175th Anniversary Mass

Confirmation candidates take next step in faith journey

Kayla Wagoner, left, and Kaitlin Sims chose to make their confirmation a year early so it would coincide with the 175th anniversary celebration of the archdiocese on May 3. The two eighth-grade students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis pose for a picture before the anniversary Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)

By John Shaughnessy

The two teenagers have known each other for most of their young lives, developing the kind of friendship that lets them know they can count on each other through the good times and the tough times.

It’s a friendship that has been nurtured by sharing classes together, playing sports together, and even receiving the sacraments of reconciliation and first Communion together.

So it seemed only natural to Kaitlin Sims and Kayla Wagoner that they would share another one of the most defining moments in their lives as Catholics—receiving the sacrament of confirmation.

The two eighth-grade students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis even chose to make their confirmation a year early so it would coincide with the 175th anniversary celebration of the archdiocese on May 3.

So Kaitlin and Kayla were in awe as they joined more than 2,800 people from across the archdiocese who were confirmed during the anniversary Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“It’s neat to be part of such a large group,” Kaitlin said.

“We’ve done it all together,” Kayla said. “We wanted to do this together, too.”

The best part, they said, is that their choice to be confirmed this year also brought them closer to their Church, to other young Catholics and to God.

The 14-year-old youths shared how their faith and their friendships deepened with the 38 other youths from their parish who were receiving the sacrament. They also glowed when they mentioned the Archdiocesan Confirmation Retreat they attended in April.

“We got to make so many new friends from different parishes,” Kayla said. “And it was inspirational.”

Yet perhaps the most moving part of the preparation for confirmation was the way it drew the two friends even closer to God.

“When I went through first Communion and reconciation, I felt that God was there,” Kaitlin said. “Now that I’ve gone through confirmation, I see God in a different way. He’s there with me, I can talk to him, and he’s not going to judge me. I know I can rely on him.”

That feeling connected many of the young people from across the archdiocese who received the sacrament, whether they were from small parishes such as St. Bridget of Ireland Parish in Liberty and Our Lady of the Springs Parish in

French Lick, or large groups from such parishes as St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis and St. Louis Parish in Batesville.

“It’s amazing,” said Meghan Sandlin, 16, a member of American Martyrs Parish in Scottsburg. “This means I’m now an adult in the Church’s life. I’ll strive to be more Christ-like.”

That deepening relationship with God is at the heart of confirmation, said Sharon Meier, the religious education coordinator at St. Michael Parish in Brookville and at Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Cedar Grove, both in the Connersville Deanery.

“Confirmation is a great gift from God, especially with all the challenges we face in today’s world,” Meier said. “The [young people] have had the opportunity to get reintroduced to their rich Catholic faith and the responsibilities of being a Catholic. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they will be able to fulfill their mission that God has intended for them.”

Kim Sprague already has witnessed the difference in the high school students who were confirmed last year at St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Parish in Bright in the Batesville Deanery. She says that many young women in that class now wear dresses to Sunday Mass while the young men even wear ties.

“There is a new surge of excitement amongst our teens,” Sprague says. “Witnessing the Holy Spirit grabbing ahold of our youth is such a blessing.”

That same reaction was experienced by Kay Scoville, the director of youth ministry for the archdiocese. It was an emotional time for her as she watched more than 2,800 people be confirmed during the anniversary Mass.

“It’s overwhelming to think of all these people committing to our faith,” Scoville said. “We have people of many different ages who are taking this step together. It’s awesome that they are saying ‘yes’ to our faith.”

For good friends Kaitlin Sims and Kayla Wagoner, “yes” is the only answer they can see giving to God.

“I know I’m ready to be with God,” Kayla said. “I know I can turn to him. He’s one of my best friends.”

Kaitlin added, “I’m closer to him than I’ve ever been before.” †

 

(Related: Purchase photo reprints of some of those confirmed during the Mass)