On June 15, 2008, our daughters, Agnes and Theresa, were confirmed in St. Agnes Cathedral by Bishop William Murphy in the first Latin Rite Confirmation to be held in our diocese in forty years. It was one of the most beautiful, grace-filled ceremonies I have ever attended, despite the fact that I spent a good portion of it pacing the back with our two-year old!
This first photo shows Theresa and the dogwood before we left home. The girls' friend Hope made their special confirmation dresses:
So eager were we for the ceremony that we were the first ones to the church. Agnes and Theresa wait in the Cathedral of St. Agnes parish center:
Donning white robes, along with traditional beanies:
The beautiful confirmandi:
Before the ceremony, eight girls (all very good friends who sing in choir together) performed an impromptu, but lovely, rendition of Ecce Panis Angelorum [The right of the film is cut off below, to see the complete view, please click here. Theresa is third from the left, and Agnes is far right in the unclipped video]:
Lining up:
Our beloved bishop:
The bishop speaks to the children:
I managed to film the actual confirmation, so stirring in Latin. Here you will see Agnes and her sponsor (godmother Eileen) followed by Theresa and her sponsor (godmother Patty) [For a view that is not partially clipped by the blog borders, please click here]:
Photo op, rear view:
Agnes and her sponsor, godmother Eileen:
Theresa and her sponsor, godmother Patty, along with Patty's brother, Msgr. Robert Brennan:
A proud moment with our bishop:
How my little girls have grown since this photo with the bishop, taken after a special Mass he offered for homeschoolers six years ago:
Many beautiful Gunther family members—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins—were in attendance. I wish I'd managed to get more photos of them, but the sun was blazing, and we rushed to our car. I did manage to get this shot:
St. Jude, Agnes's patron, pray for us!
St. Gianna Molla, Theresa's patron, pray for us!
Here is The Long Island Catholic's beautiful coverage of the event.
Beautiful, just beautiful!!!
Posted by: Amy | June 21, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Yes, simply beautiful!!!
Posted by: Cheryl M. | June 21, 2008 at 06:26 PM
So beautiful! I'm so happy the Latin Mass is coming back.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 21, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Oh Alice, how beautiful! I saw the article at the LIC and wondered if your girls participated. What a blessing for the two sisters to receive a sacrament together!
Posted by: Kimberlee | June 21, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Congratulations Agnes and Theresa. What a glorious ceremony. Alice, what beautiful girls you have. There is such sparkle in Agnes's expression, such gentleness in Theresa's. Oh and that singing so lifts the heart!
Posted by: patience | June 21, 2008 at 06:49 PM
How beautiful. I have never attended a Latin Mass but how awesome to see this part of the Latin Rite. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: adoptionmom | June 21, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Lovely. I and two sons were confirmed at a Latin Pontfical Mass in 1997!
Posted by: Leonie | June 21, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Lovely. Your family is blessed.
Posted by: Cay G. | June 21, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Beautiful pictures - and singing. What a wonderful way to experience such an important sacrament!
Posted by: Christine M | June 21, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Oh, great video, Alice! So glad I saw it live, though...but the impromptu singing I missed! Thanks for posting it. I'll be sending that to Libby!! If only she could get the 7-10 year olds to sing like that!
Posted by: macbeth | June 21, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Wow, how fortunate to be able to be a part of something like this. And the singers both look and sound like angels!
Just beautiful.
Posted by: Eileen | June 21, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Oh, so beautiful, Alice!
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | June 22, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Beautiful! Congratulations to both of your lovely girls!
Posted by: Rebecca | June 22, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Oh, Alice, thank you for posting this. Now I can send it to the relatives who couldn't make it.
It was a great day, wasn't it?
Regards,
Jenny
Posted by: Jenny Wiegand | June 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Wow! Beautiful girls, singing and all!
Posted by: Teresa Hansen | June 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Alice, how beautiful! And the singing was just angelic! When I read the article, I didn't realize your girls were involved. The red dresses are so elegant, and I love the girls' choice of patrons. What a blessing that the girls should be confirmed together.
Posted by: Jeannine | June 22, 2008 at 01:09 PM
It's incredible and so special they could be confirmed together. What an awesome memory this will be for your whole family, just gorgeous!! Congratulations to the beautifully confirmed and for their parents who shed so much love on them :))
Posted by: Meredith | June 22, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Alice what a beautiful and special day you celebrated in your family. The girls and their dresses were just beautiful. Blessings!
Posted by: Kathy | June 22, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Those young ladies of yours are so lovely in every way! And what a beautiful ceremony and singing! Congratulations, Alice, Agnes and Theresa!
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | June 22, 2008 at 10:58 PM
How beautiful. Congratulations to your lovely daughters. You must be so proud!
Posted by: Blair | June 22, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Great post Alice! It gave me goose bumps reading and watching. We love the Latin rite too. Congratulations to your girls!
Posted by: Renee | June 23, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Your daughters are beautiful, Alice! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Ruth | June 23, 2008 at 08:09 AM
How beautiful! Congratulations and many blessings to them both (and the rest of you too)!!!
Posted by: Love2learn Mom | June 23, 2008 at 09:04 AM
How lovely, Alice! Congratulations to your girls...I'm just a big jealous as we are working diligently to convince our Bishop to offer the traditional rite of Confirmation. We have nearly 20 young people who are eligible and desirous of receiving this sacrament under the Extraordinary Form. Pray for us!
God bless you and yours...
Posted by: Kimberly | June 23, 2008 at 09:17 AM
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Alice.
Posted by: Wendy in VA (now in MD) | June 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM