UIW’s Newly Confirmed Students

Most of us are used to individuals and families entering the Church and receiving their Sacraments in the parish. It was my junior year in college when I learned this occurs at Catholic colleges as well when my best friend expressed a desire to be Baptized into the Church. For a whole year, as her sponsor, we met with other students with the same desire, and I witnessed her reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil that year. As a Campus Minister, I have had the honor of journeying with almost 100 students and staff as they prepared to receive their Sacraments. This year, I had the honor of journeying with five students and two staff members seeking to be Confirmed. Undergraduate students Emily Ramirez, William Le, Jose Murillo, and Josanne Guerra with staff members Michelle Edwards and Kimberly Balderas met weekly on Sundays reflecting upon and discussing scripture, teachings of the Church and their relationship with God, and attending the 11 a.m. Mass. Alexander Muñiz, a student at the UIW School of Medicine, met with Director of Mission Integration, David Bayardo for his formation. On March 3, 2024 these participants received their Sacrament of Confirmation at the Archdiocese of San Antonio Intercollegiate Confirmation Mass, celebrated with Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. Three other students joined us this year as well, deciding to extend their sacrament preparation for another year. As we end the academic year, I invite you to pray for those who have sought spiritual guidance, faith formation, sacramental preparation, and vocational discernment this year; as well as those who will be seeking in the coming year.

Prayer to Know One’s Vocation (Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus)

Lord, my God and my loving Father, You have made me to know You, to love You, to serve You, and thereby to find and fulfill myself. I know that You are in all things, and that every path can lead me to You but of them all, there is one especially by which You want me to come to You. Since I will do what You want of me, I pray You, send Your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind, to show me what You want of me; into my heart, to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love, with all my mind, and with all my strength right to the end. Amen.