Confirmations an event of ‘grace and blessings’

By Wendy Shaw

The confirmation of four candidates at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Queenstown was “a joyful event of grace and blessing for the people of God”, according to West Coast Parish Administrator Fr Arokia Aruldas.

Archbishop Emeritus Julian Porteous confirmed the candidates on 25 October.

Fr Arokia said: “The celebration is all about the receiving of first holy Eucharist and confirmation, the seal of the holy spirit.”

Archbishop Julian met the candidates and family members before the Mass and urged them to follow a life of virtues and God’s grace.

Parents, staff from St Joseph’s Catholic School, sponsors, parishioners and well-wishers attended the Mass.

In welcoming attendees, Fr Arokia said: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

“For it is the day of rejoicing as four of our candidates in the parish are entering into the life, love and grace of God fully.”

After the homily, the candidates were presented to Archbishop Julian for conferring the seal of holy spirit with anointing of chrism on their foreheads. The sponsors presented the candidates with their saints’ name: Donnelly as St John Bosco, Ashley as St Fructuosus of Braga, Torry as St Valentine and Ameliah as St Cecilia.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Arokia extended his “heartfelt thanks to all the people of God, starting from the Almighty for His outpouring of holy spirit and the life of grace for the candidates”.