On September 13, 1990, my sister Laura gave birth to her first child, my nephew Joey. I can remember like it was yesterday going to the hospital and seeing him lying in the crib next to her bed. When I saw him for the first time, I remember getting a sense of amazement that my big sister was now a mother of her own - and that I was now somebody's uncle.

As he grew up, I have developed some pretty fond memories of him. I remember being at my sister's family's house upstate and playing him a song called Five Years Old by Bruce Jacques about a little boy growing up - and having him tell me that it was one of the most beautiful songs he has ever heard - a clear indication that he, like his uncle, has a sensitive side. I recall him coming on my television show Ring Fever and having him make an on-air joke that sent all of us to the floor with laughter. And I remember him coming to visit me at the hospital when I was in for heart surgery - and seeing him get very emotionally upset when he saw me strapped to all those heart monitors. But of all the memories that I have of my nephew over the last thirteen years - yesterday's will always be my favorite - because yesterday - I was Joey's sponsor as he received his Confirmation.

While I was raised with an Italian upbringing - it was not necessarily a religious one. In other words, Easter focused on the Easter Bunny more than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. My sister on the other hand, has raised her children with a strict Catholic upbringing. Both Joey and his sister Jaimie go to Sunday School, Joey is an Altar Boy at Sunday Church - and they are very active participants in their Parish Community. At thirteen and nine - Jaimie and Joey are amazing kids - and I attribute that to my sister and her husband's Joe's choice of raising them in the Church.

When Joey called me and told me that he wanted me to be his sponsor for his Confirmation - I was very touched and honored. A Confirmation is the culmination of the journey of Faith taken by Christian students. It is the end of their childhood - and the beginning of their lives as adult Christians - and it is one of the most important days in a child's life.

When I asked him why he chose me, he told me that as soon as he was told he had to pick a sponsor - no other person came to mind but me. When I heard that, I was almost moved to tears. I love Joey a lot and enjoy spending time with him - even though the time we do spend together is not nearly enough, which is entirely my fault due to my insanely busy life. But despite the fact that our time together is limited - he chose me as his sponsor anyway - and I will always be grateful for that.

When the ceremony began at St. Edmund's Church, which was conducted by newly appointed Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, I was immediately moved by the beauty of it. As the entire Parish Community sung the songs of the Lord in unison while the Church choir and organ played them, the Bishop entered and delivered his sermon. As he talked to the Parish, he discussed the power of Faith and the importance of finding happiness in life through Christ - and staying away from the "empty promises" of Satan, which include the addictions of the world such as alcohol and drugs. He also discussed the importance of family and how we are all bearing witness to our family member's Confirmation, which is the day the Confirmandi, or newly confirmed, accept the Holy Spirit into their lives - the same way people were witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As I heard the Bishop speak those words, I turned to Joey and was now even more honored that I was not only the witness to his Confirmation, but that I was the one he chose to walk him up to the Bishop and present him for the anointing of the oil that symbolizes his Confirmation. As we sat down after the Bishop placed the oil on Joey's head, he looked at me with a very sincere look and thanked me for being his sponsor - and it was at that moment that I not only felt the power of the Holy Spirit - but the power of family.

After the ceremony, we all went to dinner to celebrate Joey's big day. As we all sat around enjoying Italian cuisine and fine wine, I actually felt the bond between Joey and I grow even stronger. He is an amazing young man that has a lot of good qualities that are missing in many of today's youngsters. And I get the feeling that thanks to his Christian upbringing, his parents guidance - and the unconditional love of our family - he will be a very happy and successful adult.

Both he and everyone else in my family frequently tell me that Joey looks up to me. Yesterday - it was I who looked up to him.

Congratulations Joey - and God Bless You.