Our Parish will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for our seventh-grade students at Notre Dame de Lourdes School and for our PREP students on Wednesday 12 March. Bishop Edward Deliman will preside. Additionally, we have one parishioner who has been preparing and studying for his initiation into the Catholic Church. He has been attending classes for the past year in anticipation of this final stage of his acceptance into the Church.
This acceptance happens in several stages. First is his enrollment, or his public proclamation of his desire to become a member of the Roman Catholic Faith. This enrollment occurs on the First Sunday of Lent. During the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent he, along with all of us as members of the Church, will participate in a deeper reflection of The Paschal Mystery by acknowledging the gift of faith, trusting in the promise of redemption, and accepting the invitation of the hope of everlasting life. Then, at the Easter Vigil celebration of the Resurrection on 19 April, he will receive the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist – and be received into the Catholic Faith.
With these celebrations of the Sacraments in mind we will begin to offer, in this space, a “Quick Glance Catechism.” These quick glances provide each of us the opportunity to reflect on the mystery of our salvation and challenge us to probe the relationship of these sacraments with each other, and their interconnectedness that leads to salvation promised to the followers of Christ. Additionally, as we anticipate the Sacrament of Confirmation and its promise of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we will look at Biblical names, the meaning of the name and its legacy.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support for all who are receiving these beautiful gifts of God’s promise and for all who have prepared them for the reception of these Sacraments.
Quick Glance Catechism
Sacrament: it is a sacred outward sign given by the Church by Christ to receive God’s grace. Sacramental grace is the unique gift of God’s love that we receive in each sacrament that nourishes the spiritual life, in respect to that Sacrament, in the soul of the recipient.
Initiation Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist: In these sacraments the Church welcomes its new members. The Church nourishes (Eucharist) and strengthens (Confirmation) its new members as they strive for holiness.
Healing Sacraments: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. These sacraments emphasize God’s mercy, healing and grace in times of spiritual or physical distress.
Service Sacraments: Matrimony and Holy Orders. These are special ways that people serve God by sharing their gifts with others.
By any other Name: A glance of Biblical names and their meaning:
Abdiel: servant of God Abiezer: Father of help Abigail: The Father’s Joy
Betharam: House of Heights Bethany: House of Song Capernaum: Field of Repentance
Deborah: Bee Ebenezer: Stone of Help Jesiah: The Sprinkling of the Lord