SPAS Mass of the Holy Spirit 

Homily of Rev. Fr. Emilio Ascaño, LRMS, School Director, for the SPAS Mass of the Holy Spirit on July 26, 2024

Beloved Peterians and mentors…Praise be Jesus Christ!

As we gather on this blessed day to mark the beginning of a new school year, we focus on the Holy Spirit, who dwells among us and within us. Today, we invoke the Holy Spirit to enter into the hearts of each member of our school community—students, teachers, staff, and families—so that we may be guided by His wisdom and filled with His gifts.

The Holy Spirit is the source of all that is good and true. He increases our faith, that we may trust in God's plan for each of us and for our community. He gives us courage, empowering us to face challenges with strength and resilience. He bestows upon us wisdom, that we may discern what is right and just in all our actions and decisions. And He fills us with kindness, enabling us to love one another as Christ loves us.

As Peterians, named after the rock upon which Christ built His Church, we are called to embody these gifts in our daily lives. Just as Peter received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and was transformed from a fearful disciple into a courageous apostle, so too are we called to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and empower us to live out our faith courageously, wisely, and with kindness.

In the movie "Damsel," Elodie's kindness and courage is nothing short of heroic. Her bravery lies not just in her courage to confront a beast, but in discovering the truth, she transformed the entire story. By unveiling the hidden reality to the dragon—a life lived under the weight of deceit—Elodie does more than confront the dragon. She frees both the dragon and herself from years of falsehood, revealing how transformative courage and kindness can be.

Our theme for this school year is Education of the Heart: Our Hope for a Better Future.  Today, as we reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are reminded that He is not merely a distant companion, but a constant guide who dwells within us, especially in the sanctuary of our hearts. Our hearts, as the seat of our deepest desires and the place where our most significant decisions are made, are where the Holy Spirit works most profoundly.

In the journey of education, we often focus on the development of our minds and skills, which are indeed important. However, the education of the heart holds a unique significance. It is here, in our hearts, that we cultivate virtues such as love, compassion, humility, and forgiveness—virtues that shape us into better human beings and true disciples of Christ.

The Holy Spirit helps us in the education of the heart by enlightening our minds to understand God's will for us, by strengthening our will to choose what is good and just, and by filling our hearts with love so that we may truly love God and our brothers and sisters as ourselves. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, our hearts become more attuned to God's presence and His call in our lives.

St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are NOT JUST IDEALS; they are the marks of a heart that is open to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

As we embark on this new academic year, let us invite the Holy Spirit to enter into our hearts more deeply. Let us seek His guidance and inspiration in every aspect of our education—SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL. May He lead us to make choices that honor God and contribute to the well-being of others.

May the Holy Spirit, the source of all holiness and wisdom, be our constant companion on this journey of education and transformation of the heart.

In this new school year, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Let us pray fervently for His guidance and inspiration in all that we do. Let us support one another in our journey of faith, knowing that we are united in Christ and strengthened by the same Spirit.

May the gifts of the Holy Spirit sustain us throughout this school year and beyond, so that we may grow closer to God and shine His light in our school, our families, and our community.

Let us now pray together: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Amen.