Bridget's Confirmation

 Bridget received the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 8, 2021

After the pandemic derailed the normal Confirmation programs in parishes and the Religious ed programs in whole there was a bit of confusion over where Bridget would prepare for her Confirmation. Bridget had decided to finish her Religious Education through 8th grade at St. Mark's since this had been the program she had attended all the way through elementary school, but the pandemic ended that prematurely.  When OLV, our parish, opened registration for Confirmation, we signed Bridget up. Sarah was also in the program and that made it even more enjoyable for Bridget. The Confirmandi were able to meet and do service on site, and the small group of high schoolers shared their faith and instruction.

Bridget asked Aunt Heather, her Godmother, to be her sponsor. They didn't have a lot of sponsor activities but they were able to have a retreat downtown with their sponsors and opportunities for prayer and reflection. Bridget chose St. Kateria as her Confirmation name, in honor of the first Native America Saint. 

Bridget then needed an outfit and we were so surprised to find clothing that matched exactly what she was thinking on our first outing. In fact the dress we bought was the first she tried on. It was a blessing to get to go out with her to shop. 

On Confirmation Day we were a little freaked out when Bridget was not feeling well, but after a visit to the pediatrician an hour before needing to leave for church we were feeling like it was only a cold. She took a covid test too, which came back negative a few days later. 

Bridget and her Godparents, Uncle Erik and Aunt Heather

Bishop Madden would be celebrating the Confirmation and we found out that it was his last scheduled Confirmation. He officially retired back in 2015 but had continued as urban vicar for the Archdiocese. He had confirmed Emma, Rachael, and Megan as well and he has a joyous personable approach that makes for a personal Sacramental experience. He delivered his familiar formatted Confirmation homily and he read a portion of Bridget's letter in which she explained her service projects and the meaning of being a Catholic being tied to loving one another.

I love that it was a small group. It made the laying on of hands and anointing very personal, and as a participant in the celebration it was easier to stay prayerful and connected. The music also helped set the reverent atmosphere

After Mass was over we gathered for pictures. Bishop Madden is always great about being available for pictures but somehow my Dad disappeared and had taken off his alb before we could get him in his vestments.

Afterward there was a nice reception in the hall. By then I was struggling with talking and smiling, because I had gum surgery a few days earlier but I was happy to celebrate with the family. I pray that the Holy Spirit pours abundantly out upon Bridget and Sarah and that they respond generously.

25th Anniversary of Ordination

On June 13, 2021 we celebrated my Dad's 25th Anniversary of Ordination with a Mass and reception at Our Lady of Victory Church. He has been serving at Our Lady of  Victory in some capacity consistently since we moved to Halethorpe in the 70's. He has lead the RCIA, prayer groups, bible studies, been a catchiest, member of the parish council, liturgy committee, and school board. At my mom's prompting he began the deaconate program and was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore on June 15, 1996. Jim and I were living in Aurora, CO at the time and we used our one week of vacation to fly out to Baltimore for the ordination. Since that time he has served at OLV as a deacon, ministering at wakes, funerals, Holy Hour, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, weddings and Baptisms. We were all so blessed to have him baptize all of our children into our faith. As the Anniversary approached we decided it would be fun to gather all of the Baptism pictures and Sacrament pictures that my Dad was in. It was quite a collection.

 

COVID-19 has been complicating celebrations for a year and a half but as preparations began the pandemic was easing and we were able to embrace a large celebration as we had hoped. The OLV parish organized the celebration with the Knights and Women of Victory volunteering. Our family stepped in and helped with the music, planning, serving, decorating and personalization of the party. The parish was also working behind the scenes to establish a scholarship fund in my parents names in honor of their service and dedication to Catholic education. I had been working with Dad on the invitation list and getting the invites out both with physical invites and an online invitation. As I was showing these to my Dad, I had a fake set and a real set that included the Scholarship information.

