Sacrament of Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation - 22 April 2014 Back

It was a great day for the Parishioners when 57 young boys and girls received their confirmation on 22^nd April, 2014. Our Beloved Bishop Rt. Reverend Aloysius Paul D’souza arrived at 5 PM at the Derebail Parish and was welcomed by our Parish Priest Fr. Peter D’souza, Assistant Parish Priest Edwin Monis, Mr. Mr. Anil Patrao Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Youngsters to be confirmed elegantly dressed in white and all the parishioners at the entrance of the church.

Before the Eucharistic celebrations, the Bishop addressed the youth waiting to receive the sacrament of confirmation and asked them various questions on the catholic faith. The youngsters who were well prepared gave prompt replies and the Bishop was happy with the responses.

The Bishop in his homily explained that for the 8 days after Easter, the church has selected the Gospels of different incidents where Jesus meets his disciples and others after his resurrection. In every incident where he meets his disciples and others, he sees them as afraid, defeated, lost and dejected. Each time he meets them, he encourages and enthuses them. He also promises them that after he ascends into heaven, he will send the Holy Spirit who will give them courage and knowledge. The words of Jesus came true on the day of Pentecost when Peter who hardly understood what Jesus was preaching to them as disciples, stood up in courage and preached boldly and with knowledge and it’s recorded that 3000 people got baptized on that day. Today, while receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit the youngsters received when they were baptized as infants will be renewed and we pray that the same Holy Spirit may bless them and enable them to stand up with full courage for their faith when questioned in their colleges, work places and society.

The Bishop then confirmed the 57 youngsters individually. There was joy, happiness and peace seen on the faces of all youngsters and this evident when they were seeking blessings with folded hands from all elders they met.