‘This is a hopeful time’
By Michael Cooney | For On Mission
Photos by Michael Cooney | For On Mission
DE PERE — On a cloudy, rain-filled Sunday afternoon in De Pere, joy and anticipation radiated inside St. Mary Catholic Church as 90 adult candidates from nearly 30 parishes across the Diocese of Green Bay received the sacrament of confirmation.
Despite the weather, the church was overflowing with family, friends and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
“This is one of the bishop’s biggest Masses,” Arvilla Rusnak, coordinator for the diocesan Office of Divine Worship, said of the June 8, 2025, confirmation. “These are individuals who have been baptized and received First Communion, but for various reasons, never completed confirmation. Today, they’re stepping forward — some for the first time in decades — seeking full communion with the church.”
The candidates represented a wide range of ages — from 18 to their 60s and 70s.
“Most of them have already been active in their parishes,” Rusnak said. “They just needed this final step. Preparation usually takes about six weeks. It’s so moving to see this church packed with support for them. It’s a wonderful celebration with the bishop.”
The moment was deeply meaningful for many. One woman said, “When the bishop touched me, I felt I was one with God.” A man in his 30s shared, “It was time. I don’t know why I waited so long, but I’m here now, and it feels right to take this step.”
Bishop David Ricken offered both a personal reflection and a message of hope at the confirmation Mass.
“I remember my own confirmation like it was yesterday,” he said. “I was in second grade. The bishop anointed me and gave me a pat on the cheek and said, ‘You are now a soldier of Christ.’ That moment had a powerful impact on me. Not long after, I sensed a call to the priesthood. You never know what seeds the Holy Spirit is planting in moments like these.”
“I’m optimistic about the future of the church,” he continued. “People are coming back to Mass, returning to confirmation, and reengaging with the sacraments. There’s a new interest among young adults. They’re searching — and many are finding that the church holds the answers.”
Bishop Ricken acknowledged the challenges of the modern world.
“People are witnessing war, division and hatred — and realizing this isn’t the way forward,” he said. “When you’re searching for peace and purpose, God is always the best answer. The church offers a way forward.”
He expressed his hope that this day would spark a lasting transformation.
“My prayer is that this moment becomes the beginning of a lifelong journey — connected to the church, to their families and grounded in faith,” he said.
As the church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope, Rusnak summed up the feeling in the church: “I believe the Holy Spirit is working hard right now — and people are open to it. This is a hopeful time,” she said.