The day of the celebration all of the family pitched in to set up the hall, decorate the tables, hook up the slide show of photos through the years, decorate the cake. Many of the grandkids joined Mary in the choir to provide music for Mass, grandkids got changed to serve on the altar, they handed out programs. Joe and Magaly brought up the gifts with more of the grandkids. Will and Becky read the readings and Mary the psalm. My Dad proclaimed the Gospel and gave a homily with a wide scope of his faith journey. We participated in the Sacrifice of Mass together. 

Fr Bill and Bill Bernard presented my Dad with the establishment of the Scholarship fund and he was truly surprised and touched.  After Mass Dad asked invited guests to please join in for pictures. Many of his Cardinal Gibbons colleagues came to celebrate, prayer group friends, men's group, parishioners, and family.  It was a blessing that so many of his long time friends and colleagues were able to attend and celebrate with us.

The reception went wonderfully. We shared food and desserts and my Dad went from table to table to greet all of the guests. I made a table to display the Newspaper clippings from 25 years ago and a board of all 23 pictures of the grandkids baptisms. It was a wonderful day and I kept thinking how proud my Mom would be. 

Johanna's 1st Holy Communion

May 2, 2021

Welcome to the Table of the Lord 

What a joyous day! It was a bright, sunny day full of newness and the promise of Christ's love for us and the gift of Himself. Johanna was prepared and anticipating receiving Jesus. We spent a few months working through a book together. Grampa and Jim helped do chapters with her too. She attended two workshops and made a banner to hang on the end of the pew. Her banner kit had enough supplies to make 2 banners so she made a second to hang at her party. We had a bag of unconsecrated hosts and Johanna practiced receiving and managing her mask. We tried on the dress, veil, shoes and tights in advance and were thrilled that the dress and veil were still in good shape and fit well. Initially Johanna wasn't keen on the ensemble, but within moments she was smiling at herself in the mirror.

This would be the first party we would host in 15 months and I felt a bit rusty. I ordered invitations but with continued problems with the postal system, they arrived 3 weeks late and not in enough time to mail out. We decided they would just go out with Thank you notes afterward. As the day approached we got the house and yard ready.  It was Jim's last week working at Guinness, so he wasn't available to help much, but I made a list and things were getting checked off. The day before I headed to Sam's club to get the food. With our food on the check out belt, the power went out. We waited and there were a few flickers of hope but inevitably they said we had to leave. I left without any food. I called the girls and told them I was held up and asked them to work through the list. I drove to another Sam's and shopped again. My normally 45 minute task turned into 3 hours. I was expecting it to be a long evening of prep. I came home to a clean house and a mostly completed list. Megan and Bridget did a great job and I felt really blessed. The girls and I then got to do the fun prep. We arranged flowers and made cupcake toppers and got out decorations.

 

On Sunday morning a beautiful day greeted us. Johanna was eager to get dressed and enjoyed having just a little bit of hair braided and pulled back so we had a good foundation to attach the veil. We used as few bobby pins as possible. We got to church early as requested, and I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of Johanna before Mass started. Johanna was happy to not be sitting still. We were in the farthest forward pew and squeezed in it's short length. Mass was reassuring and familiar with a layer of excitement. Hanna leaned over and said it was going faster than usual. As we progressed through the liturgy of the Eucharist Johanna got more talkative and wiggly. And then it was time. She filed out of the pew just as we practiced and she extended her hands to receive her Lord. 

At the end of Mass they invited the 3 kids who received First Holy Communion to come forward to receive certificates. Next month 2 more kids will be welcomed to receive Eucharist as well, it is a small group which is a little sad but it is also more personal. All of her Baltimore aunts and uncles were able to attend and we were looking forward to hosting them for a lunch back at the house.

It was so nice to be able to have people celebrate Johanna's joyous day. We took a few more pictures at the house and then a number of people changed to t-shirts. It was already hot out. Johanna decided that she wanted to stay in the dress, and since she is our youngest I was not as worried about her getting it messy. We scrambled to get the food and drinks out and Becky was immensely helpful. We said grace and Jim offered a special blessing for Johanna.  It was an unseasonably hot day so we all sought out shady spots in the backyard to eat our lunch.

