This is my Hope: that Ana, Jeff, Garrett, Shannon, Krista, Michael, Mitch and Zack will continue to lead peaceful, helpful, and faith-filled lives. This is my Dream: someday I will be there to see their children confirmed -- and maybe they will be their kids' catechists.
This is my Question: after years of religious instruction, are they finally ready to become adults in the Catholic Church? This is my Answer: the candidates themselves are the only ones to know for sure, but all eight have my endorsement.
This is my Birthday: my gift . . . their Gift of the Holy Spirit. This is my Wish: their baptismal candle never flickers. The anointing oil of chrism never wears off.
This is my Rhyme: This is the prayer I'm honored to share. Teach as Jesus did, that is my role. Model God's love to others, this is my goal. I'm a catechist, and I want to teach. It's the teens I want to reach. I'd like to be there to watch them grow. Jesus' life I'd like them to know. They're adults in the church, anointed with chrism. More responsibility, less criticism. They are the future, I am so proud. An inspiration to their faith, proclaimed aloud. This is my Reason: the opportunity to teach, and to teach as Jesus did no less, has left me with a profound sense of warmth and accomplishment. Being there for them during the last year of preparation before confirmation has been my greatest honor.
This is my Joy: proud to have a role in this sacrament, and thrilled for all those confirmed at St. William's today. This is my Sadness: Besides the eventual and eventful end to a memorable final year of preparation, my own son chose not to be confirmed today.
This is my Prayer. And this . . . is my Amen.
