Last night our parish celebrated the rite of Confirmation for 25 young people. It was an awesome celebration and liturgy. Our presiding Bishop this year was retired Archbishop Alfred Hughes, who was the Archbishop who laid hands on me at my ordination. It was awesome to assist at the Mass as one of the Deacons with him. Archbishop Hughes gave a wonderful homily using the analogy of the Saints Super Bowl season and how that came together with a great general manager, a great coach and great players who fulfilled their roles as team mates. He related this to the Trinity, with emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit. And he challenged our young people to place their faith into action and remain true to the teachings of the Trinity through the Church. He really connected with those to be confirmed.
As each one came forward to be confirmed, annointed by the Archbishop, in the background our music group was signing Holy Spirit, come into our Lives! It was a wonderful time of peace, prayer and reflection.
When the liturgy was over I was amazed at the patience and joy of Archbishop Hughes as he posed for picture after picture with the newly confirmed.
So another confirmation season has come and gone and now our prayer must be for these young people to remain faithful as they complete their high school and go off to college. And in our prayer we will also ask that if a religious vocation is stirring up within any of them that they be courageous enough to test it and possibly be open to discerning that possibility.
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