Sujata Castelino
NASHIK, FEBRUARY 17, 2010: On February 14, 2010 fourteen of the youth of Don Bosco, Nashik received the sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of the Apostolic Administrator of Nashik Diocese, Bishop Lourdes Daniel. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration began with a procession of the candidates along with their parents, god-parents, concelebrants and the Bishop. At the beginning of the Eucharist, seven candidates presented and prayed for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, i.e., wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, fear of God and love. They prayed that these gifts may bear fruits of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in them. The Bishop in his homily compared the catechism classes to the tuitions and coaching classes of the students. He exhorted that an equal and even more importance be given to the catechism coaching classes.
After the Homily, Fr. Nelson Falcao, Parish Priest presented the candidates to the Bishop for the conferring of the Sacrament of Confirmation. He told the Bishop that they were regular for their catechesis and church attendance and that they were properly grounded in their Christian doctrine, faith and morals. The ritual proper of the Sacrament of Confirmation consisted of laying of hands over the candidates by the Bishop and the concelebrants and then the anointing with Chrism oil on the foreheads of the candidates. After the Eucharistic Celebration there was a small get-together for the candidates, their parents and god-parents, along with the Bishop, the concelebrants and the catechism teachers, Sr. Sushma FMA and Sr. Stella FHIC.
