Related by Marriage: Confirmation

Suburban Chicago, May 1968. Mr. Irene is ready to depart for his Confirmation ceremony. Although Mr. Irene and I grew up in the same suburb, he and I attended different parochial schools. My classmates and I wore our uniforms at our Confirmation. (The woman sitting on the porch is Danutė, the wife of Uncle D.)

We stood with our sponsors.

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1968. The last children to reach the altar in the Confirmation procession aren't wearing uniforms because they attended public school. Our church confirmed them after they'd completed CCD classes.

Confirmation Procession

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1968. We arrive for our Confirmation. Confirmation was a disappointment. At our First Holy Communion, we wore special dresses and veils; Mom even did my hair. At Confirmation, we wore school uniforms and dinky chapel veils.

The Bishop Arrives

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1968. The bishop will oversee our Confirmation.