On Saturday 23rd May, I concluded my thirteenth season of Confirmation with ceremonies here in the Cathedral for candidates attending Bishop Foley School, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal with more participating in the Parish Programme from Carlow National School on the Green Road and Carlow Educate Together. In all this year 2,157 received the sacrament of Confirmation from me, beginning in Doonane on February 12th and concluding in the Cathedral on May 23rd. Over thirteen seasons confirming, 28,886 received the sacrament.
The most popular saints names continue to be Patrick for boys and Mary for girls. Many other names feature but not to the extent of these more traditional names. The influence of grandparents cannot be under estimated. That is why the celebration in July every year of the World Day of the Elderly & Grandparents is so important and must be celebrated.
The theme offered this year was “Loved, Necessary, Chosen” taken from a homily delivered by Pope Benedict XVI that “each of us is the result of a thought of God: each of us is willed, loved and necessary”. I am always impressed how the candidates engaged with the theme, taking on projects such as creating a “Wellness Jar” in Doonane, composing a song in Newbridge, fundraising for Africa in Askea, for the HOPE foundation in Caragh, creating a photographic collage in Rath and Emo, fundraising for St. Clare’s Hospitality in Ballyadams and in Leighlin, supporting homeless dogs in Myshall, producing artwork in Rathvilly and in the Cathedral and finally visiting local nursing homes in Baltinglass and Rathangan to mention but a few.
The taking of the pledge is making a welcome return into the ceremonies of Confirmation with around a fifth of our liturgies including it this year. The Covid pandemic changed how we celebrate Confirmation resulting in simpler but perhaps more meaningful ceremonies. 65% of the ceremonies were this year within the celebration of Mass, which is a huge increase since Covid days. I welcome either ceremony, within Eucharist or outside it, but I would be concerned that some ceremonies are returning to a time when everyone being confirmed must have a role in the ceremony. The ones that flow easiest are where parish readers lead us in proclaiming God’s Word and parents read the Prayers of Intercession. It allows the young person to focus on the essentials of Confirmation and not on having to read a reading or lead a prayer.
I love their letters and read every one. When they are done by the candidate themselves operating out of a few guidelines, they offer a fresh perspective on the sacrament for every ceremony. I thank our priests, teachers, catechists, musicians, sacristans parents but most of all the candidates themselves for the joy they bring into all our lives on the day they are fully confirmed.
+Denis Nulty