Last Saturday morning we had our semi-annual communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick. Since this sacrament has expanded to include all who feel the need for healing, we have seen an increase in participation over the years. Over a hundred people received this Sacrament last weekend in a very moving and reverent experience. Sally Guidotti and Tony Volpe provided the beautiful music. Our next Healing Mass will take place sometime in the spring of next year.
This weekend along with celebrating the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are also having our annual celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The past two years Fr. Brian Kiely has come to officiate at this Sacrament. Fr, Brian has recently been name the Rector of Pope John XXIII seminary in Weston and he was replaced by the newly ordained Bishop Robert Reed.
This year however we have been assigned Bishop Arthur Kennedy as the celebrant. Bishop Kennedy s the rector of St, John Seminary and the Director of the New Evangelization in the archdiocese, which is intimately connected with the process of collaborating parishes which has been ongoing for several years now.
Each year as we celebrate Confirmation, it is a culminating event in the process of Christian Initiation for those confirmandi. We have several adults who will be confirmed along with our tenth grade students. This sacrament which is often thought of as an end of Christian formation is actually the beginning of living out one’s faith as a fully initiated Catholic. Today presents many unique challenges for our young people and thus we ask for your prayers and continued support as they go forth into their adult faith life.