Cousins played games and ran around and ate lots of watermelon. The adults visited, we got caught up on summer plans and vaccination stories, and life in general. It was so nice to have Jim with us and not worry about him heading to work. Cornhole was played. My dad and Mary were both serving at the 12:30 Mass so they arrived later. After they ate everyone was ready for dessert. Johanna and Sarah carried the cake and cupcakes out and Johanna was ready to cut the first slices.

We waited until Rachael returned from work to open gifts. We had given Johanna a cross necklace before Mass with 4 images on the edges surrounding a Chalice in the center: Miraculous medal, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Joseph and St Christopher. She received some lovely gifts, religious articles, and books. Rachael gifted Johanna the Hogwarts castle and Hagrid's Hut which Rae had gotten in kindergarten. Johanna is blessed by the generosity of the people in her life and is especially blessed by their prayers.

It was such a lovely day and I am so happy to have Johanna join us in experiencing the fullness of Mass and join us for the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of

the Eucharist You left us the outstanding

manifestation of your limitless love for us.

Thank You for giving our child the

opportunity to experience this love

in receiving the Sacrament for the first time.

May your Eucharistic presence keep her

ever free from sin, fortified in faith,

pervaded by love for God and neighbor,

and fruitful in virtue, that she may

continue to receive You throughout life and

attain final union with You at death.

Amen

Reconciliation

 Feb 6, 2021

The process was full of fits and starts, and it ended with Johanna awash with the Sacramental grace of Reconciliation.

Our Lady of Victory set up a preparation program amid the pandemic to be done at home. It was very accessible and had a book that was easy for Johanna and I to do together. We went through the book at the dining room table and she heard the bible stories of God's mercy, she learned the catechism, and we practiced the process. I printed off an examination of conscience for kids and the Act of Contrition and she did those every night at bedtime. 

The Sacrament was scheduled for the first week of January but got canceled because the Deacon running things got Covid. Johanna was disappointed, asked if Deacon Dan was OK and said but we only really need Fr. Bill. She was right and she got another month to prepare.

We didn't have much notice of the rescheduled service so both Jim and Emma missed it because they had to work. Johanna's Godfather Uncle Will was able to come up for the prayer service and support her. 

The community reconciliation service went smoothly. There were only 4 kids total receiving the sacrament for the first time so Johanna didn't have long to wait for Fr. Bill Keown to be available. When she came out she looked serious and then broke into all smiles. she gave a big thumbs up and said "I feel pretty good." She said her penance. Will, Megs, Bridge and I all got a chance to go to confession as well.  Johanna was chatty and antsy when she was back in the pew and talked quite a bit with Uncle Will. When everyone in our party was done we made our exit.

Will asked Johanna to show him her classroom window and they even had a little race. She was happy.

We picked Rachael up for work and stopped into 7-11 for treats to celebrate.

I pray that this is Johanna's first of many receptions of the sacrament and she stays connected to that grace.

 

Spring of Sacraments

May 2019

The first weekend of May we gathered at OLV for Claudia's First Communion.

May the 15th we celebrated Confirmation with Katherine and Sophia. I had the honor of being Sophia's sponsor. She chose Narcisa de Jesus as her confirmation name for an Ecuadorian Saint who was canonized in 2008.

And the Last weekend of May we celebrated John's First Communion.

It is such a blessing to get to witness our nieces and nephews receiving sacramental graces. For each of these events, my siblings and their families, as well as extended family, came out to witness to the significance of the sacraments, to offer our support and joy. As my brother Will offered grace before a celebratory meal, his words caught in his throat as he expressed his joy that John now gets to enjoy Christ's gift of Himself. It truly is a blessing to witness.

May they each continue to enjoy God's graces and grow in their faith.