'Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit'

WARWICK — On Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, approximately 130 candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.

As parents and other relatives looked on, Bishop Dominick Lagonegro, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and, Episcopal Vicar for the Upper Counties, administered the Sacrament to the young students who had completed a two-year course of study beginning in seventh grade/

In the Catholic faith, confirmation is a sacrament by which persons already baptized receive the Holy Spirit in order to make them stronger and more perfect Christians, as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

During the service the Rev. Michael McLoughlin, pastor of St. Stephen's, presented the candidates, introducing each one by name.

Before administering the sacrament, Lagonegro spoke about the community service that each of the candidates had performed.

He told them that God wants us to be happy, here and with Him in Eternity, and that love is the key to that happiness.

As an example, the bishop reminded them of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character in Charles Dickens' novel, "A Christmas Carol," and that Scrooge, a cold-hearted miser, enjoyed happiness only after he changed his ways to become a generous and giving person.

During the rite of confirmation the entire group renewed their baptismal promises by responding, "I do."

Lagonegro and the concelebrating priests then performed the "Laying on of Hands," an ancient biblical gesture. Finally, each candidate, accompanied by his or her sponsor, came forward to be anointed and confirmed one by one by the Bishop.

Later, Lagonegro met with parents and candidates and posed for photographs.