Doug Miller has been a member of our parish for 18 years. His family includes his wife Deb, his 2 daughters; Chelsea and Hilary, and their dog Clifford. Doug has been a member of the Parish Council and Finance/Administrative services committee for the last 3 years. He is has been the Parish Council president for the last 2 years. They do their best to help out at the fish fries, parish festival, and other fundraisers whenever they can. Doug is an Investment Advisor Representative, Deb is Port Catholics Physical Education Teacher, and Chelsea and Hilary are students. Doug is so grateful for the tireless and dedicated group of core volunteers that we have at this parish. There are so many people who are willing to freely give of their time and talent and it is an honor to spend time with them. Doug helps out with Hilary’s club team with their statistics. Deb is the varsity volleyball coach at Port High so they spend lots of time going to matches and traveling to tournaments for a good 6 months every year. After that comes basketball games and track meets, so it really never ends!

Scripture Reflection

Think back to when you were a child working on a puzzle. How elated you were when you got to that last piece and the puzzle was complete. At last you could see the complete picture, and you understood how the individual pieces related to scene you had created. Today, at Pentecost, the puzzle is completed for the Disciples. We see them again in the upper room. They have been on an emotional and intellectual roller coaster over the past few weeks. They have seen Jesus welcomed into Jerusalem like a conquering hero, scrounged and crucified, resurrected, and finally ascending into heaven before their very eyes. But now what? Each time they though they understood they had been wrong. They are once again in despair and uncertain how to proceed. And then, in a dramatic moment of wind and fire, they are imbued with the knowledge and the power of the Holy Spirit. They know, not only what they must do, but, empowered with courage and faith, emboldened to proclaim Jesus’ message in a hostile world. For which they all eventually will be martyred.

This event is the fulfillment of a long line of prophecy. In Luke's Gospel, before Jesus had called a single disciple, John the Baptist prophesies that; “One mighty then I is coming, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Later after Jesus had concluded his ministry, died, and risen, he instructs his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until; “You are clothed with power from on high.” Finally, in some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples in Acts, there is a promise; “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

As the first manifestation of the Spirit, the Disciples suddenly find themselves able to speak in a number of foreign languages. Not only is this intended to give witnesses to those watching as to what has occurred. But also foreshadowers that, through their missionary work, the Disciples will spread Jesus’ teachings throughout the known world, making his church truly “Catholic.”

At the time of Pentecost Jerusalem was filled with Jews from many foreign lands. It follows that if you could afford to take the time and spend the money to travel to Jerusalem, you were probably well educated, urban, and worldly in you outlooks. By contrast the disciples of Jesus were Galileans, who had followed Jesus to Jerusalem from the rural North. To suddenly see these “hicks” start speaking in many of the worlds tongues shocks this international crowd, at least some of who attribute this outburst to drunkenness. This causes Peter, now imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit to give his famous first public sermon. At that moment the torch is truly passed. The last piece of the puzzle falls in place and the disciples understand their mission, to, beginning in Jerusalem, spread the teachings of Jesus to the corners of the known world.

Lee Kaschinska, Principal, Port Catholic