‘Dear Bishop Peter’

Confirmation candidates explain desire to be ‘sealed with the Spirit’

Bishop Peter F. Christensen, center, has spent the last several weeks traveling the state, bestowing the Sacrament of Confirmation on more than 1,500 Idaho Youth. Clergy from Idaho Falls and surrounding area concelebrated Mass with Bishop Peter at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. (Courtesy photo/Gisselle Montalvan)

By Philip A. Janquart

ICR Assistant Editor

Bishop Peter F. Christensen began bestowing the Sacrament of Confirmation at parishes around the Diocese in April, starting with those in Eastern Idaho. He concluded his tour in Boise on Saturday, May 24.

At each parish, Bishop Peter prayed, “All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit, you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide.”

Moments later, he anointed each candidate with Sacred Chrism Oil, saying, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Nearly 1,500 Idaho youths received the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, a notable increase from previous years.

Each confirmand is asked to write a letter to the Bishop, stating why he or she wants to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Peter, in turn, reads from a few of the letters during each of the Masses. Here are some excerpts:

“Hello, Most Rev. Bishop Peter Christensen . . . I’m 17 years old… I have very vivid memories of when you would come to our parish and confirm many kids. During the confirmations, I remember being so excited for the kids who were receiving this sacrament. I was almost out of my seat as if I were receiving the sacrament of confirmation as well. There was one thing you said during the homily a couple of years ago that I could not forget: ‘Why should I practice my faith in private when Jesus died for us in public?’ Ever since I heard these words, it was as if they were marked permanently in my head. I realized how God truly loved everyone and was able to accept His death for us. It broke my heart because many of them take it for granted or are just lost in the world. My relationship with God has truly been the most beautiful thing in my life.” – Liliana A., Immaculate Conception, Buhl.

Bishop Peter with confirmandi of St. Elizabeth Parish in Jerome. (Courtesy photo/Madeline Welsh)

“I want to be confirmed this year for many reasons, but mostly because I want to be a saint. I long to be with Jesus and Mary in Heaven forever and never leave them. Confirmation is a pathway towards this goal … I am excited to be confirmed because I just love the Catholic church. I love receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, spending time with Him and going to confession. The sacraments in the Church bring me so much joy … Maybe someday I will be blessed to become a priest.” – Gabriel H., St. Mark’s, Boise. 

“I want to have the Sacrament of Confirmation because it represents a deepening of my faith and a commitment to living a life guided by the teaching of the Church. Strengthening my connection to God and empowering me to serve others with love and compassion.” – Edgar S., Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell.

“I chose Saint Peter as my Confirmation saint because he represents the qualities of leadership, faith and flexibility that I aspire to have in my own life. As one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Peter showed great commitment and courage, even in the face of challenges and doubts. His journey from being a fisherman to becoming the rock upon, which the church was built inspires me to embrace my faith and to take on responsibilities with my community. I admire how he learned from his mistakes and continued to grow in his relationship with Christ, which encourages me to strive for personal growth and to remain loyal in my beliefs. Saint Peter’s example motivates me to be a faithful follower of Christ and to lead by example in my own life.” – Julio M., St. Peter’s, Shoshone.

“This past year was a rough year for me. Each day was just another day I had to get through. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I slowly started losing myself. Little did I know God was behind me every step of the way, I just never realized it. I finally took a step back and let God take control. My heart started to feel less heavy, and my mind started to clear up. I started to appreciate the little things and to never take anything for granted. I started to trust God and trust that he has a plan for me, even when it seems like the plan is failing. I want to get confirmed to become closer to God. When I feel close to God, my life feels easier. Like a huge weight has been lifted.” – Addison L., St. Ann’s, Bonner’s Ferry.

“I am seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation this year to help me deepen my relationship with Christ. I want to be confirmed because I love Jesus with all my heart. The Lord is my everything and I would love to be blessed with a deeper relationship with Christ.” – Ben J., All Saints, Lewiston.

Anna Bertin receives the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Peter. (Courtesy photo/Madeline Welsh)

“I am excited about receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, particularly the gift of understanding. I am especially looking forward to this gift because I want to better understand others and to help them with their struggles, so they don’t have to face them alone. I hope to offer compassion instead of judgement and provide support instead of pushing people away. I am truly delighted about receiving Confirmation because it will bring me closer to God by deepening our relationship through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” – Cindy R., Saint Peter, Preston.

“Having faith in Christ has definitely played a big role in my life. Although life is hard, with the faith I put in God’s timing, things end up going smoothly. God has blessed me with amazing gifts such as my healthy family, amazing friends that love to seek Him, and overall life. God has shown me what true love feels like. His love is so powerful, and we don’t love Him as much as he deserves. God is the only reason I’ve made it this far. I want to follow God and understand what He wants me to do for Him.” – Nayely G., St. Elizabeth, Gooding.

“God has played a profound role in my life. Even when I pushed Him away, He never left me. When I finally turned to Him, I was in a dark place, seeking forgiveness for my absence. But instead of judgement, I found love. God welcomed me back without hesitation. Now, I see Him not only as my Father, but also as my close friend. My prayers are not just routine recitations; they come from the depths of my soul. In His presence, I feel everything – joy, sorrow, gratitude – but never alone.” – Kyandra P., Holy Spirit, Pocatello.

