From the Pastor’s Desk

Last weekend, 11 young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Rice here at St. Agnes Cathedral. They began their preparation in August and it was one of choice, commitment, witness, and ministry. The candidates were asked over the months to take a good hard look at their practice of their faith life, to participate in the sacramental classes, perform apostolic works and make their own decision to ask for the sacrament. After meeting with each candidate for 15-20 minutes I happily recommended these candidates to our bishop. I celebrate and congratulate all those young people who took the time of preparation prayerfully and seri-ously.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a special event in the life of an individual Catholic and the entire parish family. It’s call and grace confirm discipleship. The fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit help to form the Christian more fully in the image of Jesus Christ. We may use the term, an adult Catholic, within the Church with all the responsibilities that parents had accepted when they asked to have their son or daughter baptized. Thus Vatican II decreed that the rite of the sacrament be revised, that those receiving the sacrament be fully educated so that it’s connection with the whole church and the Rite of Christian Initiation be understood. Confirmation is the third and final Sacrament of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation).

As early as the 7th Century, the post baptismal anointing with Sacred Chrism by the bishop became the regular practice in the West-ern Roman Catholic Church. Medieval theologians saw Confirmation as a gift of the Holy Spirit for the strengthening of the candi-date’s inner life and social witness.

By the 16th century, the general practice after the Tridentine reforms was to confirm, as an affirmation or public profession, the bap-tismal commitment that had been made by parents and godparents at the time of Baptism.

Following Vatican II, two major understandings and approaches to the sacrament of Confirmation became accepted. The im-portance of Confirmation as a part of the RCIA with the Easter Vigil, and the maturity model as a person becomes more active within the Church, using their gifts and talents for the building up of God’s Kingdom by asking for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

Please Join us for our Lenten Penance Service March 24 at 7 pm