At St. Margaret Mary church in Oakland, CA, confirmations for forty-two adults and young people took place on November 7.  It was the First Friday of the month, and the already strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was raised to a new level of gratitude for His Church and for the Sacraments.

With an awed expectancy, the filled church received His Excellency, Bishop Michael Barber of Oakland Diocese, as he processed solemnly into the church, blessing the congregation as he entered. Bishop Barber’s exhortation of the confirmandi was a clear and profound call to embrace the graces of the sacraments offered by the Church. He reminded the confirmandi of the vast spiritual riches of the Catholic Church, of the graces they had already received, particularly in Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, and Penance. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, the Bishop said, through every trial we encounter in our lives going forward, whether it be in school or at work, big or small, internal or external struggles in matters of spiritual warfare. 

Following the Rite of Confirmation, Solemn High Mass was offered with the pontifical assistance of Bishop Barber at the episcopal throne, by Canon Matthew Talarico, Substitute for the Provincial. Canon Olivier Meney, Episcopal Delegate for the Extraordinary Form in the Diocese, and subdeacon Abbé Kevin Kerscher, clerical oblate, served as the ministers of the Mass. Canon William Avis, provincial Master of Ceremonies for the Institute's US province, was present as well.

Although a sung Mass was customary fare for First Fridays at St. Margaret Mary, the solemnity of the occasion on this day made the Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially poignant. In addition to Mass IV for the ordinary, the Sacred Heart Choir’s rendition of Ave Verum (Mozart), Adoremus Te Christe (Gasparini), Cor meum (de Lassus), and Christus factus est (Anerio) beautifully expressed the prayers of the faithful in union with the whole Church.

After Mass, a reception was prepared by the families of the confirmandi to honor the Bishop and to celebrate this very important milestone with families, friends, and all the parishioners who came to witness the sacrament. As he greeted the faithful, a special gift was presented to Bishop Barber at the festive reception as a token of the gratitude of the Institute and the faithful of the St. Margaret Mary apostolate.  His Excellency expressed his thanks to the Institute for the ministry it provides in the Diocese.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Jay Balza