Whakapono | Faith News
Congratulations to all our tamariki who have recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is the Sacrament when the candidates renew their baptismal vows and are “be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit” The gifts are Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement [Counsel], Courage [Fortitude], Knowledge, Reverence [Piety], and Wonder and Awe in God's presence [Fear of the Lord] and when we use the gifts we show the 'fruits' of the Te Wairua Tapu - Joy, Goodness, Peace, Self-Control, Kindness, Gentleness, Patience, Love, and Faithfulness. Some of our tamariki have shared their feelings on being confirmed below.
Alexander Meech:
On May 19, 2024, myself and others in my class got confirmed. I felt extremely nervous but I think that I got more excited as time went on. When they were calling names for who was getting confirmed I thought it was just random order but instead it was in order of who was getting confirmed. In the end, I felt like a better person. And it was a special day for me because I had received the Holy Spirit.
Pippa:
On the 19th of May, me (Pippa), Olive, Rebecca, and Alexander had Confirmation. We had to pick a Saint, I picked Saint John Baptist De La Salle because my last school was his. It was fun but I felt nervous because I’m really shy, we had to speak really loud because the Archbishop is really, really tall - we had to say “Archbishop Paul, I wish to be Confirmed”. Next me and my sponsor went up to the Archbishop, I kneeled and my sponsor placed the right hand on my right shoulder and held a card of my Saint and said a Prayer. Then we finished off the mass normally.
Rebecca:
In May I had my Confirmation. When we were being confirmed I felt a bit nervous walking up to the front of the church. After we all had the Archbishop's hands laid above our head we were sent back to our seats. When all the prayers were finished we were called up one by one to kneel down before the archbishop and be confirmed and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.