3. What is the new creation? The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus changed the whole world for ever. St. Paul proclaimed: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! —2 Corinthians 5:17

4. What will heaven be like? As humans, we can only try to imagine what heaven will be like because it is so far beyond what our minds and hearts can understand. Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

5. We cannot even imagine St. Paul writes about what heaven will be like: What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. —1 Corinthians 2:9

6. Leaving the nest When baby birds leave their parents’ nest for the first time, very often they fall to the ground. But with their parents’ help, eventually they succeed in flying. In the Scriptures, God is portrayed as a mother eagle, a tough and protective parent.

7. Jesus goes up to Heaven The risen Lord spent forty days with the disciples after his Resurrection and then he ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus promised the disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to empower them to become his witnesses to all the people.

8. The Ascension is challenging When the risen Jesus left the disciples after the Ascension, they knew that a great but challenging opportunity was ahead of them. As baby birds do, the disciples would have to learn to fly on their own. Jesus prepared the disciples for their work throughout his whole life with his words, actions and teachings.

9. Ascension The entry of Jesus’ humanity into divine glory to be at the right hand of the Father; traditionally, this occurred forty days after Jesus’ Resurrection. —USCCA, 504

10. Pentecost The ‘fiftieth day’ at the end of the seven weeks following Passover (Easter in the Christian dispensation). At the first Pentecost after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the Holy Sprit was manifested, given and communicated as a divine Person to the Church, fulfilling the paschal mystery of Christ according to his promise. —CCC, Glossary

11. Do not let your hearts be troubled After the risen Jesus ascended to Heaven and before Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would come, the disciples were left doubting and wondering about Jesus’ promise. The Acts of the Apostles reveals that this was a time of great prayer.

12. Jesus fulfilled his promise On Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise by sending the Holy Spirit. The tongues of fire that rested on each disciple were a visible sign of the Spirit filling them with a burning desire to spread the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection.

13. The work of the Church begins at Pentecost The Church, born on the Cross and filled with the Holy Spirit, began her work at Pentecost.

14. Mary received God’s unique graces From the moment of her conception and throughout her entire life, God’s grace preserved Mary from all sin. Mary received unique blessings from God. These include the Immaculate Conception and her Assumption to Heaven at the end of her life.

15. The Assumption of Mary Mary’s body did not decay at her death as the body of every human person does. From the moment of the end of her life on earth, Mary has lived in glory, body and soul, in the presence of God. This is a dogma of the Catholic faith.

16. Mary prays for us Jesus gave his mother to be our Mother in faith. Mary is the Mother of the Church. She is in the presence of God and her Son Jesus, interceding on our behalf.

17. The story of St. Lucy St. Lucy was a martyr whose strength and courage in the face of suffering and death inspire us to live as disciples of Christ. When Roman officials attempted to force Lucy into a life of prostitution, she resisted. She was killed in 304. St. Lucy’s life and death is an example to us that sharing in Christ’s suffering is founded in the hope of sharing Christ’s glory. The Church celebrates St. Lucy’s feast day on December 13.