Congratulations to our confirmandi of 2017, their families, sponsors and catechists. Our region is so proud of the young men and women who have been confirmed on Tuesday by Archbishop Schnurr at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.

We all thank the Lord for your journey of faith and pray for your spiritual growth. We cannot wait to see you putting to the good use in our parishes the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit you have received: gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

The celebration of Confirmation reminds all of us that it is only the Holy Spirit who gives us the increased ability to practice our Catholic faith in every aspect of our lives. Confirmation also reminds us to mirror Christ’s presence in our relations with others and to witness Him in every situation.

Let’s remember the five effects of the Confirmation as says the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"
• unites us more firmly to Christ
• increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
• renders our bond with the Church more perfect
• gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross