But it’s more than just a single Sunday; it’s a powerful outpouring of God’s grace, a renewed call to mission, and a season for us to live with intentionality and fiery zeal.

As Pope Francis so beautifully reminded us in his 2024 Pentecost homily,

“We are not alone, but empowered by the Holy Spirit.”

The feast, which lands on May 24 this year, isn’t just about showing up on Sunday. It’s about how to prepare our hearts and live out the Holy Spirit’s gifts with intention and passion.

Here are nine fruitful ways to prepare for Pentecost and live with the Holy Spirit’s zeal:

1) Novena to the Holy Spirit

The traditional Pentecost Novena involves nine days of prayer leading up to the feast. It mimics the apostles’ time in the Upper Room with Mary, praying for the Holy Spirit. 

Each day, focus on a specific gift or fruit of the Spirit, inviting Him to transform you. Remember:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23)

2) Make “Veni Creator Spiritus” Your Morning Go-To

Start your day by inviting the Holy Spirit in! The ancient hymn, "Veni Creator Spiritus" (“Come, Creator Spirit”), is a powerful way to do that.

Integrate this beautiful prayer into your morning routine. Its lines, like “Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o’erflow with love,” are a perfect daily petition for Pentecostal grace.

3) Pray the Chaplet of the Holy Spirit

The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit centers on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. It’s a fantastic way to ask for these specific graces to empower you and deepen your faith. You can also pray the Litany to the Holy Spirit for a powerful invocation of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.

4) Rock Some Red (Liturgically Speaking!)

The color red symbolizes the tongues of fire that descended upon the apostles and the Holy Spirit’s transformative power.

Wearing more red in your clothing choices, especially on Pentecost Sunday and throughout its octave, is a simple, visible way to connect with the feast and show your enthusiasm for the Spirit! 

5) Read the Acts of the Apostles

Want to see the Holy Spirit in action? The Book of Acts is your go-to. Read the first two chapters of Acts before Pentecost to immerse yourself in the Upper Room narrative.

After Pentecost, keep reading! See how the apostles, empowered by the Spirit, boldly preached the Gospel and built the Church.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

6) Practice Everyday Discipleship

Pentecost isn’t just about what you receive; it’s about how you act. Reflect on how you can intentionally live out your Catholic faith in your daily interactions.

This could be a kind word, a moment of forgiveness, lending an ear, or simply radiating Christian joy. Let the Spirit take your ordinary actions and turn them into extraordinary acts of love.

7) Explore Creative Ways to Celebrate

Pentecost can be a truly joyful and vibrant feast!

This includes fun ideas like baking a “Holy Spirit” cake or hosting a spiritual discussion with friends. These creative expressions help bring the significance of the day alive in your home and heart. 

8) Learn from Saints with June Feast Days

The upcoming month of June is packed with saints whose lives were profoundly shaped by the Holy Spirit. Take inspiration from:

• Saint Anthony of Padua (June 13): A powerful preacher, truly gifted by the Spirit.
• Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (June 21): A model of purity and discernment.
• Saints Peter and Paul (June 29): Pillars of the Church, transformed by the Spirit from fearful followers into bold apostles.

Their stories show us the endless ways the Holy Spirit empowers believers! 

9) Conclude with a Prayer to Mary, Mother of Pentecost

Mary was in the Upper Room, prayerfully awaiting the Holy Spirit with the Apostles. She is truly the Mother of Pentecost! 

Turn to her to deepen your own reception of the Spirit, or use a powerful prayer directly to the Holy Spirit:

O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to submit to everything that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will. (This prayer is often attributed to Cardinal Mercier.)

Or simply:

Mary, Mother of Pentecost,

You who received the Holy Spirit in fullness,

Pray for us, that we too may be filled with His gifts.

Lead us, guide us, and intercede for us,

That we may be docile to the Spirit’s promptings

And bear abundant fruit for the glory of God. Amen.

Pentecost is a re-ignition, not just a remembrance.

By consciously preparing and intentionally living out the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can experience a profound transformation, moving from passive believers to active disciples, truly empowered to live with zeal and bear witness to Christ in the world. 

So go ahead, embrace this powerful season!

Let your heart be open, your prayers fervent, and your daily life a vibrant testimony to the Spirit alive within you. After all, the fire of God’s love isn’t just for the apostles – it’s for you, here and now, ready to inspire and uplift every moment of your Catholic journey. 

This article originally appeared in Hollywood Catholic and was modified for ChurchPOP.

