confirmation

 Renee was Ryan's sponsor and they are pictured here with Bishop Boyea of Lansing Michigan

 I had the honor of sponsoring Claire, pictured here with the Bishop.

 Renee & Ryan

 Claire & I

 Kevin, Ryan & I

 Adam & Ryan

Last night was the 8th grade confirmation at Holy Rosary Parish. What a wonderful experience and what a pleasure it was to see so many young teens receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our son Ryan was confirmed along with many of his school mates and students from surrounding parishes. Bishop Boyea gave a passionate and very inspiring homily. He spoke of how the holy spirit dwells in us and gives us self control and confidence in order to do what is right and just in this troubled world. He told the teens before the ceremony started that once they receive the Holy Spirit to ask God what his will is for their lives and surely they will learn what that is.....maybe not today or even within a year but if they continue to seek God's will, it will be revealed to them. He said each and every one of us on this earth has a special job that God needs us to do and if we don't do it, it doesn't get done.....no one else can do that particular job but us, so continue to seek God's will for your life. (great advice not only for the teens but for all of us)

What is Confirmation you ask??

Confirmation, a sacrament of initiation, establishes young adults as full-fledged members of the faith. This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. During your Baptism, your parents and godparents make promises to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on your behalf. At Confirmation, you renew those same promises, this time speaking for yourself.

During Confirmation, the focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts.

Traditionally, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are supernatural graces given to the soul. The 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit are charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continence, and chastity — human qualities that can be activated by the Holy Spirit.