Dear Bishop Kane

In celebrating the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation one month ago, I can reflect back on 20 years and see how much of an impact it had on me.  One of the best early examples was when my first-year high school literature teacher assigned us an essay about a transformative life experience.  I quickly chose my Confirmation as the subject of that essay, and my teacher, who was a Catholic-turned-Buddhist, was pleased with what I shared.  The effects have continued all the way to accompanying youths at my home parish today in preapring for Confirmation.

One of the tasks they have is to write a letter to Bishop on why they want to be confirmed.  That was not a task that was part of my Confirmation process.  Yet I know what I would have written based on my understanding of how much groundwork was done to make Confirmation an impactful experience, which I recognize now even as I did 20 years ago.

Dear Bishop Kane,

I am eager to be confirmed as a Catholic Christian.  

I grew up attending Mass with the St. Giles Family Mass community before my family switched to Ascension.  Throughout my life, I have grown to appreciate what happens at Mass, and my faith in general.

Starting as a student at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park has made an enormous impact on me.  I went from my area in southern Oak Park to a new school in 6th grade with students from all over the Village.  We pride ourselves on diversity in Oak Park, and I saw that in a big way upon starting at Julian and meeting people from a variety of backgrounds, especially many Jewish people.  Before Julian, I knew only one Jewish person and her family.  Once I started at Julian, that number increased immensely.  As I met so many Jewish people among my new classmates, I learned more about their religion.  And then I turned inwardly to reflect on who I am as a Christian, and I began to appreciate my faith more.

I have come to enjoy the liturgical seasons.  Instead of just celebrating Christmas and Easter on single days, we have seasons before and after them to continue focusing on the rich meanings we can draw out of them.  It's wonderful to attend Mass and open ourselves up to new insights that are presented in the weeks of these special seasons.

There is so much richness in the Church, and I get to be part of it more fully as a Confirmed Catholic.

God's blessings,

Paul