On his Instagram account, Velazquez explained that it all began when a client who had just rented the property in Garland hired him to transform the space with a mural inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Before renting it, he showed them his plans, including an artificial intelligence-generated design explaining that he wanted to paint a mural, and they didn’t say anything,” Velazquez said.

Using that initial image as inspiration, the artist created his own design for the “La Esquinita Panadería y Taquería” storefront, featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe alongside the phrase, “Pray for us.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Juan Velazquez (@velazquez_art_)

After three weeks of work—and with the help of artists Armando Aguirre, Gustavo Briseño, Travis Avila, and Guerrero Tatz—the mural was finally completed.

“Now that the mural is finished—after working on it for three weeks through intermittent rain, and after I had to step away for a week due to the death of a family member—the owner is saying the mural is not allowed and that they are going to paint over it,” Velazquez explained.

Through social media, Velazquez asked followers to share the story in support of his client and to help prevent the mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe from being removed.

Meanwhile, restaurant owners Jamie and Alberto Zamora told CBS News that the building management had been aware of the project from the beginning, since details were shared with them through emails and text messages in March.

They explained that the mural was intended not only to beautify the building, but also to represent the faith and cultural identity of the Hispanic community.

“It symbolizes love, protection, and tradition for our Hispanic culture,” Jamie said.

The future of the mural remains uncertain. However, Velazquez’s post has sparked a wave of support across social media.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Whether it be for the priest after a homily, for a musician, or even for the choir after the liturgy concludes, is this okay? And what about after weddings, confirmations, or baptisms?

Many have opinions, but over the years, various popes and religious leaders have expressed their thoughts on the matter.

In his book "The Spirit of the Liturgy,"  Pope Benedict XVI (then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) wrote:

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attraction fades quickly – it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation.”

Other popes have also contributed to the subject, including Pope Saint John XXIII and Pope Saint Pius X.

As the faithful waited for Pope Saint John XXIII’s arrival at a church outside of Rome, he said, 

“I am very glad to have come here. But if I must express a wish, it is that in church you not shout out, that you not clap your hands, and that you not greet even the Pope, because ‘templum Dei, templum Dei.’ (‘The temple of God is the temple of God’)."

Pope Saint Pius X said, 

“It is not fitting that the servant should be applauded in his Master’s house.”

Former Catholic Answers chaplain Father Vincent Serpa, O.P., also provided his opinion on an episode of Catholic Answers.

“Is it appropriate to applaud for the choir after Mass? Is this an approved practice?” the caller asks.

Father Serpa said, 

“Absolutely not. It’s most inappropriate, and it’s the responsibility of the pastor to make sure that the congregation understands this. The choir is not singing as a matter of entertaining anybody. They’re singing to worship God. We don’t clap for prayer. We pray.”

“Again, that is not an option. If we were someplace else, it would be a different matter," he continues. "But liturgy is liturgy. It’s the worship of God, and it needs to be done in an appropriate way as the Church sees fit. It’s good that they appreciate the choir, but they can thank them outside. Applause is not appropriate at that time.”

“There are times when that’s called for, as in the ordination ceremony, when you are asked to give the response to the worthiness of the candidate for ordination. But this isn’t that. This is something else," Father Vincent adds. "You don’t clap at the end of Mass because you had a good time. That’s not what it’s about.”

However, while the popes, priests, and the faithful provide their input on applauding at Mass, there is no official Church teaching on the subject.

Many Church leaders, however—including Cardinal Francis Arinze—stress that we come to Mass to adore God, not to applaud human efforts or treat the liturgy as entertainment.

Cardinal Arinze, as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said:

“…when we come to Mass, we don’t come to clap. We don’t come to watch people, to admire people. We want to adore God, to thank Him, to ask Him pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for what we need.”

Furthermore, some argue that limited exceptions can be fitting at the very conclusion of certain joyful celebrations, such as weddings or baptisms, to express gratitude for God’s gifts and the community of faith. 

In general, however, the faithful are encouraged to offer silent prayer or personal thanks afterward, preserving the sacred silence and reverence that allow the mystery of the Eucharist to resonate more deeply.

What do you think? Is it okay to applaud at Mass?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,

“Jesus’ final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand.” (CCC, 659)

Here are four things to remember about the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, followed by some of our favorite prayers to mark the occasion:

1) What happened in the Ascension?

Marks the moment Jesus returned to His Father in Heaven and took His place at the right hand of God.

2) What is the Bible verse for the Ascension?

Recorded in scripture (Acts 1:9-11)

3) What can we learn from the Ascension?

Reminds us that our ultimate goal as Christians is to be with God in Heaven and that Jesus will come again.

4) When did the Ascension of Jesus happen?

