Parochial Administrator’s Corner – Week of February 23, 2025

The Sacrament of Confirmation

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” At the 10:00am Mass next Sunday, Archbishop Nelson Pérez will confirm 16 of our parishioners with the imposition of hands and the anointing of the forehead. This completes their initiation into the Church, which began at Baptism and was nurtured through the Eucharist. These three sacraments – Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation – are so important in the spiritual life & health of Catholics that we as a parish celebrate with great joy on this special occasion! I thank Sr. Rita Marian Angelilli, IHM, all the catechists and teachers involved and especially the parents of these children for helping them prepare for this important moment in their life- long spiritual journey!

I consider this is a good opportunity every year to reflect on the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) provides valuable insights into the historical development and rich theology of this sacrament; allow me to provide some highlights in the hope that you will read and reflect on the entire section (§1285 – 1321) yourself. The Catechism begins by stating that:

Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. …The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal graces, for “by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (§1285)

The CCC goes on to provide the scriptural foundation for Confirmation:

In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God. …This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah’s but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions, Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles began to proclaim “the mighty works of God.” …Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn. From that time on, the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ’s will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. …The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation. …Very early, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) was added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name “Christian,” which means “anointed. (§1286-1289)

The CCC also provides a helpful explanation of the reason oil is one of the signs of Confirmation:

Anointing, in Biblical and other ancient symbolism, is rich in meaning: oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses (anointing before and after a bath) and limbers (the anointing of athletes and wrestlers); oil is a sign of healing, since it is soothing to bruises and wounds; and it makes radiant with beauty, health and strength. (§1293)

Through the laying on of hands and the anointing with chrism, the bishop confirms the presence of God’s Spirit in those who were first given this Spirit at baptism and strengthens their baptismal grace! Again, congratulations to our parishioners who are soon to be fully initiated into our faith community!

Parish Announcement:

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered next Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the 10 AM Mass. There will only be 7 pews in the back on either side available for parishioners. We ask that you consider attending either the 5 PM Vigil Mass on Sat., 3/1 or Sun 3/2. at 7 AM or 8:30 AM Masses where there is ample room. Please pray for our Confirmation candidates and their families!

~ Msgr. Hans Brouwers