More than 70 people were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthened for service to the Body of Christ during the diocesan confirmation Mass on May 14 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Those being confirmed were from the cathedral parish as well as others who were unable to participate in the confirmation Mass at their own parish.
Bishop Richard Lennon was the celebrant. Concelebrants were Father Sean Ralph, cathedral administrator; Father John Manning, diocesan delegate for senior priests, and Father Rob Wisniewski, pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Parma.
?When you were baptized, you became sons and daughters of God. You became members of his Church and received his grace,? the bishop said in his homily. ?It was all about you on your baptism day. Today, at confirmation, it is about you as a follower of Christ. You have a mandate to go and spread the Word of God. You?re strengthened by the Holy Spirit, like the Apostles, and you?re called to share God?s Word.?
He told the confirmandi that on the day of their baptism, their parents and godparents spoke for them. ?Today, you are speaking for yourselves.?
The candidates approached the bishop individually with their sponsor and announced their confirmation name. The bishop anointed each with chrism in the sign of the cross and said, ?Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.?
Bishop Lennon said confirmation has been an important event in the Church for 2,000 years. ?Catholics around the world have been confirmed and made a difference in the lives of others. Today, there are 1.2 billion people across the world
