Event so well attended, second opportunity planned in February
Story by Reagan Scott
LINCOLN (SNR) - The Office of Religious Education held the diocese’s first “Confirmed for Mission” retreat at Camp Kateri Tekawitha in McCool Junction Sept. 28.
One hundred fifteen people attended the event, created for confirmandi and their parents. Sponsors were also welcome to attend. Participants came from Auburn, Doniphan, Lincoln, Weston, Valparaiso, Kenesaw, Plattsmouth, Seward, Davey and Colon.
The event filled up so quickly that a second “Confirmed for Mission” retreat has been planned for Saturday, Feb. 8 at North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln.
“One of the things that was really inspiring for me was the variety of where people were from,” remarked Rose Walsh, a fifth-grade teacher at Cathedral of the Risen Christ School in Lincoln. “There was a really great representation of our diocese as a whole, and it was really good to see those children and their parents or sponsors come from all over.”
Father Andrew Heaslip, the director of religious education for the Diocese of Lincoln, said the inspiration came last year to focus on the missionary and evangelization aspect of Confirmation. The inspiration led to develop a Confirmation retreat that would emphasize the evangelical effects of the sacrament.
“We wanted to highlight that evangelization is something parents and kids are called to,” Father Heaslip said. “What we’re hoping got communicated is that Confirmation is a gift given for the advancement of the Gospel.”
Walsh said that because the Diocese of Lincoln confirms students at a younger age than some other dioceses, the fact that the Holy Spirit confers gifts meant to share the faith with others may be forgotten.
She said, “Something that’s sometimes forgotten as we prepare kids for Confirmation is that kids are so much better about sharing their faith and spreading the good news than we give them credit for. We want to give them a firm sense of who they are and how much they’re loved, so they can go out and share that with others.”
Father Heaslip said one of the reasons the event was held for both adults and students together was the fact that parents are able to live their own Confirmation while helping to prepare their children.
The day started with check-in, a welcome and opening prayer, followed by the first talk of the morning, “What is Confirmation?” Presented by Jeff Schinstock, the director of youth ministry for the diocese, and Father Heaslip, the talk covered the origins of Confirmation at Pentecost and how Confirmation is a continuation of the events of Pentecost.
For the second talk, adults and children were split into two groups. Father Heaslip and Matt Simmons addressed adults, while Father Joseph Bernardo, chaplain at Pius X High School in Lincoln, presented to the students.
Father Heaslip and Simmons, the director of the Office of Evangelization and Spiritual Formation, spoke on the kerygma (from the Greek word meaning “to proclaim”) and the Christian mission of parents, while Father Bernardo spoke to the confirmandi on Christian mission and evangelization.
After a break for lunch, participants rotated through three different stations—a “92 Questions Quiz Bowl” led by Walsh, Gaga ball, and human foosball.
“I was very impressed with how well the kids knew their faith,” Walsh said. “That was a fun experience for me as a teacher.”
The afternoon continued with adoration and confession, praise and worship and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Simmons led parents and sponsors in prayer over the confirmandi, and Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz celebrated a Sunday Vigil Mass.
“Overall, my impression of the day was how beautifully and smoothly things went,” Walsh said. “God was definitely present and involved.”
Father Heaslip said he is grateful for the help of everyone involved, including the speakers, and assistants Beth Benes, Chris Jacobsen and Colleen Smith.
Spots for the next “Confirmed in Mission” retreat to be held in Lincoln Feb. 8 are filling up fast, so Father Heaslip advised interested individuals to secure a spot sooner rather than later. The event signup can be found at lincolndiocese.org/mission.