“Being confirmed will give me strength to continue with my journey to seek God and be like Him in any way possible. He has shown me how to give respect, be kind, love and be patient. I learned through Him that it is time for me to gather my struggles and bear my own cross to seek eternal peace … I want to be confirmed to later become a saint in God’s Holy Gates and live in Eternal light and happiness.” – Mercedes C., St. Mary’s, Boise

Bishop Peter F. Christensen, center, prays over confirmandi during a Confirmation Mass in Pocatello. (Courtesy photo/Madeline Welsh)

“I want to be confirmed in the Church because I am ready to deepen my faith and take on a more active role as a member of the Catholic community. Confirmation is an important step in my spiritual journey, allowing me to strengthen my relationship with God and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through this sacrament, I am making a personal commitment to live out my faith, not just in church, but in my daily life.” – Alejandro L., Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell.

Getting confirmed will change my life by knowing that I am living life in the path that God wants me to. I will continue to worship and love Him with all my heart for the rest of my life. Knowing that I am so close, receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation gives the best feeling in the world. I can and always will turn to God no matter what. I have had times when I question things that happen in my life and ask God why He allows these things, but I have learned that God always has a plan for me and that he knows what He is doing. I just trust Him with all my heart and I know that everything will be okay.” – Isabella C., St. Theresa the Little Flower, Burley

“I feel safe when I’m in the church or at Mass. I feel so safe in Jesus’ presence. My faith and God have played a huge role in my life. If I didn’t have the faith I have now or I wasn’t born into the Catholic church, I feel like I would be a totally different person than I am today. This is why I am so grateful and proud to be a Catholic. These are the many reasons I am seeking to be confirmed.” – Sophia. D., St. Edward the Confessor, Twin Falls.

“Being confirmed is the choice I want to make for my life. I know my heavenly Father awaits my arrival, and I want to be ready when I get there. I want to hear, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ I want to be with God for eternity, having peace is a goal of mine that won’t feel accomplished if I don’t live my life by Christ.” – Yendy H., Pope Saint John Paul II, Idaho Falls.

Confirmandi from Good Shepherd in Driggs. (Courtesy photo)

“My grandma was a huge impact on my relationship with God; she had only love for God. She knew her life was coming to an end, but she knew she was going to be ok because she had God to take care of her and give her the perfect life she was waiting to have. When she passed away, I was heartbroken. God showed me signs that she was ok and living her happy life with Him. Not only am I loving God for myself, but I’m loving God for her and being an example to others how she would have wanted.” – Erica G., St. Therese the Little Flower, Burley.

“I started to feel alone and lost trust in life around the age of 12. For about two or three years, I was constantly sad … I now see that I spent so much of my time hiding my sadness from my parents, friends and even the Lord … It wasn’t until one day that I understood that God has a place in his heart for me. He always has … I’ve never been as peaceful as I am now. God has great plans for me, and I can continue to grow with him when I receive my Confirmation. I want to be the ‘Handmade of the Lord,’ like Mary. I want the Holy Spirit to guide me through my life. I want to be the image that God wants me to be. My Confirmation can help me take another step in my faith.” – Soyla C., Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell.

“Being Catholic all my life has felt like knowing God without truly connecting with Him. I have attended church, but never fully understood why it was so important. These uncertainties have made it difficult for me to develop a deeper relationship with God and grasp the significance of our connection with Him. However, attending ICYC and participating in Confirmation classes have opened my eyes to God’s story and how it relates to us. They have helped me think on a deeper level and realize that God is truly our Lord and Savior. This realization has strengthened my faith and made me want to grow closer to Him.” – Hannah S., St. Charles Borromeo, Hailey.

“I have been through a lot on my journey of faith. I started preparing (for confirmation) last year as a freshman in high school. I have been taking weekly catechism classes and attending Mass every Sunday. One truly life-changing event that I had was ICYC (Idaho Catholic Youth Conference). Last year, during that event, I encountered God for the first time. When I was there, I felt at peace. I felt so relaxed, and I felt loved. I truly felt the presence of God for the first time in my life, and I want to be confirmed so I can continue my journey and feel that forever.” – Khriz D., St. Therese the Little Flower, Burley.

“I knew I wanted to be confirmed when I was 10 because I had just watched my brother get confirmed. After his confirmation, I could see God working through him and I knew that I wanted to be like that. My brother has always been the biggest influence in my life, and I have always wanted to follow in his footsteps. My brother and I have always been close, and I feel that he has influenced me greatly with my faith in God.” – Kelly S., Holy Apostles, Meridian.

Bishop Peter F. Christense at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. (Courtesy photo)

“I know that being confirmed won’t just be a one-time event; it’s a lifelong commitment. I want to continue growing in my faith, attending Mass, and finding ways to be more involved in my parish. God has blessed me with unique gifts, and I hope to use them to help others and contribute to the Church in whatever way I can.” – Alex S., Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell.

“Growing up, I was raised Catholic, and I found it boring. But doing confirmation this year, lit a spark I didn’t know I had. But now that I know I have it, I want to do something bigger. Something that won’t only affect me, but other people around me. And getting the Sacrament of Confirmation will help me to be the change I wish to be. Not only the exterior, but the interior, too.” – Ayleen G., St. Edward the Confessor, Twin Falls.

“As I grow in my conviction of the Catholic faith, I know this (Confirmation) is the right path for me. In my life, I’ve been surrounded by people who have stayed faithful to their Catholic beliefs and by others who have lost their faith. I’ve noticed that those who have fallen away have not done well, and I have seen the downfall in their lives. As I go through life, I know I will need my Catholic beliefs and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help inform and develop my conscience … I hope to receive wisdom, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, understanding and fear of the Lord, so I can be closer to God and help me get through the difficulties of life.” – Isadore B., St. Pius X, Coeur d’Alene.

Ailin Rodriguez receives the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Peter F. Christensen. (Courtesy Photo/Madeline Welsh)