He is risen, Alleluia!

Lots have been going on since we began the Easter season, rejoicing with the praises of all God's faithful people:

two popes were canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday,

priest assignments for the archdiocese were made official (while we hopefully have a surge of prayers for vocations to the priesthood as we see the appointment of a pastor for five parishes and three missions, the vicar for clergy appointed pastor of a parish in Shoreline, and the auxiliary bishop assigned as parochial administrator for a parish to be assisted by the director of vocations who also serves as the chaplain of Kennedy Catholic High School),

seminarian Dean Mbuzi, a native of Zambia (pictured below with Kathleen, the president of the ACCW), was ordained to the diaconate at St. Michael's in Olympia on the Third Sunday of Easter and will be ordained to the priesthood with Deacon Brian Thompson on September 6th at St. James Cathedral.

publicity and preparation for the Cantor Intensive our office is co-sponsoring with the Seattle Chapter of NPM kicked off,

seminarians from the North American College in Rome did a fun tap dance number at last month's Rector's Dinner, video courtesy of a post from Fr. Jacob Maurer's blog,

"Confirmation season" began,

and so has the time in which many second graders (including Deacon Jeff Greer's grandson) receive Holy Communion for the first time,

and 30+ candidates for Confirmation from Our Lady of Mt. Virgin, St. Paul, St. Edward, and St. George in South Seattle made a retreat where Fr. Bob Kenny blessed them all as they soon receive the gift of the Holy Spirit next Wednesday, May 14th on the Feast of St. Matthias.

Let us pray for them and all candidates for Confirmation.

"All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit you freed
your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them
to be their Helper and Guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom
   and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment,
   and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe
   in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord."
            (from the Rite of Confirmation, The Laying on of Hands)

Welcome Bishop Burns!

The Most Reverend Edward Burns of Juneau, Alaska arrived in Seattle last week. He will celebrate a small handful of the Confirmations in the Archdiocese.

He is pictured below, anointing a young parishioner at St. Andrew Parish in Sumner.

Confirmation Season

During the Easter Season, the bishops will be busy celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation at various parishes...even having two Masses on any given Sunday. And most of their weeknights are filled with a Confirmation Mass as well! They're so busy in fact that Bishop Burns from Juneau will be assisting our bishops by celebrating a handful of the Confirmations for the Archdiocese of Seattle as well.

Last month, I was asked to serve as the Master of Ceremonies and miter/crosier bearer for Seattle University's Confirmation Mass this Sunday at 9:00pm. I'm very excited to be back at my alma mater and to serve at the Chapel of St. Ignatius, which is where my passion for liturgical ministry flourished as a student sacristan there.

Then this morning I received an email from the secretary at St. Paul's, my home parish, to see if I could serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the South Seattle Cluster's Confirmation Mass next month.  

I'm super excited for Confirmation Season to begin...bring on the Confirmations! Happy Easter Season to you all, and I pray that this Easter Season may bring you much joy and deep peace! 

Let us also pray for the many candidates who will be Confirmed in the next few months.

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
by water and the Holy Spirit 
you freed your sons and daughters from sin 
and gave them new life. 
Send your Holy Spirit upon them 
to be their Helper and Guide. 
Give them the spirit of wisdom 
and understanding, 
the spirit of right judgment and 
courage, the spirit of knowledge and 
reverence. 
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

- Prayer for the Laying on of Hands during the Confirmation Rite