One of my favorite bishop activities is the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Tag: confirmation
Catechumens and candidates welcomed at Rite of Election
Sunday, Feb. 26, saw a crowd gather at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.
Rite of Election set for March 6
Facing Summit Ave. in St. Paul, Minn., the University of St. Thomas boasts these magnificent arches in the Collegiate Gothic style.
A message of love for the confirmandi
 |
|
One of the greatest privileges I have as a bishop is the opportunity to preside at the Sacrament of Confirmation. A drawback, however, is that I am obligated to conduct over 40 Confirmations in roughly a two month period — which means that I become tired, rather quickly, of my own homily!
As a result, I’m frequently shifting gears, trying out new ideas, looking at the complex phenomenon of Confirmation from a variety of angles. I want to share with you in this article some of the key ideas in the latest iteration of my Confirmation sermon.
Pray for all students and Catholic schools
Dear Friends,
As we come to the end of the school year, it strikes me as a wonderful time to reflect on Catholic schools.
Of course, this is made all the more easy for me as I’ve also just concluded an outstanding Confirmation circuit. It was simply a joy for me to be with our young people from parishes and schools around the diocese, and I have to say that I was very impressed with the young women and men I encountered and with whom I prayed.
If Latin Mass is restored, all Catholics should learn Latin
To the editor:
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf’s column, “Latin is language for Church teaching, worship” (Catholic Herald, March 3), could be taken at its word. We have Latin. He states that Judaism has Hebrew.
When the Torah is read in Hebrew, the congregation understands it. When a child becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah, he or she reads from the Torah and presents a short essay.
Catechumens, candidates take steps to join the Church
At the conclusion of Lent, nearly 140 people are going to become new members of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Madison.
Confirmation and evangelization
|
|
Just a few days ago, I had the enormous privilege of performing my first Confirmation as a bishop.
It took place at Holy Cross Parish in Moor Park, Calif., a large, bustling, and bi-lingual parish in my pastoral region. I told the confirmandi — and I meant it — that I would keep them in my heart for the rest of my life, for we were connected by an unbreakable bond.
In preparation for this moment, I was, of course, obliged to craft a homily, and that exercise compelled me to do some serious studying and praying around the meaning of this great sacrament.
What is Confirmation?
It is sometimes said that Confirmation is a sacrament in search of a theology. It is indeed true that most Catholics could probably give at least a decent account of the significance of Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick, but they might balk when asked to explain the meaning of Confirmation.
Adaptation and renewal of Religious Life: Special gifts of the Holy Spirit
Editor’s note: During this Year of Consecrated Life, this is the third in a series based on the Second Vatican Council’s document, Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) written by Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, former abbot primate of the Benedictine order who now resides in Madison.
The decree of the Second Vatican Council on which these reflections are based speaks in the very first paragraph about special gifts of the Holy Spirit which have been imparted to the Church.
The purpose of these gifts is the building up of the Church in the world, and for manifesting God’s own kind of Life in the world.
Using the gifts of knowledge, reverence, fortitude
 |
|
| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Dear Friends,
Please allow me to return to one of my familiar themes at this beginning of Lent. I mention often at Mass and in other contexts that all of us, especially we adults, should be mindful of the graces and gifts received at our Confirmation.
I think forgetfulness that we have been confirmed is one of the true enemies of our growth in holiness.
So many times in life we need courage, we need consolation, we need joy, we need to be freed from confusion, we need to make prudent judgments –and we forget that in the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation, we have been strengthened by the Holy Spirit, in precisely the gifts which we need to face the difficult moments in life.
How often do we fail to pray, “Lord, you gave me the gifts to face this problem, with prudence, patience, and strength when I was confirmed. Now Father, stir up these gifts. Make them real for me, so that by these gifts and by your grace you will bring me through whatever difficulties I might face.”?