Earlier this month, I marked the 14th anniversary of my Confirmation, and I recognize that with this anniversary, my life is now almost evenly split between my pre-Confirmation years and my post-Confirmation years.
As I reflect on my spiritual journey in the years before and after my Confirmation, I am aware of how much shaped my faith leading up to my Confirmation. And I marvel at the incredible journey that I've had in those 14 years since.
It was very fitting that I spent part of my 14th Confirmation anniversary day, on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, in class with my Religious Education 8th grade students. They, together with my other students on Sunday, and all my former students, are a large part of why October 15, 2005, is such a significant day in my life.
Indeed, the proceedings of that day were momentous: I processed from the Pine Room into Church, with my Uncle Bernie accompanying me as my Confirmation sponsor. After the Liturgy of the Word came the Rite of Confirmation when I renewed the Baptismal promises from 14 years before. And then I had my moment before Bishop Kane to be sealed with the Holy Spirit and His sevenfold gifts. Then the confirmation rite at Mass gave way to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and then the exuberant concluding song, "Hallelujah, We Sing Your Praises" shortly after 7 o'clock that evening. There were plenty of festivities following Mass, wiht a reception in the Pine Room in the neighboring school building, which included an opportunity for photos with Bishop Kane. Then my party and I made our way to our home to share a celebratory meal together.
As I reveled in these festivities, I had no idea where my faith journey would take me, and certainly I hadn't yet conceived the notion that I would be back at Ascension 14 years later, at that very hour of evening, two floors above the Pine Room, teaching Religious Education. And I marvel at how some of these students who were before me in 8th grade RE class were born around the time I was confirmed. Indeed, it all comes full circle, especially since the students before me would, four days later, have their own experience of Confirmation. My co-catechist Nelson and I spent some time in class focusing on helping them see what Confirmation is all about. Ultimately, Confirmation takes on its full meaning when we put our confirmed faith into action. That's the experience in my own life, as I've seen quite an adventure of faith unfold in the 14 years since.
That's why I was so delighted to share the celebration of my Confirmation anniversary with them, and be part of celebrating their Confirmation day later that week. It was a wondrous opportunity to behold the working of the Holy Spirit.
During our class, Nelson led a study on the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus as recorded in the Gospel according to St. John chapter 3. In this conversation, in verse 8, Jesus describes the Spirit of God as the wind. We don't know where it comes from or where it's going, but we know it's there.
Truly I marvel at how the Spirit of God has moved in my life, like how I went from celebrating my Confirmation to being in class at the same hour 14 years later handing on the faith to a new group of students. And I marvel at the possibilities of what will happen on their journey as they put their Confirmed faith into action, empowered by the Spirit of God, that He may be magnified. We can't know the full depth of how the Spirit of God moves, but there's no doubt He's there, and fully alive among us, that we may be fully alive in the abundant Life He gives us all through our journey unto Eternity, which we know even now.
I thank Nelson for these photos of me above and below, as I celebrate the 14th anniversary of my Confirmation by being back at the place where it happened, and putting Confirmed faith into action by handing it on to the next group coming along into Confirmed life.
By the way, on the table to the left of me in a blue round tin is orange raspberry bread, which I baked and shared with my students to celebrate the anniversary of my Confirmation, which you can see below. I baked it with the intention of alluding to the liturgical color of fire for the Holy Spirit and Confirmation.
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