The Legacy of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg Confirmation Rallies

March 4, 2025

Written by Marycia Kruk, Associate Director of Catechetics and Faith Development

Back in 2019, Judith Vasquez (Director of Catechetics) and John Acosta (then director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries) devised an Archdiocesan level Confirmation Rallies to help ignite a fire in the souls of young Catholics preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Archbishop Richard Gagnon supported the Confirmation Rallies and served as the keynote speaker to all of them. Since then, there have been 10 Confirmation Rallies, and he has attended each one. A generation of young people could learn more about, spend time with, and talk to the Archbishop, who would later confirm them. It would not be a stranger who confirmed them but someone they knew.

For the second consecutive year, the Archdiocese held 3 Confirmation Rallies. Two were held at new rally locations (Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg and St. Hedwig’s in Brandon). Once again, St. Paul’s High School graciously offered to host. The highlights included the wonder on the faces of the young people as they saw how many other young Catholics there were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the inspiring words they shared during group discussions, the reverence with which they participated in the Holy Mass, and the quiet in the group as they captively listened to speakers. The candidates were asked to invite the Holy Spirit into their lives and to listen to who God was calling them to be.

The Archdiocese of Winnipeg Confirmation Rallies are made possible due to the generous support of the Sharing God’s Gifts campaign. Just as the world has seen the fruits of the World Youth Day gatherings, so too have we seen the fruits of the Confirmation Rallies in our Archdiocese. The original attendees of the 2019 rallies still talk about them, and some are even now discerning their future vocations. A young person, upon seeing His Grace, mentioned that he had confirmed her. He asked if she still prayed to the Holy Spirit, to which she replied, “Yes!” May this year’s Confirmands continue in this legacy. Thank you, Archbishop Gagnon, for your continued support of the Confirmation Rallies and the souls of young Catholics across our Archdiocese!