Students Complete Their Confirmation At St Rose

Wearing pretty spring dresses or suit jackets, 250 students made their confirmation at St Rose of Lima Church beginning Friday, April 15.

Three ceremonies took place, with the first on Friday afternoon and two more on Saturday. “There were so many [confirmands] that we couldn’t do it all at once!” said Pam Arsenault, director of religious education at St Rose`.

On Friday, the young men and women, confirmation sponsors and family members arrived minutes before the ceremony began. Searching for nametags were Courtney Datin, Tonya Tucker, Katelyn Kean and her sponsor Haley Kean, and Liam Decker.

Standing to the side and fixing her nametag were Lauren Williamson and her mother Deborah. Lauren chose the name Teresa for her confirmation name.

Seated, Troy Frangione spoke with friends, while a few feet away Amy Martinelli waited for the ceremony to begin. Across the isle in the St Rose community hall was Rebecca Townsend, setting her corsage on her wrist.

According to StRoseChurch.com, seventh-grade students begin a two-year preparation for the sacrament of confirmation. “Decision making is explored and students are asked to make a commitment to work faithfully toward reception of the sacrament … students become more aware of Jesus and how our faith helps us to make responsible decisions.”

By the eighth grade, “The final stages for preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation are underway. The basic tenets of the Catholic Church are studied, along with the sacrament of Confirmation.”