To preside over the Confirmation Mass on October 15th at 7:00 pm

The Catholic ritual of the Confirmation ceremony is presided over by a bishop or archbishop. The catechism of the Catholic Church states that “The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop.” Each bishop is a successor to the apostles, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost—the first confirmation. Therefore, on October 15th at 7:00 pm, the St. Joachim community will welcome our chief shepherd, Archbishop Gregory Aymond to our Little Church in the Woods to preside over the Holy Confirmation Mass.

We encourage all our parishioners and ministry leaders to attend this celebration in a supported unity for our newly Confirmed members of the church. Being in the presence of the Archbishop during this sacramental ceremony is a gracious honor that reminds us of our own confirmation and the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us. It provides us with a time to reflect the ways we use those powerful gifts, and on times when we have forgotten to use them in our own journey of faith.

The presence of this powerful being is channeled through our chief shepherd, Archbishop Aymond, who we can look at as a humble example of how we can use our gifts to empower others. As sheep, we must flock to our caretaker; the Archbishop will be available to you, as your shepherd, to speak to and care for you as his people.

Holy Confirmation is the sacrament of initiation, in which one vows to commit themselves to the Catholic community, its faith, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The tradition of faith that was built from our Baptism, Holy Communion, and Reconciliation is confirmed and strengthened through the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation. Unlike the other Sacraments, the Holy Spirit is awakened and walks with you on your journey, instilling within your soul the supernatural gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Archbishop Aymond has devoted his entire vocational life to advocating for the spiritual enrichment and education of people’s lives. He has been a leader of many religious organizations and founded a medical mission program in Granada, Nicaragua, Christ the Healer in conjunction with the Archdiocese of New Orleans to provide medical personnel, equipment and supplies, spiritual enrichment, and dedicated labors to the people of the second poorest country in Latin America.

Many regard the Archbishop as a man of practical consideration rather than idealistic theories. He is a man that works to put into action the faith of the Catholic Church. He is a man who will stand up in public for his beliefs rather than assume the world knows, and do so in a humble manner. He is a published author and a man of personal integrity. A man who follows the teachings of Jesus as we hear in Matthew 6:1-4. A man who believes that whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren you do unto Jesus, our Lord.