A providential anointing

The morning before Thanksgiving Josephine was confirmed:

This was not our plan. 

But the Lord in his great mercy was guiding Josephine and preparing her in His perfect time. 

I was confirmed during the spring of my junior year of high school at the age of 17. 

Matt was confirmed at the Easter Vigil at the age of 34. 

Two years ago this January we were (begrudgingly) packing homeschool materials for our children. We had hoped to enroll our children at the local school in Haiti, but were strongly advised against it. 

When we arrived at our new home in L'Asile, we asked our missionary teammates to help us. One of our teammates, Armando, noticed that Josephine's 7th grade curriculum included a book for confirmation. He offered to teach her and prepare her for the sacrament. Faithfully each week he came and they worked together through several chapters of the book.

In July we travelled to The States for respite. A few months later we discerned staying in Louisiana and all our homeschool materials were left behind in Haiti. Armando, too, remained in Haiti serving with the singles team. 

At this point is seemed that those confirmation classes had been all for nothing. 

But I should know better by now. God doesn't waste time. God is mercy and his work is to redeem.

 

This past spring, just as the world was beginning to unravel with the coronavirus pandemic, Armando courageously followed the Lord's invitation to return to The States on his own. He quarantined at Stillwater and then moved over to Big Woods. Once again, Armando approached us and asked if he could continue preparing Josephine for confirmation. He ordered a new book and their weekly classes resumed.  

 In early November, Armando let us know they only had two classes remaining. Josephine had asked Armando's fiancé Amanda to be her sponsor. He wondered if Josephine could be confirmed before he and Amanda would be leaving Louisiana Dec. 6 to begin a new chapter in California. 

Here in this diocese, youth are confirmed their junior year. Due to delays from the pandemic the senior class at Josephine's high school had only recently received their confirmation in October. Not only were we new to the parish, and new to the high school, Josephine was a lowly freshman. Suffice it to say, we put it all in the Lord's hands. 

The Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving we gathered at St. Mary Magdalen. 

Fr. Louie invited us to stand in front of the tabernacle. Then he asked Josephine to read aloud this passage from the Book of Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,

to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

and release to prisoners.

To announce a year of favor from the Lord...

To give them the oil of gladness in place of mourning,

a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.

I rejoice heartily in the Lord.

In my God is the Joy of my soul,

for he has clothed me with the robe of salvation.

- Isaiah 61: 1-11

Yes Lord! You are Redeemer! You have anointed Josephine to proclaim the good news of your salvation. We rejoice and give thanks to you for your divine providence, for sending us in humble service to all people. Come Holy Spirit to guide and sanctify us on this journey.