Newly confirmed urged to share their experiences

Oct 26, 2019

By Nikeisha Marien Prakash
Thirty-seven youths from Butterworth Parish were confirmed by Bishop Sebastian Francis, together with concelebrants Fr Dominic Santhiyagu and Fr Louis Loi at the Church of Sts Chastan and Imbert Oct 6. The journey of these young disciples began with a three-day Confirmation Camp by Martin Jalleh at the Church of St Anne Sept 27-29.

In his homily, Bishop Sebastian focused on Pope Francis’ address to the young adults, Christus Vivit (Christ is alive!) Bishop Sebastian explained that there are three fundamental truths in that message –that God loves us unconditionally; salvation comes from Jesus Christ and only what is embraced can be transformed and changed; and finally, Christ is alive and so there is hope. The message is an invitation to the young to share the love experienced by accompanying one another in this journey to witness to the world.

He said to the confirmands, “When you receive the Holy Spirit, it is not the spirit of timidity but the spirit of power and love to embrace the Word and to have self- control” which are essential in facing the world. These words reminded the confirmands of their sessions during the confirmation camp on self-love, how to grow and face challenges in their daily lives. It brought to mind their healing session which required them to forgive and accept their past.

Most of the confirmands expressed that they were excited to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. They felt blessed to have journeyed together all the way from kindergarten up till that moment. The church was filled with family and friends who had come to support the confirmands on the day they were officially recognised as adults in the Catholic Church, before heading out into the world.

Before the Mass ended, the confirmands presented a song Broken Vessels to the congregation. Dylan, as a representative of the confirmands, gave a short but touching speech that directed their appreciation to the catechists, parents, Frs Dom and Loi as well as the Bishop for celebrating the Mass.