As you might suspect, catching spelling errors can be one of the big challenges that our magazine staff faces as we do the final editing of any issue. No matter how advanced our software is, sometimes spelling errors can get past it and even evade the several sets of human eyes that review each issue before we go to press. We try hard, but sometimes we make mistakes.

That being said, the following does not contain a typo: this issue of FAITH Magazine focuses on the sacrament of conformation. Yes, that’s right – this issue focuses on conformation. In the end, that is what the sacrament of confirmation is all about – our willingness to devote our lives to be ever more closely conformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to the image and likeness of Christ. “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit,” is the phrase spoken to each person as they are confirmed. It is that gift (which is actually a multitude of different gifts) that opens us to live out, each in a unique way, a path that leads us to become more Christ-like as we make our way through life.

Dree Daugherty, herself the adopted daughter of Duffy and Frances Daugherty, saw and realized the opportunity to put her God-given gifts to use as wife, mother and physician. With three sons already a part of their family, Dree and her husband Charlie were surprised by the arrival of their fourth son, Mark. They would soon welcome two more children – Kathryn Alinamarie and Jason Nicosur both from Romania – as the newest additions to their family. Each day, Dree and her growing family are more closely conformed to Christ in the love they share for one another.

Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Mike Smith allows his faith to inform his life and practice both within and beyond his courtroom. Judge Smith is always trying to look out for the best interests of children in the many difficult cases with which he deals. His willingness to be a witness to his faith in Christ influences all parts of his life – as husband, father, jurist and religious education teacher. In so doing, Smith is allowing himself to be conformed more closely to Christ.

Allowing ourselves to be conformed to Christ also means that we will be conformed to His suffering. Recent events within the Church involving the misconduct of a very small number of priests have brought a very real sort of suffering to us, and we suffer with the victims and families caught in awful trauma. Yet, as we are conformed to Christ’s suffering, so too are we conformed all the more to His resurrection. The work of the Church goes on each and every day – in seeking and offering forgiveness, freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, tending to the sick and dying, sheltering the homeless, teaching the young, worshiping a gracious, loving and forgiving God. Good Friday always yields to Easter. And so our journey in FAITH continues.