Jesus ascended into Heaven 40 days after Easter and nine days before Pentecost.

Ascension Day Prayer

Let us Pray:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,

Right before your Ascension into heaven,
you told your apostles to be His witnesses
to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit.
May I be similarly inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for me.
And may I do so prudently and joyfully,
with your help, your guidance, and your grace!
And remembering this glorious event,
help me to seek what is above, Heaven,
where you are seated at the right hand of God the Father!

Amen.

Prayer Source: Our Catholic Prayers

And the Ascension novena prayer:

Jesus, I honor You on the feast of Your Ascension into heaven. I rejoice with all my heart at the glory into which You entered to reign as King of heaven and earth. When the struggle of this life is over, give me the grace to share Your joy and triumph in heaven for all eternity.

I believe that You entered into Your glorious Kingdom to prepare a place for me, for You promised to come again to take me to Yourself. Grant that I may seek only the joys of Your friendship and love, so that I may deserve to be united with You in heaven.

In the hour of my own homecoming, when I appear before Your Father to give an account of my life on earth, have mercy on me.

Jesus, in Your love for me You have brought me from evil to good and from misery to happiness. Give me the grace to rise above my human weakness. May Your Humanity give me courage in my weakness and free me from my sins.

Through Your grace, give me the courage of perseverance for You have called and justified me by faith. May I hold fast to the life You have given me and come to the eternal gifts You promised.

You love me, dear Jesus. Help me to love You in return. I ask You to grant this special favor:

(Mention your request).

By Your unceasing care, guide my steps toward the life of glory You have prepared for those who love You. Make me grow in holiness and thank You by a life of faithful service.

Amen.

Prayer Source: EWTN

Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those suffering from mental, emotional, or nervous disorders. She is the perfect saint to turn to if you feel sad or distressed.

According to tradition, Saint Dymphna was a seventh-century princess and daughter of a pagan king in Ireland. After her mother died when she was 14, her father's mental health deteriorated. He hoped to remarry, but seeing Dymphna reminded him of his wife.

He intended to marry Dymphna, but she fled to Geel, Belgium, with her confessor, Saint Gerebernus. One year later, when she was only 15 years old, her father found her. When she refused to marry him, he killed her. After her death, many miracles occurred through her intercession.

Today, St. Dymphna is invoked not only for severe mental illness but also for anxiety, depression, trauma, neurological conditions, and emotional distress of all kinds. She is also a powerful patron for victims of abuse, those struggling with purity, and caregivers.

During times of hardship, let us turn to this powerful saint, asking her for peace in distress.

Prayer to Saint Dymphna

For the Sorrowful, the Distressed, and the Mentally Afflicted

Saint Dymphna, young and steadfast,
you knew terror in your own home
and grief that words could not carry.

When darkness pressed close,
you did not abandon Christ;
when the world failed you,
you held to Him still.

Stand now beside every soul
whose mind will not rest,
whose heart aches beneath a weight no one else can see,
whose nights are long and whose mornings come heavy.

Ask the Lord Jesus,
the gentle Physician of every wound,
to quiet what storms within them
and to send His peace where their own strength has ended.

I place before you now this particular need...
(mention your intention here)
...trusting that you who knew sorrow will carry it with me to Christ.

For the sad, obtain consolation.
For the anxious, obtain stillness.
For the broken, obtain healing in God's own time.
For those who feel forsaken, obtain the certainty that they are not.

Holy martyr of Gheel,
lamp in the long night of suffering,
pray for us, and lead us safely home
to the Heart of Christ.

Amen.

Saint Dymphna, pray for us!

On Monday, May 18, 2026, EWTN+ will launch the new series, “Fork in the Road,” in partnership with Little Fiat Studios. 

The eight-episode travel-food docuseries follows Catholic actress and entrepreneur Jessica Rey’s three homeschooled children as they explore cultures through local cuisine across several European countries.

Created and produced by Jessica Rey, who is best known for portraying the White Ranger in Disney’s Power Rangers Wild Force, Fork in the Road follows her three children–Nathanael, Estella, and Sebastian–as they visit Rome, Tuscany, Bologna, Vienna, and more.

In this unique series, the Rey kids don’t just go sightseeing–they sit down at local tables, learn from residents, and discover how food tells the story of each place they visit.

Filmed in beautiful locations across Europe, the show highlights how food connects people to history, faith, and local traditions. From Portuguese port wine to Italian soul food and Austrian Christmas classics, the episodes combine travel, culture, and family moments with an authentically Catholic perspective.

