My Dear Young People and Parents,
I am writing this letter during the Priests’ Conference at Spring Lake. During these days over 80 pastors had the opportunity to meet with Timothy Cardinal Dolan and fellow Priests to reflect and deliberate on helping our people to nurture their Faith. So as you prepare yourselves for the Sacrament of Confirmation, together with your family I would like to share some reflections.
 
In Confirmation, you, will give your own “yes” to God in and through your Profession of Faith (in the Creed.) You will be marked with a sign – the bishop will use holy oil to anoint your head. And as he does, God will anoint your soul with an indelible mark that can never be erased. Though you may not be able to see the tongues of fire and or hear the thundering wind, this will be your personal Pentecost. The Holy Spirit did descend upon you in a very real if subtle way. You belong to Him.
 
So now, you are entering adulthood as far as your faith formation goes and now are being commissioned to march off to battle for our Lord. Wear your spiritual armor: your virtue, your innocence, your chastity, your charity, your love. Wield your spiritual weapons: the Eucharist, the Rosary, the sacraments, your prayers. Head off to battle. It is a real battle against Evil and evil forces. I am sure you meet many challenges from peer pressure, prevalence of drugs and irresponsible behavior. You are also commissioned to be a missionary to spread the Gospel of Christ.
If I had to give you one piece of advice, it is this: keep learning about your faith. The beautiful thing about the Catholic faith is that intense and honest scrutiny always leads to an increase of faith. This is a hallmark of the truth. Your faith will be challenged on High School campuses and derided by self-seeking peers. But faith gives you direction and leads you on a purpose driven life of growing in relationship with the God who created you.
So here are some practical steps:

1. Come prepared for the weekly Eucharist. The Weekly Bulletin and our web site are very useful tools to prepare for Mass.  Hand in your Mass attendance card or get the Sunday Bulletins signed, it’s a help to let us know you are a regular attendee at Mass, do it.
2. Write your Letter to the Priest in the coming 2 weeks, so you will have amble time to fulfil your action plans. Expect a call from me if I do not see your letter by 15 November.
3. Keep learning! Some resources readily available to are:
   1. Go to www.formed.org and sign up using our PARISH CODE – RGDV27. Watch the videos of Y DISCIPLE and SYMBOLON. Enjoy over a dozen movies on Saints. These resources are totally free of cost.
   2. Download the app DOCAT and join Pope Francis in reaching out to the needy world.
   3. Our own website www.stjohnspiermont.org has some new features under ‘faith formation’ – go on ‘Saint Shopping Spree’, see movies on saints and the family can use the study guide with interesting topics with the resource: ’Partners in faith’.
4. I would invite the family together with the Sponsors to spend at least a day at a place of Retreat and pray together with teen to be confirmed.

Please know you are in my daily prayers and I hope to meet you individually and with the family during this time of your immediate preparation. Say a special prayer for Kathleen Dunn and your Catechists at Religious Education Program. They care about you by being there for you!
 

With God’s blessings,

Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.