Yesterday and today, I had the privilege of spending time in conversation with candidates from our parish who are preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation in a couple of weeks during their “Exit Interviews.”
The interviews have a two-fold purpose: 1) to allow the candidates an opportunity to share their Discipleship Assessment and Plan of Life which lays out how they intend to continue to live out their life of discipleship after they are confirmed; and 2) to share their experiences of discovering Christ in the midst of performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy during their preparation.
It’s been almost a year since I first met these young men and women. I have accompanied them as they have gone on retreat days, participated in small group discussions, learned about what it is to be a disciple, examined the fundamental precepts of the faith, discussed how to live lives of virtue, prayed with (and for) them, and accompanied them as they performed a myriad of corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
As I sat and listened to each of them share where and how they have found God, about their plans to continue to grow in their relationship with Him, and to continue to serve and care for others, I was deeply moved to see how much each of them has grown in maturity as disciples of Christ.
And I was also struck again by God’s amazing providence. Of how it is that in the midst of some of the darkest times our world has ever seen, He continues to raise up lights that shine brightly with the reality of His love, joy, hope and mercy. And that all will be well. We just need to trust Him. He’s got this.
So, in the wake of the interviews, it is with enormous pride and hope that I see the next generation of soldiers of Christ waiting to take their place in a long, proud line of faithful disciples, ready to strive for holiness.
I humbly ask your prayers for each one of them during these final days before they are confirmed on August 14th, the Feast of St Maximillian Kolbe.
St Maximillian, pray for us.
