Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters PO Box 6026, Techny, IL 60082-6026 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093 Office of Vocation Ministry Phone: 847-441-0126, ext. 704 sspsovm@aol.com www.ssps-usa.org www.worldssps.org There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. --- 1 Cor 12:4-7 Dear Friends, Very often we say: “I do not have any gifts.� Sometimes we say it because we are afraid to take time to make a contribution. Other times because we still need time to discover our gifts and the ways we can employ them to make our future better. In any case, we know that each one of us received some unique gifts. While reading and preparing for Pentecost the above passage seems very fitting for the feast of Pentecost. It stresses the diversity and the uniqueness of each person. Surprisingly, all of our gifts, as diverse as they are, come from one source which is the Holy Spirit and all of them serve the common good. Living in an international community can be like the never ending feast of Pentecost bringing our gifts of language and listening to the table for anyone else to taste. When I was learning English as a second language I realized how important the knowledge of the language is in order to communicate efficiently with people. Now when my English is pretty much understandable I pay more attention to listening as younger members of the Province come to practice their language skills. Pentecost, however, is much more than language and understanding. The Holy Spirit calls us to service according to our gifts. Our gifts and talents were given to benefit the whole and as such they should be used. This poses not a small challenge but one that moves us forward. Let us call on the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s gifts to us and show us the best way those gifts can be of service to others.
In the love of the Holy Spirit, Sr. Elwira Dziuk, SSpS
Called by the Spirit, Embracing the World.