Florida Catholic | “Life in the Holy Spirit” culminates on Pentecost

“Life in the Holy Spirit” culminates on Pentecost

JOE DIAZ | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 05.23.08

SARASOTA | They began their journey seven weeks ago not knowing what to expect but feeling like they were called to be there.

They were called to attend a seminar on “Life in the Holy Spirit” for the Spanish-speaking community at St. Jude Parish. More than 100 people came together as they worked to welcome the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The group was led Father Jose Del Olmo, Deacon Humberto Alvia and Patty Vargas to learn about the Holy Spirit and how it could manifest himself in their daily lives.

People from as far away as Arcadia attended the meetings. Examples of some of the topics discussed in the seven weeks of classes included: salvation, receiving the charisms from God, spiritual growth and baptism in the spirit.

Some of those who attended were hesitant, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit arrived for each of them.

One woman said during her witness to the gifts she felt the Holy Spirit telling her to pray for a young man in her study group. She didn’t know him at all, but prayed anyway. Toward the end of the seminar, she felt the Holy Spirit tell her to give the man these prayers and had a connection with him as if he were her own.

“Let the Holy Spirit guide you in everything,” Deacon Alvia said.

He added that it is often difficult it is to be faithful in today’s complicated world but by coming to learn about the true meaning of Pentecost they “have been given the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You may not feel it now but in God’s time, they will come out.”

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“Life in the Holy Spirit” culminates on Pentecost

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