We have been very busy the past two weeks preparing for our Service of Light and Confirmation.
The Service of Light took place on the 21st March in the Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham. We were all given allocated seats. We sat in the first six rows of the church while our parents sat behind or to the left of us. When we were all settled into our seats the priest said a few words. He then asked Chuk, Ronan and Eoghan up to the alter to do some readings about baptism, they did a great job. After that we sang a hymn, then the priest called us up to receive our baptism candle from our parents, this was the symbol of the light of faith. The priest called us up in eights. It took about twenty minutes for everyone to get their candle off of their parents. Then Luke read from the Gospel, after that we had the prayers of the faithful read by a girl from Loreto, a teacher from Loreto and Cathals mum Eilís. Finally we sang Oh What a Spirit Filled Day. It was a very special night for all of us in the church because we were given the light of faith from our parents.
Our confirmation was in the Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham on the 28th March. The mass started at 11 A.M. when everyone was seated. Bishop Eamonn said a few opening words. The choir sang a hymn while some boys brought up gifts. Then Cathal Enright said the first Reading. After that Cathal O’ Toole and Oisín sang a psalm. Later on in the mass we renewed our Baptism promises. Soon after the Laying of the Hands took place. We stood while the bishop put his hands out in the air and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come down on us. Finally, we went up to the altar in threes with our sponsors. The bishop went up to each boy and his sponsor and said ”Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”, to which we replied ”Amen.” He also said ”Peace be with you.” We said ”And with your spirit.” Ewan and Denis went up at the end and received a special blessing. We went up for Communion and sang a hymn up at the altar. When mass was finished everyone took photos with the bishop and their families. Later on everyone went back to the school hall for a cupán tae. We would like to thank the Parents’ Association, all the teachers involved, Bishop Eamonn, Margaret, Ms. Cruz and Fr. Martin and Fr. Kevin.
By Ewan Sharanda, Quaid Cleland, Lucca Jennings and Ronan Walsh.