Editor: Bishop Garcia, many dioceses around the country have reported higher numbers of people coming into the church this spring. Are we seeing that here in the Diocese of Austin?

Bishop Garcia: Yes, according to what I have seen from our parishes, the number of those coming into the faith has risen over the last couple of years. I was impressed with the number we welcomed this year during the Easter Vigil at St. Mary Cathedral. Also in April, I celebrated adult confirmations, where we welcomed hundreds into full communion with the church.

As I travel to our parishes, I ask the pastors about their experience at Easter, and most have told me that their sanctuaries were filled to overflowing. I hope our faith continues to be a welcoming place for those who are searching for meaning and who are hungry for God.

Editor: You have also been all over the diocese celebrating confirmations. Are our young people excited about the faith?

Bishop Garcia: Yes, I believe they are! I think our teens are also seeking a sense of meaning and value in life. They don't just want to do what they are told; they want to understand their faith. During confirmations, I often ask, “I know why I want you to be confirmed, I know why your mother and dad want you to be confirmed, but why do you want to be confirmed?” Their answers vary, but for the most part they do want to take ownership of their faith, and they do want to be committed to their faith.

I do my best to encourage them to be the presence of Christ in this world. Many say that our teens are the future of the church, but I say that they are here today! The church needs their energy and their excitement for the faith.

Editor: As people come into the church and are confirmed as disciples of Christ, what is your advice to them?

Bishop Garcia: My hope is people take the values Jesus teaches us in Scripture and replicate them in their day-to-day lives. Regardless of if you are in college, the military or in the workforce, God is calling you to be Christ’s presence in the world today. How do we do this? We do this by loving God and loving those around us.

Editor: What is your advice to us as we encounter people who want to learn more about the faith?

Bishop Garcia: I think it’s important to encourage those who are seeking God to do so with an open heart. Pray with them and pray for them. Help them make a connection with a particular parish community or campus ministry center. They probably have many questions, so help them find the answers.

Those who are seeking more information about the church are responding to something deeper. God has placed in their hearts a longing to know him more deeply. We are called to help them hear God’s voice and to help them open their hearts to his will.

For those who are seeking more, I encourage them to be gentle with themselves. We have great role models in our saints. I think sometimes people want to aspire to be the next Mother Teresa, St. Francis or St. Vincent de Paul, but we are called to be who God wants us to be. Above all, we are called to lead a good and holy life. That doesn’t mean perfection, it means a willingness to be open to how God wants to form us.

Editor: What is your prayer for those who are taking the next steps in their faith?

Bishop Garcia: I pray all hearts will be open to the love of God. May the sacraments inspire all to be more like Christ, and may the Holy Spirit inspire them to seek justice and peace. I pray that more people will heed the call to be disciples of Christ. And may we, as faithful Catholics, welcome them and walk with them on their journey of faith. Amen.