Bishop confirms soldier before his deployment to Iraq

Published: 2005-01-03

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CNS) -- Just before being deployed to Iraq, 19-year-old Pfc. Nate Smith received the sacrament of confirmation from Harrisburg Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades in a small, private Mass in the chapel at the bishop's residence Dec. 27. Smith, a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lancaster, completed his Army training Dec. 17 at Fort Stewart in Georgia, and spent a Christmas holiday with his parents, Luis and Lil La Boy, before his early January deployment. "This confirmation means a lot to me," he said as he sat with his parents and Father Michael Grab, pastor of Sacred Heart, in the bishop's living room prior to the Mass. "I was surprised and grateful when I heard he was going to do this for me." Smith was born and raised in California, where Catholics are typically confirmed during their last year of high school, but he missed receiving the sacrament and enlisted in the Army. In August 2003, Luis La Boy, a native of central Pennsylvania, moved with his wife from California to Lancaster and joined Sacred Heart Parish. When their son was notified of his deployment, they called Father Grab to try to arrange confirmation.

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