Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:

This coming Wednesday May 29^th, we will welcome our Bishop David Ricken to our St. Mary’s of the Lake church to Confirm 21 students at the 6:30 PM Mass. Our 21 Confirmation students are from St. Joseph’s in Crandon, St. Leonard’s in Laona, and Ambrose’s in Wabeno and St. Mary’s of the Lake in Lakewood. 

During this special Confirmation Liturgy, our Confirmands will confirm their commitment to follow Jesus, as they open their hearts & their lives in a special way to receive the Holy Spirit  --'The Lord and Giver of Life!'

 During the ‘Presentation of the Candidates,’ each of the students will be called by name; and each will respond, ‘I wish to be confirmed.’  Then, after the ‘Renewal of Baptismal Promises’ will be the Bishop's ‘Laying on of Hands’ along with a special prayer. In this Prayer we ask God to pour upon our students the seven great Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgment, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. (cf. Isaiah 11: 2-3). One by one, each Confirmation candidate will approach the Bishop, accompanied by a sponsor, who will place his/her hand on the candidate's shoulder to show his/her support to the candidate in his/her faith journey. The high point will be ‘The Anointing with Chrism,’ when the Bishop dips his thumb in the Holy Oil called the Sacred Chrism and makes the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of each student, saying,  ‘__ Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.’ The Bishop then says, ‘Peace be with you!’

As part of the Faith Community scattered in four distinct local parishes, we are all called to support our Confirmation students with our prayers and good examples, so that, with the Peace of minds and Strength of hearts, all our confirmands will continue to grow physically, intellectually and spiritually. May their life-styles as Confirmed members of the Church, truly show the 'Fruits of the Holy Spirit’ –i.e. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. (cf. Galatians 5: 22). As we pray for our students, we also pray that our lives may abundantly show the 'Fruits of the Holy Spirit' as well.

❖ Consider going to the Confirmation Liturgy to pray for our confirmands and for ourselves that the Holy Spirit fall afresh on us, too!

Fr. Philip