Unexpected baptisms and confirmations today!

[Fitz]

I have to just tell someone what a special gift that I recieved today. I went to a mass for Mother’s Day at my son’s high school. I have gone to it before when my daughter atteneded this same school so I was really looking forward to it. It was beyond what I ever expected.

I am so amazed at what really took place and it was so beautiful. The mass was said by a Bishop because there were 5 baptisms and about 10 confirmations that took place. The recipients were students at my son’s Catholic HIgh School that were preparing for this day unbenownst to all of us. Early in the year a Junior student died due to cancer. It had such an effect on the student body. I think that due to this profound experience that the students that attened the school that weren’t Catholic and they decided to prepare for the sacraments.

I can’t really explain just how beautiful this experience was. Most of the confirmants had teachers that were their sponsors. Some were their religion teachers but I also saw a History teacher involved.

I feel truely blessed today.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Fitz:

I have to just tell someone what a special gift that I recieved today. I went to a mass for Mother’s Day at my son’s high school. I have gone to it before when my daughter atteneded this same school so I was really looking forward to it. It was beyond what I ever expected.

I am so amazed at what really took place and it was so beautiful. The mass was said by a Bishop because there were 5 baptisms and about 10 confirmations that took place. The recipients were students at my son’s Catholic HIgh School that were preparing for this day unbenownst to all of us. Early in the year a Junior student died due to cancer. It had such an effect on the student body. I think that due to this profound experience that the students that attened the school that weren’t Catholic and they decided to prepare for the sacraments.

I can’t really explain just how beautiful this experience was. Most of the confirmants had teachers that were their sponsors. Some were their religion teachers but I also saw a History teacher involved.

I feel truely blessed today.

I am happy that this has impacted you so. However it was a bit iregular. Those who were not Baptized over the age of 7 are required to spend up to a full liturgical year in the RCIA process. In addition Adults (over the age of seven) are only Baptized at the Easter Vigil unless there is a serious threat to their lives and are in danger of death through serious illness, etc. This was all valid and had an impact on many people and the Bishop (I hope it was the Bishop of your diocese) approved of this, although he should have known that it was highly irregular to do.

Another note is that the Sacraments are to be celebrated in the Parish community not the school community. Rome made this clear a few years ago specifically about First Reconciliations and First Communion as well as Confirmation not taking place in the school but in the home parish. RCIA or the Sacraments of Initiation are also parish community Sacraments. The whole Rite of Christian Initiation is built around the Parish Community involvment.