Episode Lineup for “Fork in the Road”

The eight-episode series includes:

• Episode 1: Porto – The City that Named a Country
• Episode 2: Paciano – Where Slow Travel Becomes a Way of Life
• Episode 3: Rome – When in Rome, Eat Everything
• Episode 4: Dalmatian Coast – From a Roman Palace to a Fisherman’s Table
• Episode 5 & 6: Bologna – The City that Feeds Your Soul and Your Stomach / Leave Room for Seconds
• Episode 7: Tuscany – Monks at Work and Italy’s Most Famous Butcher
• Episode 8: Vienna – Schnitzel, Strudel, and Christmas

More About Jessica Rey

Jessica Rey’s journey from White Power Ranger to modest fashion designer to producer reflects a life guided by her Catholic faith and creativity.

A homeschooling mom of three, she brings her warm personality and relatability to this family-friendly series.

Her previous work also includes the viral TED-style talk “The Evolution of the Swimsuit” and the creation of Rey Swimwear into an ethically made, USA-produced brand.

Where to Watch “Fork in the Road”

All episodes will be available to stream for free on EWTN+ and EWTN.com starting May 18.

Watch the official trailer here:

EWTN+ is available free on EWTN.com, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and Roku.

For those who might feel God is leading them in that direction, one Catholic priest explained three signs to look for in a viral reel published by Sydney Vocations on Instagram.

In the video, Father Daniele Russo, the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Sydney, quickly breaks down signs of a potential call to the priesthood and how to recognize them. The caption also encourages the viewer to bring these signs to prayer.

Here are Father Daniele Russo’s three signs you might have a vocation to the priesthood:

1) The Holy Nag

 “Sign number one, the holy nag,” he says. “So those who are called might experience thoughts of the priesthood that don't seem to leave them. Thoughts of celebrating the sacraments that seem to persist through time.”

2) An Attraction to the Sacraments

“Sign number two: an attraction to the sacraments,” Father Russo continues. “If we are at Mass or in confession and imagining ourselves as being the one to administer the sacrament– if our love for the sacraments goes beyond admiration into desire for imitation– that could be another sign that God is calling us.”

3) An Increasing Desire for Love

“Sign number three, an increasing desire for love.” 

“Saint John Paul II said, 'Every vocation is fundamentally a call to love,’" the priest says. 

“But when one is called to the priesthood, their desire to love expands beyond the normal boundaries, especially of family life. Whereas a priest in celibate love is called to love the entirety of God's family, an enlarged heart, an unrestricted love, an exclusive love for God so as to be non-exclusively available to his people.”

Here is the full video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sydney Vocations (@sydneyvocations)

Father Russo’s reel generated approximately 117,000 views, over 10,000 likes, and almost 80 comments. Several users even expressed interest in the priesthood after watching the video.

Here’s what some people said:

“I just got back from Mass, and I prayed to God about what he wants from me… Then I saw this video. Is this a sign?” one user asked.

“You just described me,” another person said.

“Extremely blessed to have these signs,” someone else wrote.

“I've got all these signs. May thy will be done. 🙌🙌” another user said.

Let us pray for all men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood!

“I take a moment to pray before leaving the locker room, and I always make the most of it,” Sylwestrzak says in an interview with the Polish Catholic portal Misyjne, run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

FIFA Referee Prays Before Every Match

The Ekstraklasa referee—Poland’s top professional football division—says he always carries the Divine Mercy image with the inscription, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

“With the first whistle, I make the Sign of the Cross, giving thanks for my passion and placing everything I do into God’s hands,” he explains.

During the interview, he notes that on some occasions he has been asked to stop making the Sign of the Cross before matches. “But I’ve always done it, and I will keep doing it,” he says, unafraid of any backlash.

He adds that he prays especially to entrust the match to God—“to give thanks that I can be there, doing what I love, and that I have found something so meaningful in which I can fulfill myself.”

From a young age, he felt drawn to study theology and pursued it at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology, where he met his wife. Although he did not complete his degree, he considered teaching religion before ultimately choosing refereeing as his profession.

“I became an altar server as soon as I was old enough in my parish—maybe even a little earlier. I loved it. Sometimes on Sundays, I served at several Masses. The liturgy and service deeply captivated me,” he recalls.

A Witness of Faith Through Small Gestures

He says faith has always been part of his life, especially when making important decisions. In difficult moments—particularly after a tough match or amid controversy—he relies on his family, which he describes as “a great support and a way to decompress.”

Sylwestrzak firmly believes that “anyone can bear witness to their faith,” even a referee. “I try to do it, even through small gestures. But for me, the most important witness is within the family,” he explains.

