Blessed Lenten Friday! Last night I was able to serve for our Confirmation mass, at my parish. I've served a couple of Confirmation before. I was confirmed in 2023, and then the week or two after I served the other confirmation mass, with Former Auxilliary Bishop of Chicago, Joseph Perry. (Which we were blessed then to be joined by our Seminarian, Andrew, who was recently ordained as a Transitioal Deacon). Than, last year, 2024, I served the mass with our Bishop, Bishop Ronald Hicks (who brought our wonderful Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, Deacon Len). And then yesterday, we had our Emeritus Bishop, Bishop Conlon, who also did my Confirmation, two years ago (on April 24, 2023). We had the exact same bishop and deacon both at my mass and yesterday. I shared the photo form my confirmation. We had a different MC, whose name escapes me, but he was a deacon, and he has served several other events. My Grandfather was my sponsor, and my confirmation name was St John Paul, after St. Pope John Paul II. As a liturgical side note, the vestments (chasuble and dalmatic, altough the albs were probably different) used yesterday, were the same as at my confirmation. My Confirmation, happened during the Easter Season, but this Confirmation happened during the Lenten season. So, we had the Lenten Gospel reflection rather than the "Alleluia", and then we also had Instrumental Music during the Confirmations, which, is quite odd to think about during Passion week, according to the GIRM: "313. In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts.". Does Confirmation fit in? In all fairness, we celebrated the Diaconate Ordination at the Cathedral (which, side note, they sung the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, in Latin, and both the Kyrie and Agnus Dei were sung unaccompanied) and the Gloria was sung "53. The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) . . . is sung or said on Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and also on Solemnities and Feasts, and at particular celebrations of a more solemn character.". Besides that, we had five servers, two vimp, including me and a student deacon, both of us were wearing Cassock and Surplice. And it was a beautiful ceremony. As always, it is the MC who is in charge, and he was well organized and had everything moving smoothly.
Soon we will be in Holy Week. It's only two days away!! But we'll leave Holy Week Discussion for later. God Bless!
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