by Greg Mies
Recently, I had the privilege of attending a beautiful confirmation ceremony in our archdiocese, where more than 100 young people received the sacrament and were renewed in the Holy Spirit. It was a powerful experience — one that stirred something in my own heart and memory.
One moment that particularly moved me was a conversation I had with a 14-year-old confirmand. His words opened my eyes to the gift I myself received at my own confirmation. As he shared what he was experiencing in those moments leading up to the sacrament, he described feeling a warmth on his skin — a physical manifestation, he said, of the Holy Spirit’s presence and anticipation. It wasn’t just nervous energy; it was something deeper, something holy.
His simple, sincere reflection reminded me that the Holy Spirit is alive and active — not just in the pages of Scripture, but in the lives of our young people today. The Spirit is not a distant idea or a past event, but a living, breathing presence that stirs in our hearts, calls us to mission and reminds us that we are never alone.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann spoke directly to this. He reminded us that confirmation is not just a personal milestone or a rite of passage — it’s a commissioning. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are made missionaries. We are called not to keep our faith private or tucked away for special occasions, but to carry it with us and to share it wherever we go.
As we enter the summer months — a season often associated with rest, travel and a break from routine — it’s easy to also drift into a kind of “spiritual vacation.” Church attendance becomes more sporadic. Prayer gets put on hold. We convince ourselves we’ll “get back into it” in the fall.
But the Holy Spirit does not take the summer off. And neither should we.
This summer, I invite you to truly rest your body — but not your spirituality. Make time for prayer even while on vacation. Attend Mass wherever you are. Bring God into your road trips, your family cookouts, your quiet evenings.
The warmth that that 14-year-old felt — that holy presence — is available to all of us, every day. We just need to stay open.
So as you pack your bags and plan your breaks, don’t forget to pack your faith. Because the world needs missionaries — not just in classrooms and parishes, but on beaches, in campgrounds, around fire pits and across dinner tables.
May your summer be restful. May it be joyful. And may it be deeply rooted in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
