Eesti Elu spoke to Leena Gates-Kass, a long-term member of the Toronto-Estonian community, to learn about her experience pursuing leer (confirmation). While most participants attend at age sixteen or seventeen, Leena took a different path, choosing to attend nearly a decade later. In our conversation, she shared what motivated her to go, her thoughts on young people and religion, and her advice for anyone curious about the process.
Can you talk about your connection to the Estonian community?
My dad, Ando Kass, is Estonian. I spent a lot of my earlier years in the Estonian community. I would go to Eesti Kool (Estonian School), Jõekääru summer camp, and I was in Gaidid (Girl Guides) too, but my Estonian language abilities were never great, so as I got older, I strayed away from it a little bit. Recently, I've really enjoyed coming to Peetri Kirik, where my dad is a pastor. I say he’s a “supply pastor” like a “supply teacher” because he's there sometimes. I really enjoy coming with him when he preaches.
“… when I got into my twenties, I became a little bit more open to it. It's really empowering and meaningful for me to attend leer by choice.”
(Leena Gates-Kass)
Would you describe yourself as religious?
I would consider myself religious. I'm twenty-seven, so I'm not at the typical age that you would get confirmed, but I had to go through my own journey with faith to make the decision to get confirmed. Everyone's experience is different, but had I gotten confirmed at the age of sixteen or seventeen, I think it would've been due to family obligations and not something I decided to do for myself. At the time I would've gotten confirmed, I was a little disinterested, I guess…That time in my life, I was going through my own things, and when I got into my twenties, I became a little bit more open to it. It's really empowering and meaningful for me to attend leer by choice. A big decision for me to join leer was being able to do it with my dad.
How does religion play a role in your life?
For me, my faith is an anchor. When I'm stressed out, upset, or overwhelmed, I always feel like there's a warmth inside me, which I can go back to, to be one with it. It motivates me to do good and be good.
What has the process of going to leer been like for you?
During the confirmation classes, it's always been with Karl [Paju] and occasionally my dad. Their methods are very Socratic. They encourage a lot of open discussions, and both of them are very open and understand that everyone's journey with faith is different. I felt very supported. My dad and Karl are meeting me and [another leer participant] where we're at. It's also nice to listen to the history of Lutheranism—learning more about the core tenets, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion). It was nice to learn about it.
“I also feel like a lot of people are craving some form of spirituality. Thinking about our culture, everything is always on-the-go. With technology, you're receiving everything so instantaneously, and people are searching for meaning.”
(Leena Gates-Kass)
How do you think young people today view religion differently than previous generations?
I think it entirely depends… I know some of my non-religious friends carry religious guilt, and that's one thing that might make them more reluctant to do things like joining a church or study the Bible.
I also feel like a lot of people are craving some form of spirituality. Thinking about our culture, everything is always on-the-go. With technology, you're receiving everything so instantaneously, and people are searching for meaning. When we're constantly being fed all this new information, and time is moving by so quickly, it's comforting to go back to a text that's been trusted for thousands of years. But faith is different for everyone.
What would you say to others who might be curious about going to leer?
I would start by attending a sermon. Show up on Sunday and see if you like it. I don't know if I would jump right into leer before attending a few sessions at church, just so that they can fully decide if that's something they want to be a part of.
What has it been like going to leer at St. Peter's?
St. Peter's has a lot of history. It's a beautiful church, and it's also the place where a few of our community members are resting. It's where many of our elders have been confirmed or baptized, maybe some of our parents were baptized or married there. It has a lot of history and is a very special place. Thinking about my own history with the church, my parents were married there, my brother was confirmed, my father was confirmed, my uncle was confirmed, and my aunt, who passed away as a teenager who I never got to meet, was confirmed there. Going downstairs and seeing their photos on the walls is always very special.
What would you say to other young people considering going to leer?
It's your journey; faith is different for everyone. Follow your own path.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
This article was written by Natalie Jenkins as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.
