St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church

Last weekend on Pentecost Sunday we had two adult confirmations (Mary Kay O’Brien and Chrissy Borgstrom) during the Sunday Masses. Both Mary Kay and Chrissy had been baptized Catholic and received their first communion, but had not been confirmed. It was a powerful celebration of Pentecost as they both were confirmed and became fully initiated Catholics. 

When we started up our RCIA journey with them last fall we did not know how it would go and what elements of the RCIA process we would be able to do with constantly changing COVID restrictions and conditions. We came together as a small group last October with a combination of in-person (masked) and Zoom depending on people’s comfort levels. In November the rapidly increasing COVID cases and hospitalizations caused us to move to Zoom for our sessions.

Over the years with RCIA, I have always been amazed at how the Holy Spirit works, and this year was no exception. The most important part of the RCIA process is faith sharing and answering concerns and questions. I was concerned that with such a small group, being restricted to meeting online via Zoom, and not being able to do all the RCIA elements we normally do would stifle the process.

These concerns were unwarranted and the Holy Spirit worked in powerful ways. The small group size, at most 5 people per session, lent itself well to working virtually via Zoom and allowed for conversations that would have been impossible with a larger group on Zoom. There were a few nights it was myself, Chrissy, and Mary Kay or Kim, Chrissy, and Mary Kay on the Zoom sessions. This allowed more time and freedom for them to ask questions and dive deeper into the subject matter and other matters of being Catholic and a disciple of Jesus. I am grateful that they both decided to continue via virtual sessions and were so willing to share as it led to powerful and inspiring nights.

One thing was very apparent throughout our journey, the Holy Spirit was working in both of their lives and bringing them into a deeper relationship with Jesus. As always, I feel so blessed to see and experience other people’s deepening relationship with God through their relationship with Jesus. It is incredible to feel the Holy Spirit move in powerful ways as it did this year and especially Sunday on Pentecost.  

Please keep Mary Kay and Chrissy in your prayers as they continue to walk as disciples of Jesus as members of the Catholic Church.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, 

Amen.

Peace, Love, and Blessings

Deacon Richard