The Shrine Hosts Pentecost Event

By Mrs. Jennifer Passerino, Salesian Family

(Stony Point, NY – June 11) – A special gathering was held on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (the Shrine). The Jesus in Zion Pentecost Festival came to life when Fr. Vincent Druding, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Church in the Bronx and organizer of the Jesus in Zion ministry, presented the idea to Fr. Manny Gallo, SDB, the Shrine’s director, to hold this Pentecost event. The collaboration between the Salesian community and the Jesus in Zion ministry, which is based at Holy Cross in the Bronx and was started in 2023, shaped this incredible day.

Over 200 people attended the five-hour bilingual event. It featured both Spanish and English guest speakers as well as lively music celebrating the Feast of Pentecost. The event concluded with praise and worship during Eucharistic Adoration.

This Pentecost event was inspired and organized by Mrs. Marisel Rodriguez, who is a young adult. This is significant because it demonstrates that we Salesians continue to trust our young people to be catalysts and to empower them to be able to use their talents to evangelize with the power of the Holy Spirit.

“On this day I witnessed the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit through confession, adoration, and praise and worship,” said Fr. Manny. “It proves that Pentecost is not just a past event, but it is present on every day basis. Let’s invoke the Holy Spirit in our daily prayer because the Lord should be worshiped today, tomorrow and forever.”