Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 279.  Thu  4-09-92  8:34  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Dan Pacheco
 Subject: Your messages, 3-22, 3-24-92

+-
| Father, this isn't a question, but a response to some advice you gave me.
| I'm a student in Colorado and you recommended daily Mass, the rosary, and
| reading scripture to keep my Catholic faith strong (I had been influenced
| by some Fundamentalist protestants.)  Well, the advice has worked pretty
| well!  In October, out of the blue, a student rosary prayer group formed
| at my parish.  This has been a source of strength and community for
| everyone involved.  Thank you for your advice!
|        Sincerely,
|                Dan Pacheco
|
| Dear Fr. Mateo,
|        My sister is being confirmed today and I'm her sponsor.  I just found
| out that the local bishop, or any bishop for that matter, will not be
| present for the sacrament.  Instead a Monsignor will give them the
| sacrament.  As her sponsor, I feel responsible for making sure she is
| really going to be confirmed.  My parents, brother, and I all had a bishop
| confirm us.  Is there something fishy going on?
|        She said the reason the bishop won't be coming down is because there
| are so few of them to be confirmed.  I think it's a pretty bogus deal.
| Is a bishop necessary for the sacrament of Confirmation?  Thanks!
|        Sincerely,
|                Dan
+-[DP=>FM]
 
Dear Dan,
 
Thanks for your two messages. Please remember me and my intentions in
your group rosaries.  I commend my intentions to all of you.
 
Canon 884, 1 of the new Code of Canon Law says: "The diocesan bishop
is to administer confirmation personally or see  that it is
administered by another bishop, but if necessity requires he may give
the facility to administer this sacrament to one or more  specified
priests.
 
Fishy, Dan? Bogus? "Judge not and you will not be judged!!"  Catholics
are a family, ALL of us.  It's not US versus THEM!  Bishops and
priests do not try to deprive people of the sacraments, I'm sure.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo