By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

As an eighth-grader preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, Lahaina Lorenzo learned about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom, Piety, Understanding, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord, Counsel and Fortitude.

What she did not know, but came to firmly believe, was the way in which the Holy Spirit would inspire her and her family with the Gifts on her April 23 Confirmation Day.

Less than two hours before the start of the 6 p.m. Confirmation ceremony in Corpus Christi Church, Willingboro, Lahaina, a student in the parish religious education program, and her family faced a dire emergency when a fire broke out in their nearby apartment building.

Lahaina’s mother, Suvel Aguelo, recalled how the family, which includes her husband, Christer Lorenzo, and sons, fifth-grader Caleb and second-grader Jared, were getting ready for the Confirmation when they began to smell smoke and hear the commotion of neighbors yelling and banging on doors for residents to evacuate the building. The family safely escaped, and as they watched firefighters battle the fast-moving, three-alarm blaze that destroyed 24 units and displaced some 50 residents, the thoughts and emotions that ran through their minds weren’t so much on where they would go or how would they live or mourning the possessions they were sure to have lost. The priority was doing everything possible to get to Corpus Christi Church in time for Lahaina to participate in the ceremony, which this year was celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Get there they did, despite encountering other challenges like having to walk more than a half mile from the apartment to the parish because their car had been blocked by the emergency vehicles.

“I was scared about the fire,” said Lahaina, “but I remembered about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and I felt better. I felt that all of the Gifts had come to me and gave me courage.”

Once the family arrived, they were heartened by the outpouring of support they received from parishioners and the staffs of the parish and Pope John Paul II Regional School. After alerting the Bishop about the fire and explaining how upset and afraid Lahaina was that she would not be confirmed without a gown which was in the apartment, Father John Testa, Corpus Christi pastor, said the Bishop asked to meet with Lahaina and her family.

“When he did, his calming effect and presence was felt by all who were gathered in the hallway before the ceremony,” Father Testa said of the catechists and fellow confirmandi. “The Bishop’s pastoral demeanor and genuine love and concern showed all present why he is the shepherd of the flock. What also struck me is this family’s resolve to make it to the Confirmation ceremony after watching their home go up in flames. This is a true testament to their faith and that God will provide even in the worst of times.”

While her family continues to regroup after the fire, Lahaina smiled when she thought about how Bishop O’Connell “told me that everything was going to be OK.”

“And it’s true,” she said, noting that she chose Ambrose as her Confirmation name because St. Ambrose is someone she would aspire to because he was highly educated, knew different languages and helped the poor.

“My family received so many blessings that we didn’t expect,” she said. Her mother then added that the family is looking forward to another sacramentally grace-filled day when Jared will receive his First Holy Communion on May 6.