Religious Education with Mrs Skelly
The SACRAMENT of CONFIRMATION
(Sunday 22 September, 9pm)
At this Sunday’s Mass, Years 6 and 7 students in our Parish will receive the Sacrament of CONFIRMATION. They will be confirmed in their faith by Archbishop Christopher Prowse.
In Catholic theology, the Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation (the other two being Baptism and the Eucharist, or Holy Communion). Confirmation completes (or confirms) the grace given in Baptism. On that first Pentecost the Apostles received the fulfilment of Jesus’s promise to be with them always and to strengthen them for the task of spreading His message of love, peace, hope and the promise of the Kingdom of heaven…
26 “I will send you the Helper[a] from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth[b] who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. 27 And you will tell people about me too.
On Sunday our young people will receive this special outpouring of the Holy Spirit (who has always been present in their lives), making them more like Christ and strengthening them to continue God’s work.
We pray that they will deepen their personal encounter with Christ through prayer, the Eucharist, a life committed to the moral values of the Gospel, Reconciliation, and a life of service, especially to the poor and needy.
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (Jn 20:21)
“Send your Holy Spirit upon them
to be their Helper and Guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom
and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment
and courage,
the spirit of knowledge
and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit
of wonder
and awe in your presence.
Amen.”
We remember too, that the Holy Spirit is there for all. God sent His only Son Jesus, who died so that the sins of humanity could be forgiven. Jesus rose to new life and with the help of His Spirit, all people may experience God’s Kingdom of heaven. The gifts of the spirit can help all to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to bring about the Kingdom.