Confirmation "Season"

One of many newly Confirmed in 2013

I think it is only at Holy Family that we can speak of Confirmation being a Season! With 8 celebrations on 8 Weekday evenings in a row - it feels like a block of time! We actually have 9 celebrations when we include the Pentecost Sunday Morning celebration we had with 2 Adults who were Confirmed at the 8:30 mass.
We have really had a wonderful time over these 2 weeks, and to have the prayerful support and ministry of so many of the regular Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Altar Servers has been terrific!  There have been 286 people Confirmed these past 2 weeks, and we have appreciated the assistance of Peter and his sons at Excel Cleaners who have been cleaning the gowns each morning after the celebration the night before!

Fr. Damian and I split the preaching - so that we take turns alternating each day.  We have both spoken of the importance of the gifts given by God - for the building up of the community - and how we grow into these gifts.  These homilies have brought to mind the story Jerry Galipeau (who gave our Parish Mission in March) told about his friend who wanted a certain pair of designer jeans for Christmas one year.  She took her Mom to the Mall, and tried on a pair of jeans - and showed her exactly which pair, which size, which colour... On Christmas Morning when she unwrapped her presents, she went to her room to put on the jeans - and found that they were 2 sizes too big, and was devastated. When she complained, her Mom said "Don't worry - you'll grow into them!"
Maybe thats the way it will be with these young people we are confirming, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit - they will grow into them!
It was Jerry who also spoke about the Church Doors as being "Service Entrances" and on Pentecost we heard Jesus in the Gospel saying "As the Father sent me, so I send you."  Each of us - having been nourished at the table of the saviour - is sent forth thru the "Service Entrance" to be a witness - to be the presence of Christ, for the life of the world.

Peace.