March 1, 2022 | Your Stories, Youth

Our Lady of Lourdes Confirmation family hears the story of Resurrection Parish on Jan. 22, 2022. COURTESY OF ROBIN MURPHEY

Our Lady of Lourdes Confirmandi journey with communities impacted by tornadoes

BY ROBIN MURPHEY, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Confirmation is a special moment in one’s lifelong Catholic faith journey. On Feb. 11, 22 young men and women said “I do” to being strengthened and sealed by the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Owensboro.

Over the past few months, they have experienced and lived their faith in many ways, embracing the call to missionary discipleship. On Jan. 22, the Confirmandi, parents and sponsors journeyed with Resurrection Parish in Dawson Springs and Immaculate Conception Parish in Earlington, accompanying one another in a day of spiritual discipleship (service).

The journey began with candles lit for each of the Confirmandi and those impacted by the December storms, brightening Lourdes’ sanctuary as adorers prayed and parishioners celebrated Mass for the encounter and safety of the pilgrims and the Resurrection and Immaculate Conception communities.

In the communities, they walked with one another experiencing the aftermath of the Dec. 10, 2021 tornadoes and listened to the people and communities’ stories (past, present, future).They witnessed a community coming together to rise again in a small outbuilding to encounter Christ in the Eucharist and one another.

The confirmation pilgrimage concluded with a communal Holy Hour and Adoration at Immaculate Conception with and for all the communities gathered. Dcn. Mike Marsili shared the depths of the pilgrimage encounter in his homily: “As disciples, you have come to us, to walk briefly in our shoes, to talk with us, to listen to us, to pray with us, to suffer with us, because we are members of one body of Christ.” “It is by the Paschal Mystery…that we, the members of his body, may endure suffering, but we never suffer alone (or rejoice alone).”

That is not the end of the story, the experience, or the accompaniment. A bond, a connection, a friendship was born. At Confirmation, Dcn. Mike and his wife, Ashley, brought the spirit and community of Resurrection and Immaculate to the Confirmation celebration, continuing to accompany, walk, and rejoice with the young men and women in their Catholic faith journey. The communities’ vision is to continue journeying together as the encounter with Christ and one another through this spiritual discipleship has touched many hearts and minds and brought together communities across the diocese.

Robin Murphey is the director of faith experiences at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Owensboro.


Originally printed in the March 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.

 

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