BRAINTREE -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley has invited all of the ecclesial movements and ethnic apostolates in the archdiocese to gather for the Solemn Vigil of Pentecost at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross Saturday, May 26.

All are invited to join the vigil, sometimes called the "birthday of the Church," and celebrate a multi-lingual Mass and musical program. Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter, celebrates the day when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and began preaching the Gospel.

"Like the Easter vigil, there is an extended Liturgy of the word. The cardinal is celebrating this Pentecost Vigil Mass where he is inviting everyone in the archdiocese to attend, and to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and renewal upon the Church in Boston," said director of the office of Divine Worship and Spiritual Life Father Jonathan Gaspar.

He said the Holy Spirit inspires many gifts in the community for the sake of communion.

"The Holy Spirit transforms the Church, unifies the Church, even in the midst of our diversity, our ethnicities, our languages," he said.

The cardinal modeled the celebration on a tradition started by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

Pope John Paul "would gather with all of the different movements and communities from throughout the Church, and throughout the world. He would gather with them in one place to pray in thanksgiving for the gift of the Holy Spirit, but also praying for a generous outpouring of the spirit on the Church," Father Gaspar said.

The musical program will begin at 2:45 p.m. with music and prayer sessions led by different ethnic charismatic communities before the Mass begins at 4 p.m.

"We need these moments where we can gather with the one shepherd that has been appointed over us within the archdiocese, so that we can really feel and know that we are one. We are transformed 'from confusion into communion'" Father Gaspar said, quoting Pope Benedict XVI.

Father Gaspar said the Mass will celebrate the occasion of the followers of Christ moving out of the upper room into the world to promote the word of God, thus beginning the original work of the Church on earth.

"We just want everyone to know that they are welcome, and it is going to be a really beautiful Mass," Father Gaspar said.