Cathedral Pilgrimage Serves as Valuable Component of CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION

When our third-grade students celebrated Confirmation and First Holy Communion on April 29, they did so as a form of a pilgrimage — the children received these Sacraments at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

Under the Restored Order, each of the three Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist — gives graces, enabling the recipient to receive the Holy Spirit before receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

During Advent in 2021, students in the eighth, seventh, sixth, and third grades were confirmed, and the third-grade students received their First Holy Communion at the same Mass.

“For the most part, this year, our class is made up of two St. Peter School classes and the Parish School of Religion class, with a handful of older students who will be confirmed if they have already received Holy Communion prior to moving to our parish,” says Gina Bergman, Director of Religious Education.

The first time our parish observed the Restored Order was in 2020, but the pandemic restrictions compelled the ceremonies to be held through May and June at eight different Masses. The following year, the so-called “catch-up” classes were held at three different Masses in December. There were no ceremonies in 2022, as a result.

“So, this will be the third year of confirming third-graders,” Gina says.

The diocesan plan to have Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Cathedral has been supported by a comprehensive information program that outlines the reasoning behind the plan.

“The diocese has been working very hard on explaining the value of the Cathedral trip,” Gina says. “The information shares the value of the trip and what to expect for the third-grade Confirmation and First Communion ceremonies.”

The ceremonies are scheduled on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of the month for parishes more than 50 miles from Springfield. With Quincy located 111 miles away, the Saturday, April 29 date was set.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki outlined the value of the Cathedral trip in a statement issued by the diocese.

“This celebration of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Cathedral is intended to take on the form of a pilgrimage and amplify the power and uniqueness of this moment in the lives of our young people and their families,” Bishop Paprocki says. “It is intentionally a step outside of their home parish and a pilgrimage to the Mother Church of the diocese for the completion of their initiation into the Church in the presence of the diocesan bishop, who is a successor of the Apostles.”

As Bishop Paprocki points out, this pilgrimage also has practical implications for families who will be traveling from all corners of the diocese for this celebration with their children. “Consider this comparison — if your child or grandchild’s sports team advances to the championship game which takes place in a city several hours away in a big stadium, you and your child would be excited and happily make the long trip,” he says. “Your child receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion is that spiritual ‘championship game’ for him or her. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield is that ‘big stadium.’ I hope we can embrace these life-changing sacraments with at least as much enthusiasm as a sporting event.”

“With any change, there are always concerns and hesitancy, but we have been doing our best to make this a special day,” Gina says.

To wrap up and commemorate the special weekend for the children after receiving their Sacraments of Initiation at the Cathedral, our St. Peter parish family celebrated and recognized them on Sunday, April 30, at the 11 a.m. Mass.

“On behalf of the parish family, I want to congratulate our parishioners from St. Peter who celebrated their Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist at the Cathedral in Springfield,” Fr. Leo says. “Our prayers, love, and support are with them. I do want to thank their parents for helping to prepare them for this day, along with their teachers, Pam Hagerbaumer, Cindy Brown, Amanda Miller, and Sandy Gallaher, as well as Gina Bergman, our director of religious education. Thank you to all of you for getting our young ones ready.”

Anyone with questions about the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation may contact the parish office at 217-222-3155.

Bishop Paprocki and altar servers welcomed our young parishioners receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. The altar servers are all St. Peter and are siblings of students receiving sacraments.