Bishop Lagonegro administers Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Stephen's

WARWICK — On Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30, approximately 110 candidates, divided into smaller groups at three masses, 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, 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 Rev. Jack Arlotta, pastor of St. Stephen's, presented the candidates, introducing each one by name.
Before administering the sacrament, Lagonegro told the candidates a story about his grandfather who emigrated from Italy to the United States.
"He was only 13 years old when he came here all by himself," said Lagonegro. "How did he do it? He said that the only way he was able to get through it was his belief in God."
Lagonegro advised the candidates that they could also depend on God to help them through life. "The Holy Spirit will be with you always."
During the rite of Confirmation the entire group renewed their baptismal promises by responding "I do."
Then 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.