The Sacrament of Confirmation was conferred by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas Dabre, to 62 candidates. Of Sacred Heart Parish, Yerwada on 2nd February 2019. The theme for the Eucharist was “Come Holy Spirit, Make Us True Witnesses of Jesus”.
The candidates were under preparation since 2 years for this Sacrament. The main focus of these two years of preparation was their faith formation with the help of notes prepared by the Catechetical Centre, Pune Diocese. The lessons included group interaction, activities and personal reflection on the Teachings of the Church, Old and New Testament, St. Paul’s Letters, Sacraments, the Eucharist in particular and Personal Values from the Church’s point of view. To deepen this experience on some Sundays they animated the Children’s mass too. Besides that a one day recollection was organized by the PIME Fathers and Brothers, at their Seminary in Wadgaon Sheri, Pune, where they shared their real life experiences and how as the children move ahead in life, with studies, family and friends encircled around, they should balance their spiritual life too.
Nearing the day of Confirmation, we had very close preparation for the children with talks by different teachers, interactive exams, sacrament of reconciliation for the children and their parents followed by a special Eucharist for special blessings.
The teachers who dedicatedly prepared the children with a lot of love and compassion are Kusum Raj, Juliet Fernandes, Saviola Fernandes, Nancy Dias, Mary Johnson, Deacon Nixon (SVD), Sr. Crispina D’Costa (Kristisevika), Sr. Jiji (Holy Angels), and Sr. Manisha (Assumption Sisters).
The Eucharistic Celebration on 2nd Feb was concelebrated by Fr. Michael Bansode (Parish Priest), Fr. Ajay Demonte and Fr. Bosco. Grace Bishop Dabre, during his homily spoke about how the children will now become witnesses of Jesus and this should be lived and seen in their daily lives. It was a very solemn moment when these children received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in fullness. It was indeed a joyful and graceful moment for all of us.