A WEEK RICH IN BLESSINGS:

Amidst the sadness of a number of funerals, I have also had the joy of two wonderfully blessed occasions during the past week. Firstly, there was the Confirmation ceremony at St Mary’s on Wednesday evening. Bishop Tom Neylon stressed the importance of the sign of the Spirit of God descending upon the candidates in the “laying on of hands”: the symbol which in some form is present in all the sacraments. Clearly, it is at the heart of the Confirmation ceremony (which, of course, is the completion of the Baptismal Rite and would always be administered with Baptism in the case of adults).

The silence as Bishop Thomas and the clergy went to each candidate in turn was truly impressive. Then the Bishop took time to speak with the candidates and their families as they came forward to be anointed with the Oil of Chrism and we quietly sang the refrain: ‘Veni, Sancte Spiritus’ to the music composed for the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II in 1982, when he Confirmed a group of young people on Pentecost Sunday at Coventry Airport. In fact, Michael Bennett, who was playing the organ, assured me that we sang the refrain 67 times! My thanks to everyone who helped to make it such a memorable evening.

And then, the following morning I was able to join the First Holy Communion classes at Bishop Eton School for a special assembly and breakfast party. This was the brainchild of our Head Teacher, Mr Paul Loughran. The children were resplendent in their First Communion outfits and many parents and grandparents were able to enjoy the occasion. It is very rewarding to see such initiatives in the community, cementing the school-parish relationship and highlighting the importance of these momentous occasions in our lives.

My thanks to Mr Loughran and our wonderfully committed staff at the school.