. The Pope spoke to us of our shared family bond in the Church and invited us to give our lives in service to others.

A few months ago, I had the singular privilege of a private meeting with Pope Francis. We were a small group of pastors, composed largely of non-Catholics. The Holy Father wished to discuss our work for Christian unity. The phrase I remember him saying with greatest frequency was: Tutti dentro. It means, “Everyone in.”

Once a man came to the Vatican and asked to see Pope John Paul II, claiming that they had been friends in Poland. When told of the man, the Pope said, “He is mistaken about our friendship. I don’t recall ever having suffered with him.” As it turned out, the man had never known the Pope.