Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes:

This weekend and next, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation at Ave Marie Parish with Bishop Mark O’Connell as our presider. He will be confirming 99 High School juniors from our two churches. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third and final Sacrament of Initiation.  Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it bestows the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in our identity as sons and daughters of God the Father.  Confirmation also incorporates us more firmly and fully into Christ; it strengthens our bond with the Church; it associates us more closely with the Church’s mission; and it helps us to bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1316).  Confirmation is certainly recommended but not required for the Sacrament of Matrimony, but it is necessary for someone to serve as a godparent for a candidate for baptism.  Please keep our candidates for Confirmation and their sponsors in prayer.

Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!