Events that took place in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago can become a lived experience for each of us. At Pentecost, parishes have the opportunity to involve everyone in preparations for this great church feast Prayerful Preparation for Pentecost dates back to the early Church. We read in Acts 1:4-14 that, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the Apostles constantly devoted themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, while they waited for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, which had been promised by the Father.They spent nine days praying in the Upper Room between the Ascension of Christ and Pentecost. The early Christians followed their example and they prayed for nine days – calling it a novena (which comes from the Latin novem meaning &ldqu