CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENTS OF FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION A Day Full of Blessings and Joy for Our Third-Graders
W
e love our building here at St. Anthony of Padua — it is an extraordinary place. Another unique place is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. It is vast, grand, and beautiful, and it is a real treat to celebrate Mass there. Third-graders from St. Dominic School and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and their families enjoyed a special day at the cathedral on Palm Sunday. Twenty-one students received First Holy Communion and Confirmation. There were also third-graders from several other churches who celebrated that day. Meg Benner, who teaches third grade at St. Dominic, enjoyed leading her 10 students through the preparations for these special sacraments. They, along with the PSR students, have been preparing since the start of the school year. “I feel so blessed to lead them on their faith journey,” Mrs. Benner says. Celebrating the reception of First Communion on Palm Sunday At the 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, April 10, the newly confirmed also moments of encounter as they receive the Body, celebrated here at St. Anthony of Padua. “Having it at a different place will really stand Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.” Each student chose a Confirmation saint and out for them as they look back,” Mrs. Benner says. “We loved celebrating with our parish family as sponsor. They spent time researching the saint well. I loved seeing them in that atmosphere at the and took that name at Confirmation. Their sponsor cathedral and the beauty of it. They were happy, needed to be a practicing Catholic who is part of their life. Three years ago, Confirmation and First excited, and reverent.” Hope Glidewell, who leads the PSR program, Holy Communion were combined — the Diocese of loved seeing our parish children celebrate these Springfield is one of the few dioceses in the United States that conducts it this way. special sacraments. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception “These two sacraments complete the process of Christian initiation begun in Baptism,” she provided a perfect backdrop to show the students says. “Confirmation will seal them in the Spirit that the Catholic Church is universal. Having and empower them to be disciples for Christ. This received these sacraments, they are part of the First Eucharist will hopefully be the first of many Catholic Church family. We welcome them! 7
