Youth called to be vibrant and creative in spirituality

Sep 16, 2016

By Aaron Lim
“When the Holy Spirit comes, there is no turning back as the Spirit will seal you and empower you with zeal.”

This was the message from the Bishop of Penang, Rt Rev Sebastian Francis to the nine confirmands of City Parish.

The Confirmation Mass on Sept 4 was celebrated by Bishop Sebastian at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Concelebrating with him was assistant parish priest Fr Joachim Robert.

The Bishop remarked, in his homily, that he was impressed to see many changes in City Parish, as young people came forward to serve God in their own ways.

While stating that people of diverse backgrounds come together to worship God in the city of George Town, Bishop Sebastian stressed that the City Parish “must always strive to be open, welcoming and inclusive to all.”

He also exclaimed joyously that Mother Teresa is a powerful instrument of God’s Mercy in this Year of Mercy, as the day coincided with her canonization as a saint.

“I hope that from mercy, we will move forward. The Church must be a humble sign of hope to the world, as well as making the mercy of God visible and tangible,” Bishop Sebastian said, while expressing his post-Jubilee Year hopes.

The Bishop also quoted the words he said while commissioning the Prison Ministry in Taiping: “When you go to the prisons, remind the prisoners that they are not alone and not forgotten, we carry them in our hearts. The Church speaks of inclusiveness.”

He also touched briefly on the recently concluded Penang Diocesan Synod, as he highlighted the vision of the Church for the next 10 years and beyond.

“We need Christ-centred disciples, who will walk together from our vision to our mission while being guided by the principles of faith in prayer, fidelity in action and purity of intention,” he said.

Bishop Sebastian also urged all parishioners to support the restoration project of the Church of the Assumption, which is a part of City Parish.

He added that the church, which is the second oldest in Malaysia, will be brought back to its former glory while contributing to the heritage value of George Town.

Reflecting on 1 Timothy 4:12, the Bishop also asked for the confirmands to be faithful disciples of Christ as they journey from teenage life to young adulthood.

“The young people of today should encourage one another to use their youthful spirit to be vibrant and creative in their expression of prayer and spiritually, in living their daily lives,” Bishop Sebastian said.

After the Mass, Bishop Sebastian presented the Confirmation certificates to each confirmand. Fr Joachim thanked all parents and catechists who had journeyed with them.