The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-11-03
CONFIRMATION OF
LARGE CLASS AT
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Solemn Ceremonies Took
Place in This City Last
Saturday
FIVE HUNDED RECEIVE
THEIR CONFIRMATION
First Time Here in Several
Years-Largest Class in
History

A class of 500, one of the largest
in the history of the local Catholic
church. was confirmed Saturday, oc-
tober both.
Confessions Of the confirmation
children were heard at the church
Friday afternoon by Father ColIiard
and Father Hyland.
The first services Saturday began
al O'Clock with low mass of which
the Bishop was celebrant assisted by
REV. Father Cruel pastor of Lawtell
Many members Of the confirmation
class received holy communion dur
ing this mass! The communion was
given by Father Collar and Father
Cruel. Shortly after mass, the chill
dren were dismissed for breakfast.
About 9:1O,I the children gathered
in church again to get their confirma-
tion cards, each of these cards con-
tanned the ma mes of the one to be
confirmed and also the name he would
receive inI confirmation.
At $3.50, the bishop entered the
church from the front entrance, ac-
companied by Father Colliard, Father
Hyland, Father Cruel and the acolytes
Lee LaYergne Frederick Lavergne,
Austin Lavergne and Rene Lambert
the bishop first, made brief address.
He said he had come to Opelousas
not only for confirmation. but also, to
make his PASTORAL visit which he is
supposed to make every two years.
He said the purpose of this pastoral
visit was to look into the general
condition Of the church affairs, name
II, the condition Of the church build
ing, book registers ,vestments, etc. He
expressed qualification with his in
vestigations Of the parish affairs and
with Father Colliard's work here, and
added that he hoped he would soon
have the pleasure of being invited
here to say Pontifical Mass, to cele-
brate the completion Of the church.
The bishop said, however, he had
one little complaint to make, and that
was that the Catholic convent here
was not we'll enough attended. He
pointed out the necessity Of religious
education to the parents. He said
that reading. writing, and arithmetic
would not stand one in good stead In
the face Of temptation.
After his address appros OF the
church affairs the bishop turned to
the confirmation candidates. He told
them that the Sacrement of Confirma-
ton was to make them perfect, and
he was their captain who came to
enroll them as such. He told them
he was going to ask them a few ques-
tons from the catechism.
The bishop then began catechising.
He first questioned the girls, then
the boys. The questions we're some
of the simplest, from the catechism
and net at all difficult for the children
to answer
After the catechism questions, the
bishop then had the children renew
their baptismal vows. The whole
class stood and recited after the bis
hop the promise which is as follows:
Il renounce Satan, all his works and
all his pomps and give myself to
Jesus Christ forever"
The confirmation services proper
then began. The children were con-
firmed in groups Of twenty, ten boys
and ten girls. The white children
came first, directed to the altar rail
So to receive the holy Chrfsm by two
Of the Sisters Marianites Of the Holy
Cross. Then the colored children fol-
lowed directed by Sisters of the Holy
Family. There were forty sponsors,
ten white gentlemen and ladies', and
ten colored men and women. For the
white children the bishop was assist
ed by Father Colliard who called out
the names Of the children and Faith.
er Hyland who removed the Chrism
from their foreheads. For the color
ed people, Father Colliard called out
the names and Father Cruel removed
the Chrisnl.
After the children had received the
holy Chrism the bishop recited with
them the Apostles Greed, Lords Pray
er, and Anglical Salutation. Then he
gave them his blessing.
Before closing the services the bis
hop addressed the colored people in
French.
The ceremonies ended with Benedic-
ton of the Blessed Sacrament given
by, Father Hyland. Then the chill
dren marched out Of the church by
twos, and the great day, one Of the
most solemn days on the lives of five
hundred children. was over.