Greensboro parish hosts Bishop Martin for his first confirmation in diocese
GREENSBORO — Thirty-four young people and their sponsors waited in the Parish Life Center at Our Lady of Grace Church June 5, ready to be confirmed by the new Bishop of Charlotte.
Over the past week, Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., has been getting out to visit churches and meet the people of the diocese, receiving a warm welcome at each stop. During his visit to Our Lady of Grace, the new bishop shared encouraging words during his homily, drew smiles with a few jokes, and made an impact on those who met him.
The candidates and their sponsors knew this was to be Bishop Martin’s first confirmation Mass since he was ordained last week, and they were enthusiastic about the historic moment.
“We feel deeply honored that we're the first parish he's visiting for confirmation,” said Father Casey Coleman, pastor.
“It is an incredible blessing to have Bishop Martin here with us,” added confirmation sponsor and parishioner Tom Molony. “He just exudes peace and joy, and it’s really a gift to our parish.”
When Bishop Martin entered the room to meet the young people he would soon confirm, he smiled and quickly put everyone at ease. He assured them there was nothing to be nervous about and joked that he’d be more likely to make a mistake since it was his first confirmation as bishop.
“Relax, it’s going to be wonderful,” he told them. “Don’t be afraid of what the Holy Spirit can do in your lives. I say that as much to the sponsors as I do to the candidates.”
He prayed over the confirmation candidates, then asked in jest which one of them was the homilist for the evening. For a minute, the candidates looked at each other, then back at the bishop.
“Well, I’ll do it this time,” the bishop joked.
Much of Bishop Martin’s homily message for the confirmation candidates related to the Gospel reading about the Parable of the Talents.
He noted that each of them has already received a talent: the gift of faith through their families.
“It’s time for you to multiply the gift. It’s time for you to make something more of the gift,” he told them, challenging them to go out in the world and not bury their talents in their pockets by only talking about Jesus in church.
“It’s not for you to stay safely here in church,” he said.
“What you’re being confirmed to do is to go out into the world and let other people – imagine this – let other people follow you. They’re going to know who Jesus is because of you. That’s what this sacrament is about. You're saying Lord, ‘Send me your spirit so that I might be your witness in the world. I won’t bury this gift I'm being given tonight of the Holy Spirit. I won’t be afraid of you. I will go out and let other people follow me.’”
Bishop Martin recalled when he received the news that he was to become Bishop of Charlotte: “They called me, and I thought, ‘Is this the right number? Have you got the right guy? Do I think I’m ready to be a bishop? All right, Lord, if that's what you want, that's OK.’”
“You may think you’re not ready to go out into the world and share the faith, but you are,” he continued. “I didn't think I was ready either, but here I am, and I'm willing to say you can follow me (to Jesus). You need to be willing to say that to your friends.”
Nathanael Foppe, a recent graduate of Our Lady of Grace School, was among those confirmed by Bishop Martin.
“One thing I noticed during the homily is Bishop Martin’s joking disposition,” Foppe said. “There's a joy you can see in him. Joy happens to be one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and you can tell the Holy Spirit lives in him. How? He shows it through his joy.”
— Annie Ferguson. Photos by Troy Hull
