United Benefice of Horton, Longsdon, Rushton Spencer

S Chad’s Parish church,

Longsdon

Sunday 10th. July 2011

Solemn Concelebrated Mass

&

Sacrament of Confirmation

Introduction to Mass Book

From Fr. Eric :

Dear Confirmation Candidates,

1.

Many different paths from which we have arrived this morning :

 Over the past two or three years, all of you have come from along very different paths to bring you where you stand this morning.     Some of you have come along via the path of a spiritual preparation for marriage which has entailed you coming to Mass every Sunday, and two or three of you even becoming PCC members in the process.     Then again, some of you have come along simply seeking and exploring that “something” or “someone” you feel interiorly present within you.    You, especially, have come along via the path of adult baptism.    And what about our two small children, one of whom is serving at the altar for the very first time this morning ?   These two come via the most traditional way of all ;    a loving family that cares for them enough to want the best for them    -    that “best” being to experience Jesus Christ more intimately in the Universal family of his Church.

2.

You will become fellow citizens of the People of God in the world-wide cathedral of peace :

 You have all come via different routes.    But you all come to the same place for the same purpose.    As each one of you are particular people, this morning, Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit is going to be poured out upon you in a particular way.    You will hear the words of the Church spoken over you, calling upon the Holy Spirit to confirm your faith.   

 You will hear the words of the Church spoken over you to seal you in love by anointing you with the sweet-scented oil of holy Chrism, thereby to strengthen you for his service.    You will then take your place among fellow citizens throughout the world, full citizens, now the People of God.    You will witness to the truth of the Gospel in the name of Jesus Christ.    You will live your lives in such a way as to make holy all human life.    Together with all the confirmed,      you will become living stones in the world-wide cathedral of peace.    Indeed, you are called by God, to be “instruments of peace”.

 3.

Your are not alone : Today you must understand that you are not alone. We are one body,  one people, one Church of Christ.    The sponsor who stands by your side represents for you the whole community.         Together with a great crowd of witnesses drawn from all peoples and from every age, you represent Christ.

 4.

“As the Father sent me so I am sending you”  You are young people who have received a mission from Christ, for he says to you today :    “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”

 5.

He dwells in your heart and strengthens you for the struggle with evil :

 On that first Pentecost day, our Saviour gave the Apostles the power to forgive sins when he poured into their hearts the gift of the Holy Spirit.    The same Holy Spirit comes to you today in the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation, to involve you more completely in the Church’s fight against sin and in her mission of fostering holiness.    He comes to dwell more fully in your hearts and to strengthen you for the struggle with evil.

 6.

Today, more than ever, the world needs you who are filled with the Holy Spirit :

 My dear candidates, more than ever before, the worlds of today needs you.    It needs men and women women who are filled with the Holy Spirit.    It need your courage and hopefulness, your faith and perseverance.    The world of tomorrow will be built by you.    Today you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so that you may work with deep faith and abiding in love, so that you may help to bring the world the fruits of reconciliation and peace.    Strengthened by the the Holy Spirit and his manifold gifts, commit yourselves wholeheartedly to the Church’s struggle against sin.

7.

 Diligently partake in the Eucharist Sunday by Sunday by Sunday :

 Strive to be unselfish :    Try not to be obsessed with material things.

Be active members of the People of God by diligently partaking in the Eucharist Sunday by Sunday by Sunday by Sunday.    Thereby be the Eucharistic Community.   

8.

In this Holy Spirit, you will become the Pentecost People  -  the Apostles of our time :

 On the first day of Pentecost, rge Holy Spirit ame upon the Apostles and upon Mary and filled them with his power.     Today, at this Confirmation, we remember that moment, and we open ourselves again to that same Spirit.    In that Spirit we are baptized.     In that Spirit we are confirmed.     In that Spirit we are called to share in the mission of Christ.     In that Spirit we shall indeed become the Pentecost People, the Apostles of our time.

Father Eric Tomlinson.                                                12th. June 2011

                                                                         Solemnity of Pentecost