Pentecost Sunday Ğ May 24, 2026 Ğ Sr. Rita Heywood, SNDdeN The following message byÊSister Rita Heywood, SNDdeNÊwas originally published by the SNDdeN Congregational Mission Office: Ê Read: John 20: 19-23 Reflect: Women in the Upper RoomÊ for the Feast of Pentecost Was Mary the only woman present?Ê No.Ê Other women in the upper room on the day of Pentecost are mentioned in Acts 1 which recounts the last moments of Jesus on earth.Ê Jesus gave His disciples specific directions. He directed them to return to Jerusalem and wait for the ÒPromise of the Father.ÓÊ (Acts 1:4)Ê When they arrived in Jerusalem, the women joined them. Acts 1:12-14 ĞÊThen they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a dayÕs journey.Ê And when they arrived, they went up into the upper room where they were staying:Ê Peter, James, John and Andrew:Ê Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.Ê These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,Êwith the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and with His brothers. Ê Catholics believe that MaryÕs presence In the Upper Room and her role as Mother of the Church are significant.Ê Catholic tradition also interprets this event as evidence that women actively participated in the prayerful preparation for Pentecost alongside their significant others and friends, the apostles/disciples.Ê The Liturgy of the Word today dovetails all of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the same outpouring of Peace and spiritual gifts given to all of the disciples including women in the upper room.Ê Since then, countless women throughout the centuries have numbered among all women who faithfully provide public witness that Jesus is indeed risen.Ê They share the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and continue to proclaim Peace with Justice throughout our world.Ê St Julie and Francoise, co-founders of SNDdeN and all who follow, continue this mission-centered legacy of the outpouring of the Spirit that exists in 2026:Ê to proclaim the Goodness of God with hearts as wide as the world on several continents.Ê SNDs de N, Associates, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers and many others actively provide educational pathways that are packed with the implementation and guidance of all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.Ê As the Liturgy of the Word of Pentecost Sunday proclaims:Ê ÒPeace be with youÓ(Jn 19: 21)Ê ÒBless the Lord, O Lord, you are great indeed!Ê Send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.Ó (Psalm 104) Read: John 20: 19-23 Reflect: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ÒPeace be with you.ÓÊ When he had said this, He showed them his hands and his side.Ê The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Ê Jesus said to them again, ÒPeace be with you.Ê As the Father has sent me, so I send you.ÓÊ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ÒReceive the Holy Spirit.Ê Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.Ó Meet Sister Rita Heywood, SNDdeN Sister Rita Heywood was born in Boston in 1940, as the youngest of six children: five girls and one boy. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in August 1958 and made her Perpetual Vows at Ipswich, Mass., in 1966. Sister Rita earned her BA as an English major at Emmanuel College, followed by postgraduate degrees in English/liberal arts, education/disabilities at Boston College. During this time, Sister Rita taught English and religion for junior and high schools at several diocesan schools in Massachusetts, including one year at Star of the Sea High School in Honolulu. Sister Rita also taught postgraduate courses in teacher & special education at Northeastern University and Salem State College while providing individualized academic services to college students at Boston University. Over the next 20 years, Sister Rita coordinated disability services at Massachusetts Bay Community College, then was appointed by the U.S. Leadership of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as coordinator of the U.S. Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for eight years. Currently, Sister Rita is a justice & peace promoter in active retirement, continuing her faithful public witness by sharing the Goodness of God and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Harbor Columbia Point Community, Dorchester, Mass., and serving on the East-West Justice Peace and Integrity Support Circle. Sister Rita also convenes a Support Circle of the EW Province that prepares agendas for the Town Hall of the Sisters. This reflection is on theÊSNDdeN International website.