Bishop offers Cathedral for confirmation ceremonies

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 10, 2008

Sacred chrism was used by Bishop R. Walker Nickless to bless Ryan Staley's forehead during a confirmation ceremony at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

"Maximilian, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit," said Bishop Nickless as he confirmed Ryan. "Peace, be with you."

Ryan responded, "And also with you," as he shook the bishop's hand.

Eight other students from the St. Boniface in Charter Oak, St. Mary's in Ute and St. Mary's in Dow City cluster were confirmed at Cathedral on April 6 during the 5 p.m. Mass.

Ryan, a junior and parishioner from Charter Oak, said he thought it was an honor to be confirmed at Cathedral.

"When the bishop consecrated me, it was different feeling," said Ryan, who added that it was hard to explain the feeling of being confirmed - feeling the presence of God and the Holy Spirit.

Dana Gotto, a sophomore, said being confirmed at Cathedral was a change for her since it is a lot bigger than her church in Ute.

"I felt the Holy Spirit when the bishop anointed us with oil," said Gotto, who was confirmed with the name Veronica, the saint who wiped the face of Jesus.

Peggy Staley, who helps with the cluster confirmation class, said she was able to arrange to have the confirmation at Cathedral with the consent of the pastor.

"I thought it would be more special to come up here and look at it as a pilgrimage to the mother church of our diocese," she said. "I knew they would hear a quality of music that we just don't ever hear in our small parishes."

During his homily at the April 6 Mass, Bishop Nickless called four of the confirmation students to the altar to answer questions about the readings and the sacrament of confirmation. He explained the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they would receive through confirmation.

"I am so happy you are here," said the bishop. "Every year when I send out the confirmation schedule, I ask the pastors to consider bringing the confirmation students to Sioux City because the Cathedral is such an important church to us. You are the first to take me up on my offer."

He used his homily as an opportunity to explain why the cathedral has its name - because of the cathedra, the bishop's chair. The cathedral is the bishop's parish and belongs to everyone in the diocese.

"I am very proud of our Cathedral," said the bishop. "The success of the Mass for all of the fifth graders in the diocese last year made me realize I should look for other opportunities for others to see the beauty of the Cathedral. I thought confirmation might be another opportunity."

He has offered to have confirmations at Cathedral, especially for the parishes that are in Sioux City or close to Sioux City.

The bishop viewed the confirmation ceremony as an opportunity to highlight the quality of ceremonies of the Cathedral to the people who attend the 5 p.m. Mass at Cathedral.

"I think the people who were there were impressed by the kids - how prepared they were and what they knew about their faith," said Bishop Nickless.

The bishop noted that there are a few other parishes that are considering having confirmation at Cathedral and he hopes there will be more in the future.