Thirty parishes sent 174 men and women to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church May 21 as Bishop Michael F. Burbidge administered the rite of confirmation during an Ascension Sunday Mass at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield.
The church teaches the sacrament was instituted by Christ when he appeared to the disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Following the homily, the initiates stood and renewed their baptismal promises before Bishop Burbidge, who then anointed their foreheads with sacred chrism, praying, “be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Most Catholics in the diocese are confirmed before they complete eighth grade. These confirmandi, however, were baptized Catholic but not confirmed.
