A Celebration of the Sacraments
On Sunday, 16th August 2020 the parish witnessed the elect receiving the Sacraments of Initiation and Form 4 students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at a special evening Mass to celebrate this occasion. The once in a lifetime experience was made even more memorable for the candidates by the unusual circumstances of receiving the Sacraments during a pandemic. The familiar scenes of a church packed to the brim with parishioners, friends and family, entrance procession of the candidates, group photography sessions, and fellowship were replaced by a highly reduced congregation, pandemic-time SOPs, and physical distancing diligently practiced at all times. Nevertheless, despite the strangeness of the situation, it was a solemnly beautiful ceremony that perhaps may be attributed to a lack of distractions, keeping focus on only the essentials.
In the presence of three priests, Fr Dominic, Fr Louis and Fr Martin Arlando, the Liturgy of Baptism and Confirmation commenced with the presentation of the candidates, chanting of the litany of saints and the renunciation of sin/profession of faith. Following that, the elect were baptised and given a white garment and candle. Next, the Sacrament of Confirmation was instituted on the candidates with the laying on of hands and anointing with chrism. Finally, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist the newly baptised received the Lord for the first time.
We give thanks and praise God for the newly baptised and confirmed in our parish. We share the great joy of the newly baptised after a long wait to be received into the Church and warmly welcome them into our family of faith. To the young ones who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, we say “Keep the fire for God burning always!”
