Robert Sensi, a parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle, Chino Hills, joined several charitable organizations while preparing for the Sacrament, including the Let it Be Foundation. The organization provides support and services to families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Following Confirmation, Sensi is taking his commission to go out into the world seriously by continuing to serve the community through the Let it Be Foundation.
“It helps me feel like I’m really making a difference in someone’s life,” Sensi said. “Service is not just a confirmation thing, it is more.”
While some will find ways of getting involved at school or in the greater community, other teens being confirmed this year will be focusing on service at the parish.
Alexis Vargas credits her strong faith to the sacramental preparation process and activities at the parish.
“Before I didn’t really believe in the words I said,” Vargas said. “After the retreat I’m ready to pass on my faith and spread God’s word.”
Vargas would like to continue to be involved in the faith formation programs at St. Paul the Apostle after confirmation.
“I would like to help with the youth,” Vargas said. “I want to be a youth minister at the church, so that I can inspire the younger ones to be strong in faith.”
Armed with knowledge and a new zeal for her faith, Cynthia Galvan, parishioner at St. James, Perris, hopes to lead family and friends to a deeper relationship with God.
“I want to get my family closer, like bringing my siblings to church and getting them involved in youth group and face to face teaching.”
She also is thinking about being a volunteer with the youth group and being more involved in parish events.
“Confirmation was an eye opening experience,” said Jesse Diaz, parishioner at St. James. “I was strong in my faith before, but this helped me to learn new things and apply them to my life.”
He plans on continuing his involvement in the parish youth ministry and in surrounding parishes as well. He often attends youth group events at St. Christopher, Moreno Valley as well as at his home parish.
In addition to youth ministry, Diaz also plans on serving as a hospitality minister at St. James by helping to direct traffic.
At Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, San Bernardino the youth and adults who recently entered the Church at the Easter Vigil still meet regularly, continuing their formation and preparing for what God may have planned for them next.
One newly baptized and confirmed person is looking to into helping in the children’s liturgy at the parish. Looking to her mother-in-law, who also converted to Catholicism a few years ago, she hopes to stay involved at the parish.
When Jose Quezada started dating his wife, Valarie, he let the importance his faith had on his life be known to her. As their relationship became more serious, Valarie decided to try attending Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) sessions.
“I was a little skeptical, not sure if I wanted to continue,” Valarie said. “After a month, though, I started to feel a part of the church, welcomed, at home.”
Quezada is grateful for having participated in the RCIA process as an adult. And while she may not be joining a ministry yet, she is continuing to learn more about the richness of the faith she has entered.
During the Confirmation Masses Bishop Gerald Barnes, Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego and Episcopal Vicars, Father Romeo Seleccion and Father Rafael Partida, encourage the newly confirmed to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit in service to the Church and greater community.
“What are you going to do with the gifts that you get,” Bishop Barnes asked in his homily to the Confirmandi. “As the saints were called in their day, you are the ones being called now.”