BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 24TH 2010 (CUOPM) – The Sacrament of Confirmation was conferred on 12 young people – 8 males and for females – at the Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral in St. Kitts on Sunday.
The Confirmation was administered by the Most Rev. Bishop Gabriel Malzaire with the assistance of Parish Priest Father Bernard Latus during a two-and-a-half hour service.
“You have been baptized, received Holy Communion and now you are about to receive the final stage of the Sacrament of Confirmation to become a full-fledged Catholic and willing to be witnesses for Christ,” said Bishop Malzaire.
“You cannot be judge as to who is better and who is not better,” he said.
The Dominica-based Bishop admonished the 12 to go to their schools “and tell them that you have something to share. Tell them that you have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and that it has transformed your life.”
“Are we teaching our children so that the world will be a better place?” asked Bishop Malzaire and warned the candidates of the dangers of peer pressure, of listening to the media, the internet and pornography.
He advised that if there is a setting where young people can develop properly, good results will be the result.
“If we create a culture of death, we get death; if we create a culture of prayer, we learn to pray. What culture are we preparing for our children? asked Bishop Malzaire, as he advised the candidates to “let Jesus Christ be your measuring rod and become witnesses for the Word of God.”
Bishop Malzaire admonished the twelve to adhere to the Teen Commandments.
1. Don’t let your parents down, they brought you up;
2. Choose your companions with care, you become what they are;
3. Be master of your habits, or they will master you;
4. Treasure your time, don’t spend it, invest it;
5. Stand for something or you will fall for anything;
6. Select only a date who will make you a good mate;
7. See what you can do for others, not what they can do for you;
8. Guard your thoughts, what you think, you are;
9. Don’t fill up on this world’s crumbs, feed your soul on the Living Bread;
10. Give your all to Christ; He gave His all to you.
During the Mass, the First Reading was read by Jade Williams, the Second Reading by Jamila Welsh and the Gospel by Parish Priest, Father Bernard Latus.
The Youth Choir directed by Ms. Charmaine Donovan led the singing during the Mass which was conducted by D. Vanessa Richards-Phipps.