As a father of three, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining simple practices: praying together before bed, making the Sign of the Cross before meals, and even when passing by a church.

“God Is the Hope of What Comes After Life”

The FIFA referee shares that in difficult moments, he often goes to church, where he kneels and entrusts everything to God. 

“I also go many times to give thanks or simply to reflect,” he says.

For the 34-year-old Sylwestrzak, God is “the hope of what comes after earthly life.” Despite his youth, he admits he often reflects on what happens after death.

“Sometimes I feel fear when I think about that question. But when it comes, faith brings me peace. It is my comfort and my compass in life. I know that at times, thanks to faith and the teaching of the Church, my wife and I go against the current of the world. But I am happy with our decisions—I have never regretted them, and I am even proud of many of them,” he concludes.

This article originally appeared in ACI Prensa and was adapted for ChurchPOP.

As seen in the EWTN News documentary “Pope Leo’s Peru,” his first assignment brought him to Chulucanas, a small, remote city in northwest Peru. 

Though he would remain there for just one year, what he encountered and the people he met would shape his life forever. It was 1985, and he had just turned 30.

In this rural community known for its pottery and agriculture, Father Roberto quickly became a steady presence for local youth. He focused on keeping them out of trouble while helping them grow in their relationship with God, but he did so in a way that felt personal. And his approach worked.

Many of his former altar servers gathered with EWTN News to reminisce on serving with Pope Leo 40 years earlier. 

Martin Feijo remembers, “Father Roberto would call us to meetings on Saturday evenings, but we, as young people, wanted to go out to the disco and all those things typical of our age.” 

Fernando Garcia adds, “But we didn't go out anymore because we stayed with him.”

Father Roberto didn’t just ask for their time; he filled it with purpose and joy. 

He organized sports tournaments, group activities, and trips to the beach, creating a sense of community that made faith something lived, not just taught. And sometimes, his methods were unexpected.

Rodolfo Yepez Castro recalls that on one occasion, the young missionary took the group of boys for a somewhat surprising outing… a rock concert of a Peruvian band named “Grupo Rio”. 

“He took us to the concert and got tickets as a way of rewarding us for something we did. And he didn't want to come in, but we encouraged him, and he came in with us and stayed at the concert.” 

The boys didn’t just see a priest that day; they saw someone willing to step into their world. And they say Pope Leo had fun!

But what stayed with them wasn’t just the fun. It was the friendship, the trust, the authenticity of a priest who chose to be present.

He took his altar servers to see Grupo Río not to be “cool,” but to keep them close, building relationships that opened the door to lasting faith.

Years later, some of those same boys would discern a call to the priesthood, a quiet testament to the impact of one missionary who understood that sometimes the most powerful way to lead is simply to walk alongside.

Check out the EWTN News documentary “Pope Leo’s Peru,” below:

Saint John Paul II credited his providential survival to the miraculous hand of Our Lady, saying, "One hand shot, and another guided the bullet.”

This attempt on his life gave us the blood-stained undershirt he was wearing–now a relic the Church preserves and venerates in Rome. 

The Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul preserve this important relic at the Regina Mundi Figlie Della Carità house in Rome. People without resources, single mothers, and immigrants go to this home for help.

The house is also a pilgrimage site, preserving Saint John Paul II’s blood-stained undershirt. It is viewable upon request.

“You can still see the pope’s blood stains on the relic, and you can make out three distinct holes,” Sister Maria Rosario of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul told Rome Reports.

“They are holes caused by bullets. Not because there were three bullets, but since the shirt was folded over itself, because of how he was standing.”

Sister Maria also explained how the relic came to them: through nurse Anna Stanghellini, who had preserved the undershirt in her closet for many years.

“In the operating room, they cut his shirt into two pieces and threw it on the floor because they had to operate on the Pope,” Sister Rosario explained. “When they finished, she realized that the shirt was still there and would probably end up in the garbage. So she decided to pick it up.”

Stanghellini felt close to the Daughters of Charity, so she donated the shirt to their community. The relic’s display attracts many visitors for veneration.

The sisters say many share stories of Saint John Paul II’s miraculous intercession.

Miracle After Venerating Saint John Paul II's Shirt Relic

Sister Rosario said a woman wanted a child but could not become pregnant. When she eventually became pregnant, the doctors said, "she and her child were in great danger."

"She came here to pray almost every day. Finally, she became pregnant, but the doctors told her that she and her child were in great danger.

“She and her husband asked Saint John Paul II for a miracle. In the end, the child was born and is in good health. So is she. They named him John Paul.”

Saint John Paul II, pray for us!