St. Rose Welcomes 159 At Confirmation

By Patti Cummings

One hundred fifty-nine eighth graders, high school students and adults were welcomed as full members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, April 28, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown. The group, whose intensive two-year preparation led them to this day, represents one of the largest confirmation classes in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

The Most Reverend William J. McCormack, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of New York, performed the Confirmation rite in two ceremonial Masses, laden with tradition and the symbolism of the Church.

Confirmation is the last of three rites of Catholic initiation, following the sacraments of Baptism and First Eucharist. During the celebration Mass, the candidates renewed their baptismal vows, which their parents made for them in their infancy. They pledged to reject evil in their lives, including the misuse of drugs and alcohol. 

The candidates were anointed with chrism, an oil of strengthening recognized by Roman Catholics as the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit during Confirmation. Catholics also believe the sacrament bestows upon the candidates the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are Wisdom, Courage, Knowledge, Understanding, Right Judgment, Wonder and Awe, and Reverence.

In his homily message to the Confirmands, Bishop McCormack welcomed the students into a “mature relationship with God and the Church.” The Bishop urged them to “go and proclaim the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ” and to continue their many hours of community service, in Christ’s example. He cited the powerful witness of Mother Teresa, adding that through Jesus Christ, we each have the ability to raise the dignity of those who are marginalized or in pain.

To prepare for their Confirmation, the candidates attended classes, special events and liturgical celebrations, and performed a variety of community service projects, totaling thousands of hours. Each chose a new name – the name of a Saint – whose behavior and good deeds they will try to emulate throughout their lives.

Each candidate also selected as sponsor a family member or friend. The sponsor served as a witness at the sacrament and will continue as the Confirmand’s spiritual guide. Finally, a week before the celebration, after each Mass, parishioners were asked to take the name of a Confirmation candidate and asked to pray for him or her as a community. 

Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop McCormack was the clergy of St. Rose, which includes the Pastor, Rev Robert E. Weiss, Rev Lawrence A. Larson, Rev Peter J. Towsley and Deacon Thomas Curran.

In his congratulatory remarks, the Rev Weiss thanked the Confirmands’ sponsors for serving as active examples and witnesses to the Catholic faith. He lauded St. Rose’s catechists and religion teachers for guiding their preparation, and he especially thanked the grandparents and parents “for continuing to take seriously their responsibility to raise their children in the practice of the faith and for encouraging them in their preparation.”

St. Rose of Lima continues to be one of the fastest growing Catholic churches in the Diocese, with nearly 3,000 families. This month, 209 children will receive their First Eucharist at the Church.

The newly confirmed St Rose parishioners (with their chosen Saint’s name in italics) are Daniel Jude Agius, Jr, Paul Joseph Altieri, Mary-Francis Elizabeth Anders, Ashley Bernadette Ball, Ryan John Bebrin, Jeffrey Anthony Bell, Elizabeth Maria Belmont, Carl Andrew Bergquist III, Kelly Joan Bernardi, Jessica Rose Biscoe, Laura Anne Blau, Rachel Catherine Blau, Thomas John Boccuzzi, Jessica Rose Braun, and Christopher Paul Brown.

Also, Amber Elizabeth Butler, Kevin Thomas Byrne, Jonathan David Cain, Bradley Donald Campbell, Sean Barnabas Canfield, Michael John Cash, Jonathan Michael Casson, Liam Christopher Cawley, Colin Patrick Cieniawa, Aimee Bridget Clavette, Brennan Patrick Coakley, Michael George Corbeil, Bridget Gabrielle Coughlin, Anthony Francis-Xavier Craparo, Jr., Timothy Joseph Cummings, and Jaclyn Rose Curran.

