Confirmandi 2019 Faith Journey at Retreat

by Evelyn Jock-Lagan

A Confirmation retreat is a faith formation activity that is required for all Confirmandi prior to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Sunday School from the English group of the Fr. Mulders Catechetical Centre, with facilitators from Brunei led by Bishop Cornelius Sim, as well as volunteers from 2017 and 2018 ex-Confirmandi, put on an overwhelming retreat for the 2019 Confirmandi. The retreat impacted the participants with a positive and transformative experience which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Ice breaking

Talk on “Who is the Holy Spirit”

This year’s Confirmandi Retreat for the Confirmation class started from 5-8 September 2019. Day 1 of the retreat began on Sunday,1 September 2019, was lined with activities such as registration, icebreaking and house rules which was conducted by the Sunday School teachers.

Bishop Cornelius Sim celebrated mass at the St. Mary’s Chapel

Day 2 of the retreat was on 5 September 2019, Thursday, held at the Father Mulder’s Catechetical Centre. As it was a school week, the Confirmandi arrived after school hours at 6.30 pm. A talk for that evening was given by Bishop Cornelius Sim with the theme “Who is the Holy Spirit?”. This was followed by faith sharing, night prayer and dismissal. The students returned to their respective homes as the next day was a school day.

Students ferried to Fr Mulders Centre due to the rain

The following evening, 6 September 2019, Friday, started with the arrival of students for the overnight stay. This was followed with a mass at the Chapel of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sandakan at 6:30pm.

Group discussion and Faith Sharing

Talk on Repentance and Confession’

Celebration of Mass on Sunday morning

The conclusion of the mass was greeted with heavy rain and a thunderstorm which resulted in a power outage plunging the chapel, cathedral and diocesan area into darkness.  Students and facilitators were ferried to the Father Mulders Cathedral Centre in several vehicles. Dinner was served right after the lights came on followed by the icebreaking session.

Group Presentation by the participants at the Review

Talk 2 centered on the theme ‘What Does the Holy Spirit Do?’ Since it was still the early stage of the retreat the atmosphere of camaraderieship among the participants was not exhibited yet. The students were still very much shy and not wanting to open up during group discussion and faith sharing.

Hi-Tea with parents

Saturday morning of 7 September saw most of the participants getting up at 4am as they normally do during school week. Morning mass was celebrated by Bishop Cornelius at the Chapel.  Breakfast was served after the mass followed by praise and worship before talks on ‘How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit’ as well as ‘Repentance and Confession’ was presented. The atmosphere that morning was one of openness among the participants; they were more animated and lively. 

Our dedicated facilitators from Brunei, 2017 and 2018 ex-Confirmandi

The ladies’ facilitators

Prior to confession that afternoon, the students were led into a period of silence and given alone time to examine their conscience. After confession, dinner was also a silent affair but with candle lights. This was followed by preparatory activity to get the students ready for the “pray over” session. The students were in wonderment and caught unprepared as the events unfolded that evening. The rest of the evening was one of healing of memories and prayer over culminating with a celebration with the presence of the Holy Spirit that was felt and experienced by most of the participants.

Team BIG :‘Be Immitators of God’

Team DOC - ‘Disciples of Christ’

The peacefulness and joy felt by all the night before was still present that following Sunday morning. It was the last day of the retreat which started with the Celebration of Mass, followed with talks on ‘The Rest of Your Life and Church Ministries’. This was later accompanied by a Review comprising of personal sharing and presentation by the participants in their respective groups.

Team CIA : ‘Christians in Action’

Team A2J : ‘Addicted to Jesus’

The retreat ends with Hi-Tea at the Fr Mulders Catechetical Centre bringing participants and parents as well as facilitators and teachers for meaningful conversations. The parents had been very supportive throughout their children’s journey of faith leading to this retreat. During the prayer over session, they were gathered at the St. Mary’s Cathedral doing the rosary prayer which was led by the Sunday School teachers.

Group picture of 2019 Confirmandi with facilitators and Sunday School teachers

Please remember our confirmandi, their parents and catechists in your prayers as they grow in Spirit and as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on 16 November 2019.