Confirmation at the Basilica of Saint Mary ... from the audience and "behind the iron grill"
Editor's Note: On Tuesday, April 24th, 41 SJA youth were confirmed at the Basilica of St. Mary's by Bishop Fred Campbell. We have 2 angles to this story: A Sponsor's Viewpoint            The Choir Behind the Iron Grill

A Sponsor's Viewpoint

Last fall a group of mature teenagers from our Joan of Arc community were invited to look at becoming “adult” Christians. After several months of examining their beliefs, forty-one stepped forward to receive the sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Campbell on the evening of April 24th at the Basilica of St. Mary.

They gathered at St. Mary’s with their families and sponsors. The bells rang out as the celebrants processed into the basilica. Bishop Campbell anointed their foreheads with oil as each candidate’s sponsor rested a hand on their shoulder. The cavernous space and solemn words were infused with life by the voices of the St. Joan of Arc choir. Our pastor, Father George,lent the support of his presence as well.

Candidates participated in a much longer process of reaching their decision to embrace this public commitment to living lives inspired by Jesus’ life and message. They met with Lisa Chirpich initially, chose sponsors, had a number of sessions with sponsors, and went on several retreats as part of their preparation. Lisa was the organizer and facilitator of this program.

Their decision to publicly embrace this “adult” sacrament meant they recognized that their faith was now a more personal choice, a step beyond the faith they experienced in their family. One of the sessions involved examining Christian values with sponsors and family members, and then together creating skits to dramatize one of the values. They were creative and enthusiastic in their quickly invented productions.

Jim Patrykus is a parishioner and a sponsor of a 2001 confirmand.

The candidates were introduced at the morning liturgies on April 29th, and immediately demonstrated “serving others” as they hosted, provided music, and offered the readings and homily. We are proud of them!

Congratulations to:

Margie Andreason, Molly Andreason, Catherine Brandl, Michael Collins, Crystal Creighton, Franz DaHinten, Peter Deutz, Brian Dooley, Courtney Duffy, Devin Duffy, John Each, Joseph Fischer, Carly Gau, Nicholas Geyette, William Graczyk, Neil Grosscup, Laura Hance, Benjamin Hondl, Karin Imdieke, Sarah Jackson, Ashlee Jurewica, Anna Karl, Katherine Karr, David Knaeble, Brandon Koller, Michelle Kuriger, Megan Larson, Toby Lutenegger, Katrina Milton, Chris Mommsen, Ellisa Morson, Megan Morson, Elissa Moses, Garret Peer, Grace Riley, Joseph Spoelstra, Dena Sundberg, Maggie Vagle, Jennifer Watson and Lindsay Wills.

We were asked to arrive around 6:00 pm on Tuesday evening to meet fellow black garbed St. Joan choir members who were invited to participate in this exciting Confirmation liturgy held at the Basilica of Mary in downtown Minneapolis. A few of us were early and opted to examine the cavernous feel of this immense place. We were in unfamiliar territory and wondered where “our” place would be. We did not realize that we would be placed behind a black iron grill separating us from the altar. All 50 plus members would be comfortably perched on built in wooden risers with benches and kneelers. It was a bit disconcerting that we would not be able to actually witness any of the ceremony but being ‘backstage” had its advantages. There was much to gaze at; the beautiful stained glass window on one side, the organ pipes behind us with angelic statues guarding us from above and the exquisite dome soaring above the marble and gold altar.

Our very whispers were heard and it made us wonder how we would sound with so much resonance surrounding us. As we stood in a semi circle above our director, Anna Vagle, she warmed us up with our usual odd sounding but effective exercises and we felt ready for this performance.

The grand piano Dan Chouinard would be using to accompany us was situated on the other side of that separating iron grill. From Dan’s viewpoint, Anna reminded him, he said, of a nun in flowing black garb giving him directions through the iron grills of some cloistered monastery. The only thing missing was the rattling of the rosary beads.

Since the choir loft is placed directly in front of the organ pipes nothing could have prepared us for the volume and feeling of weightlessness when the organ began its opening strains with full stops. As we sang along with the opening strains of the familiar “Joyful, Joyful” but with new words telling us 'God Is Here' we heard the message loud and clear.

The formal ritual had begun and for most of us it was a reminder of days past and many different emotions were emerging as was apparent in the faces of those around me. The homily by Bishop Frederick Campbell included an important edict to the Confirmands – that they now have the right to preach the word of the Lord. There are many ways to do that and one is by singing hymns of praise and love. That connection remained strong in me throughout the liturgy.

Besides helping to lead the congregation in song, we also had our own music to add. We began quietly with some “anthems”. A medley that included: “God To Enfold You” a prayerful request to recognize the gifts of the Trinity, a song sung partly in Latin, “Confitemini Domino” - Come and fill our hearts with your peace - and “Take O Take Me As I Am” which asks God to live in us. During the Confirming rites we sang the familiar “The Blue Green Hills of Earth” opening with Nancy Stockhaus’ shimmering voice singing the first verse solo.

The highlight of the choir’s repertoire is “Total Praise”, a gospel song that compels us to give our 'all'. When sung amid the Basilica’s resonance it is truly the correct venue for a song which leaves us shaken with weak knees and sometimes tears every time we end with those amazing 'Amens' that build and crescendo until the final high note suddenly ends. We hear that amazing echo resounding – then, holding our collective breaths - utter silence! A true prayer of praise telling us that God is the source of strength and life and peace.

Other favorite songs followed, such as “Somlandela” a simple African hymn meaning “I will follow Jesus wherever he goes” and a stirring Leon Roberts’ song for communion called “We Remember You” – We eat this bread and drink this wine as you told us to do, bread of heaven - come now and feed our weary souls. In between choruses, we heard Bob Hanson’s soaring tenor voice sing the verses which request God to make us whole, break through our darkness, restore our sight and unite us. This seemed a fitting end to our portion of the liturgy. All the music was thoughtfully chosen to honor our young people on this special occasion. It was also an end to the choir’s music season and it was difficult to leave.

Joann Potts is a retired music and English teacher and 30 year member of St. Joans. She enjoys working with Anna Vagle each week. She is "in charge" of doing those slides you see at church each Sunday and for preparing the music sheets for the musicians. JoAnn and her husband Jim will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001 and are proud of their family of five children and eight grandchildren. Her hobbies include singing, playing her digital piano, writing her memoirs, reading, writing poetry, entertaining friends, visiting the North Shore and ballroom dancing with Jim.

The whole Basilica experience was good for us individually and as a group. Many said to me that they loved doing this but they would be glad to get back to St. Joan’s where they felt a closeness to that community both physically and spiritually when we sing there.

Peg LaSota is interested in the biographies of parishioners... any suggestions?? She also loves studying piano, recorder, Spanish, and of course...singing in the choir!

No wonder the words from an old adage remained so well known. It is true that “There is no place like home.” – and we don’t even have to click our heels together to get there!