The Sacrament of Confirmation seals with us the gift of the Holy Spirit, and calls us to a deeper relationship with God. We must choose daily to live this relationship and consciously work to deepen that relationship. The students who prepared this year to receive their Confirmation have done so in an unusual way: meeting, praying, learning, and reflecting in a virtual setting. Although seemingly impersonal, that virtual setting has afforded each student with a deeply personal experience, and a unique opportunity to reflect more closely on their preparation.
I was personally apprehensive about how this virtual format could be effective. But as the course progressed, the group began to give me great hope. I have witnessed these young Catholics care deeply about their faith and consciously choose to live their faith with integrity. They listen with intent, and value embracing the perspectives of opposing points of view. They value human dignity in the face of all the challenges they’ve endured this past year: racial violence, social isolation, a contentious political atmosphere, and an unprecedented global pandemic. Despite the most challenging year of my lifetime to date, they have persevered.
Our confirmation candidates have entered this process with their hearts wide open while seeking to deepen their relationship with God. As witnessed by myself and the community at large, they have acted with God’s grace, loving God by meeting the needs of the moment: comforting the socially isolated, feeding the hungry, clothing the cold. They are beacons of hope in a seemingly broken world, and are living images of Christ. We call on them to continue to see God in others and to continue to be the face of God for others. They are imperfect, as all people were made to be. We call on them to embrace their flaws and remember that they are loved.
Ana Lopez del Punta was confirmed by Bishop Caggiano on Saturday, February 27th of 2021. When challenged to write her own creed as part of her confirmation preparation, she offered this statement of belief. As you read it, we call on you to remember your commitment to the Sacrament of Confirmation and ask you: What would be in your personal statement of belief?
My Creed:
I believe in God, our Father of perfect and timeless existence,
who with unbounded love created the world for the happiness of humankind.
I believe in a gracious, supreme Being who continuously listens to the pleadings of His children,
and who cannot be completely understood by the people on Earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
who was sacrificed for the salvation of His imperfect creatures.
Through Jesus’ life, crucifixion and resurrection, all, regardless of race, class, or gender,
are welcomed into Heaven by Our forgiving God,
where we will rejoice in the eternal company of the Holy Trinity.
I believe that we should protect the Home which was gifted to us by our Lord.
I believe that it is our duty to share the talents bestowed upon us for the well-being of others.
I believe that we should always endeavor to love others with our feelings and actions alike,
as we love God by, loving one another.
