“Be Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Very Rev. Fr. Ronald Serrao

Mangaluru: St. Joseph Church, Jeppu witnessed the celebration of sacrament of Confirmation on 11 January 2022. In the absence of Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Ronald Serrao, Rector of St Joseph Seminary, administered the sacrament of Confirmation to 45 children of St Joseph’s Church, Jeppu.

Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus. Through Confirmation one becomes the witness of Christ. Confirmation perfects and completes our baptism. In the Baptism we receive the Holy Spirit as the source of new life in Christ. Whereas, in the sacrament of Confirmation the Holy Spirit comes with a special mission, with a fresh out-pouring of his gifts. The gifts of the Holy Spirit makes the confirmed courageous and bear witness to the Gospel.

In the Latin rite, the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with Chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand and through the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

At 4.30 pm, the parish priest Rev. Fr Maxim D’Souza along with the confirmation candidates and parishioners accorded a warm welcome to Fr Ronald Serrao. Then he examined and catechized the candidates. At 5.00 pm Holy Eucharist was celebrated. During the Mass, Very Rev. Fr Ronald Serrao administered the sacrament of Confirmation to 45 children of the parish.

At the end, Fr Naveen Pinto thanked Fr Rector for conferring the sacrament of Confirmation. He also thanked everyone who prepared the children for Confirmation.  After the mass, a small tea party was organized for the candidates and the parents, which was sponsored by Praveen Barros & Family, Jeppu.