Also, Matthew Dalling, Caitlin Bridget Dalton, Jaclyn Maria Darigo, Kristen Marie DeCesare, Kristen Brigid DeFilippe, Kaitlin Aidan DeFrancesco, Adam Michael Drummond, Caitlin Elizabeth Durkin, Kaelyn Cecilia Eckenrode, Christina Lucy Elsenhans, Karoline Clare Engel, Jacqueline LUCY Ercole, Matthew LEO Eriquez, Andrew Joseph Eriquez, Bryan Daniel Fogelstrom, Sara Anne Fogliano, Joseph Didacus Fonseca, and Daniel Furphy.

Also, Jessica Clare Gaddis, Stephen Joseph Giacolone, James George Gianokos, Daniel Michael Gindraux, Gregory Brian Golino, Robert Christopher Grauer, Jason Patrick Graves, Douglas Peter Graves, Derrek Titus Guertin, Garrett Michael Hahn, Candice Bernadette Harrington, Robert Michael Harrison, III, Sarah Elizabeth Hemingway, Michael John Hennessey, Stephanie Anastasia Henss, Carl Andrew Holweg, and Danielle Theresa Iodice.

Also, Christopher Michael Jacob, Daniel Christopher Kearns, Jr., Patrick Xavier Keating, Meghan Kathleen Kelley, Andrew Gabriel Keogler, Andrea Clare Kerin, Kyle Nicholas Kling, Emily Amelia Koh, Lauren Veronica Kotwicki , David Matthew LaMarche, Bryan Foy Lacouture, Megan Juliana LaFlamme, Jeffrey Francis Levasseur, John Anthony Lewis, Kyle Luke Lyddy, John Peter Maher, Caitlin Mary Malloy, and Luis Antonio Malta.

Also, Alfred Edward Mancuso, Christopher Anthony Martin, Stephen Thomas Mason, Jesse Joseph McGowan, Jeffrey Sebastian McGrath, Alyssa Clare McIntyre, Brian Patrick McLaughlin, Mark Dominic Savio Meehan, Suzanne Rose Menz, Daniel Andrew Morehouse, Nicholas Mark Moser, Paul Joseph Murphy, Kathleen Elizabeth Murphy, Ian John Murray, Christopher Nicholas Naglieri, Sarah Catherine Nahabedian, and Rebecca Rose Narel.

Also, Michael Peter Nastri, Emily Lucy Nezvesky, Anthony Michael Nitopi, Ryan George Novak, Elizabeth Julia O’Connell, Catherine Antoinette O’Connor, Patrick Joseph O’Dell, Jordin Theresa Olson, Carolyn Oliva Onofrey, Cheryl Catherine Orrico, John Francis Orzechowski, Ashleigh Anne Pasko, Charles Leo Perry, III, Shannon Catherine Petrasanta, Kevin Nicholas Pheasey, Anna Julia Pister, Brian Michael Poeltl, and Kevin Sebastian Quinn.

Also, Alexander Maximus Read, Lauren Marie Reed, Megan Michaela Regnery, Jessica Catherine Remitz, Kristen Rose Rocca, Benjamin Michael Roche, Thomas Peter Rodbell, Lisa Teresa Romano, Matthew Anthony Ronan, Kristin Rose Ronan, Alexandra Olivia Roy, Gary Albert Saage, III, Anthony Francis Santella, Michael Anthony Scianna, Adam Joseph Seferi, Matthew Thomas Selezan, Theodore James Sequenzia, and Michelle Margaret Serock.

Also, Marianne Elizabeth Shannon, Amanda Faustina Shevlin, Stacy Faith Shpunt, Scott Michael Shpunt, Alex John Snow, Matthew Philip Spinner, Kathleen Elizabeth Studley, Andrea Elizabeth Ann Szabo, Caitlin Ann Thursland, Kristen Anne Troy, Jenny Julia Urfer, Nicholas Christopher Varga, Theresa Marie Villafano, Bryan Nicholas Walsh, Amie Mary Walston, Kevin Patrick Wasicki, Jenna Rose Wilkie, and Christina Mary Wolf.

Also, Jessica Mary Yakush, Louisa Cecilia Yemc, Christopher Peter Yitts, and Christie Maria Zingoni.