Reported by Evelyn Jock
The English
Sunday School organised a Confirmation Candidate and Sponsor half-day Recollection
for the first time, on 6 May 2017 with the theme “Walking Together”. The
programme started with a morning mass at 8:30 am in the St. Mary’s Cathedral
chapel, which was celebrated by Bishop Julius.
There was a good turnout of Confirmation Candidates with their
respective parents and sponsors, facilitators and English Sunday School
catechists.
The His Reverend Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, in
reference to John’s Gospel (6:60-69) quoted as saying after the mass, “Lord,
who shall we go to? You have the words of eternal life” expresses his
hope in the Confirmation Candidates, parents and a sponsors’ commitment to the
Catholic faith despite all the trials and challenges we face in the secular
world today.
After the mass, Bishop Julius gave a briefing to all
those present at the Chapel that morning.
He expressed his joy and mentioned that the participants were privileged
to be participating in the Confirmation Candidate and Sponsor half day
recollection which was conducted for the very first time. He stressed that the St Mary’s Cathedral
takes the role of a sponsor seriously and that the participants are fully committed
as they journey in their faith even after being Confirmed which is scheduled in
November 2017.
After breakfast at the parish
canteen, FSIC Sr. Lillian Unsoh delivered an interesting talk on the history and meaning
of Confirmation; how it strengthens one’s faith to become a disciple of Jesus
and entrusted to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the world. She likened the
Holy Spirit, which is in every one of us, to sugar in coffee that needs to be
stirred so that the coffee is sweet. On being a confirmed member of the church,
we too need to stir up (rekindle) the gifts of the Holy Spirit. She also highlighted on the family as a
domestic church and the role of parents as the primary catechists of their
children and also went on to stress on who can be a sponsor and the role
expected of a person who has agreed to be a Sponsor to a Confirmation
Candidate. The journey of mentoring and
faith exploration that a Sponsor and candidate undertake do not end at the
Sacrament of Confirmation mass, but the journey will be ‘forever’. The half-day
recollection ended at about 1pm with a fellowship lunch.
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