One body, one Spirit

After a year in the priesthood, the Holy Spirit remains constantly at work

Father Tom Fallati

At Pentecost we hear of the sending of the Holy Spirit, represented as both wind and fire. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the Apostles boldly proclaim the Good News to the amazement of people from all parts of the world who can understand them in their own tongues. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, gathering people into the Body of Christ.  

As a priest, my daily work in the parish is far less dramatic. Staff meetings, pastoral council and finance council meetings and, of course, check-ins with the pastor, Father Bob Longobucco, are just some of the meetings that regularly fill my schedule.  

And yet, as I prepared my first Pentecost homily, I reflected that the Holy Spirit is at work as much in this more hidden work as it is in my preaching and other forms of public ministry. My first year of priesthood has impressed upon me how the Pentecost mission of proclaiming the Gospel continues in the day-to-day work of a parish. And as a priest, I am able to exercise my ministry only through collaboration with our parish staff and countless parishioners who share the gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon them.

Many gifts

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they “are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Cor. 12:27). He assures them that the Holy Spirit provides a diversity of gifts: “There are different forms of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12:4-5). It is telling that St. Paul lists many such “forms of service” in the Church, including not only preaching and teaching, but also “administration” (1 Cor. 12:28).

A parish’s programs and ministries function only through the often-unnoticed work of parish staff and volunteers. Parish staff functions vary by parish, but they typically coordinate everything from being the first point of contact whenever anyone calls the parish to overseeing the parish’s various programs and ministries. We are blessed in our parish to have an excellent staff each gifted in the areas that they oversee.

Working alongside staff members are countless parishioners who likewise play an essential role. Our Pastoral Council assists in overall parish planning, and our Finance Council aids us in making best use of our resources. Countless parishioners assist in liturgy, religious education, pastoral care and so many other ministries. Coming together and offering their gifts, they allow the parish to fulfill the Pentecost mission.

All of this takes coordination. Thus the need for meetings and focusing on things like who will set up a room for an event, how we will best publicize it and all the other countless steps needed to make a program possible. Yet through this work, we continue the work of the Holy Spirit.

Continuing the work

It was last Pentecost that I celebrated my Mass of Thanksgiving at my home parish of St. Pius X. A full year has now passed, and I am grateful to the Lord for the ways that I have already seen the Holy Spirit at work and for the privilege to be able to serve that mission.

Pope Leo XIV concluded his Pentecost homily with the call to “go and bring to everyone the hope of the Lord Jesus.” As I conclude my first year of priesthood and bring these reflections to a close, I pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen me to fulfill that call.

Father Tom Fallati is parochial vicar at St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady.