The following received the Sacrament of Confirmation in Thomastown last weekend:

Published on October 5, 2021

Aidan Heafey, Áine Bambrick, Anna Morrissey, Camille Brandon, Caoimhe Garry, Conor Coone, Dion Cody, Edward Kavanagh, Ellen Lawler, Eva Magnez, Harijs Bluzma, Harry Bay, Hollie Barry, Katie Hobson-Shaw, Lilly Peg Maher, Millie Brennan, Millie Grace Hughes, Paddy Challoner, Rebecca Doyle, Richard Forristal, Robbie Barron, Róisín Dalton, Roman Connolly, Seán Grace, Sophie Barcoe, T. J. Brennan, Tom Challoner, Zoe Magnez, Aaron Cullen, Aimee Power, Aisling Coverdale, Ann-Marie Walsh, Ben Nevin, Caden Davis, Caoimhe O’Neill, Ciarán O’Dwyer, Cillian O’Neill, Dan Nolan, Ellen Treacy, Fionn Minogue, Harvey Mullins, James Dempsey, James O’Reilly, Kate Rose O’Neill, Kevin Dirzius, Leah Gillespie, Lilyrose Watson, Mary Kate Ryan, Megan O’Reilly, Aleksandra Opac, Patrick Murray, Patryk Salamon, Poesie Watts, Ruby Ridout, Saidbh O’Carroll, Saoirse Tallis, Seán Fitzmaurice, Jack Ravenhall.

Congratulations to our young people who receive Confirmation, and to Bernard Cash and Alan Ward, who received Confirmation earlier in the year.

All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflection

Following one’s vocation is a response from within to the needs outside us. A vocation meets the human needs of the world but with a motivation from within. We care for our children and grandchildren not just because they are sick or insecure, but because we love them. this love will move us out to help them in various situations. We find a call to be ‘people for others’ because our heart teaches us that with Jesus we are all brothers and sisters, and that God wants to save the world, and needs our help to do so. This is the Sunday we all pray that our particular vocation in life may become clear and may become stronger. God calls each of us to love God and love our neighbour. This is the first Christian calling at our Baptism; we then find the best way for each of us with our own particular set of gifts, talents and even weaknesses to live out that call to love. We think especially today of religious life and priesthood. There are needs for priests, sisters and brothers in most parts of the world. as a community in families and parishes we thank those who have given their lives in these vocations and pray they may increase.