Jill Taylor Spero
PoP School 2015 Confirmation Class with Bishop Emeritus David Foley on Ash Wednesday
Prince of Peace Catholic School hosted Bishop Emeritus David Foley at its Hoover campus on Ash Wednesday to offer Mass, give ashes and speak to the eighth-grade class about their upcoming confirmation. The school students will be confirmed by Bishop Robert J. Baker and Bishop Emeritus David Foley on April 16 at Prince of Peace.
Bishop Foley said Lent is a time of positive change, not just 40 days of sacrifice. He urged everyone to increase their almsgiving — be friendly, helpful and reach out to others — as well as increase their prayer life with at least a simple morning and evening prayer. His Ash Wednesday visit to Prince of Peace’s school Mass has become a much-anticipated tradition to the students for the past seven years.
Later, in the Day Chapel adjacent to the main sanctuary, the eighth-graders spent an hour with Bishop Foley discussing the meaning of confirmation, the historical significance of his bishop’s clothing and unique bishop’s ring, and eternal life. Everyone had a chance to handle and examine his ring and learned that by putting the symbols together, the wearer’s name and diocese could be identified. The ring is actually two rings: Bishop Foley had his mother’s wedding ring incorporated into the design to honor her. He told the students, “Because of her, I am here.”
