BAY RIDGE — Sherma Charles was baptized and received her First Communion in Grenada, where she was born. She immigrated to Brooklyn 30 years ago and became very involved in parish life at Holy Cross Church, Flatbush. Yet, somehow, the sacrament of confirmation eluded her.
So, at this year’s Easter Vigil service at Holy Cross, she will be confirmed along with dozens of her fellow parishioners.
On March 16, she and 410 other candidates for the first sacraments in Brooklyn and Queens gathered at Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge, to celebrate the Call for Continuing Conversion in front of almost 900 people.
Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn led the prayer service, during which he recognized the candidates’ willingness to enter into full communion with the Church, and they acknowledged that they were ready.
“Jesus will never leave us alone. He comes to be your friend and guide for the rest of your life. God is calling you to be closer to Him,” Bishop DiMarzio said, congratulating the candidates. “You want to make sure you are ready. Before Easter, you have to go to confession — that wonderful way we restore ourselves to God’s friendship.”
Each candidate had his or her own reason for updating their sacraments.
Samantha Sandstrom, who recently married Nicholas Curcio at St. Helen Church, Howard Beach, was baptized in Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Ridgewood and received first Communion at St. Pancras Church in Glendale.
“I wanted to bring everything up to date so that when we have kids, there won’t be any problems,” Sandstrom said.
Humberto Tatelpa, who was baptized in the Bronx, has attended Holy Cross since he was in second grade. He received first Communion there, but was never confirmed. Now a college student, he attended the service with his uncle, Jose Reyes.
“Of course, it’s a great honor to be asked to be his sponsor,” Reyes said.
Wendy Zempoalteca and her sister, Stephanie, both of whom work in the medical field, were baptized in the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sunset Park and received first Communion at Holy Innocents Church in Flatbush.
They will both be confirmed at Holy Cross. Wendy hopes that “the Lord will be closer spiritually.” Stephanie wants to be a lector someday.
Sandra Roper, one of three catechists at Holy Cross, said it has been a privilege “to walk with the candidates through different challenges as they prepared for the sacraments.”
The candidates, who just took their final steps of preparation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults at Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica Estates, will join the 693 catechumens from the diocese who will be baptized and receive their sacraments of initiation at Easter Vigil services in their own churches across the diocese.