Confirmation - By the Numbers?

Confirmation by the numbers 

at Holy Family Parish:

• 276 - The number of Candidates for Confirmation this year;
• 322 - Cue cards used by the candidates to write their names upon (at least 46 ruined/crumpled)
• 8 - The number of celebrations of Confirmation with between 28 and 34 candidates at each celebration;
• 418 - The number of times the phrases "Are there any candidates for confirmation here?" or "Are you a sponsor?" were asked as people were entering the church.
• 1 - Power failures before the opening procession!;
• 2 - Candidates on Crutches (1 each week - 1 girl, 1 boy);
• 112 - the number of times "Alleluia" was  sung;
• 16.2 - The volume in litres of holy water used in the Sprinkling Rite at the beginning of Mass;
• 321 - "Peace be with you" said in the 8 celebrations;
• 80 - Holding arms our and saying "This way" to the candidates as they lined up at the front of the Church to be Confirmed;
• 1.2 - litres of Chrism Oil used to anoint the candidates;
• 1 - Candidate slapped instead of embraced for the "Peace of Christ" (Marco had a separated collar bone!);
• 21 - Lemons used to clean the hands of the deacon and myself;
• 51 - Collection Baskets passed around for the collection;
• 8962 - The number of knees supported by our kneelers during the Confirmation Celebrations;
• 4,260 - The number of times a priest or minister of communion said "The Body of Christ"
• 36 - The verses & Refrains of the Communion Song:              One Bread One Body;
• 16 - Retreat leaders (high School and university age) who helped prepare these young men and women for the sacrament of Confirmation;
• 1291 - Flashes of Cameras for photos (hello CNN!);
• 54 - Loads of laundry done in the 8 nights (using 6.1 litres of detergent and 2.1 litres of bleach!);
• 1 - Dinner of gratitude after the Confirmation on June 9:
• 16 Batches of Wings (3 boneless!)
• 5 batches of Onion Rings
• 4 Fries (1 regular - 3 Sweet Potato)
• 1 Nachos Grande
• 13 Pepsi / 7-up / Root beer / Ice Tea

And as Mastercard would say... 

 Celebrating the gifts 

of the Holy Spirit - Priceless!!! 

 

We might talk about the numbers - but really Confirmation is about the amazing action of God - the power of God's Spirit present and active in our midst.  Confirmation is about the joy on the candidate's face - the excitement of a grandmother who has been nurturing and handing on faith - the gratitude in a parent's heart for the gift of their child, the witness of parish lectors and ministers of Communion who gather to celebrate God present in our midst.

Confirmation is a time for each of us to remember that we are baptised and Confirmed for mission and that we cannot fulfill nor live out our mission unless we gather with our family, God's family at the Sunday Eucharistic table.  
Confirmation like all sacraments, is an encounter with our God, who cannot be out done in generosity and who loves us beyond measure and wants us to live in freedom - united with his Son.  

Peace