March 22, 2023 | Reggie Clyde Delosa
48 students from PAREF Springdale School received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the ceremony presided by Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma at the Sacred Heart Parish last March 4, 2023.
The baptized Catholic is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and fortified for service to the Body of Christ at the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In his homily, Arch. Palma congratulated and expressed his joy for the candidates and their parents and sponsors for reaching this level in their Christian lives.
He also pointed out how fortunate the candidates were to be enrolled in a School that not only looks after their academic formation but also their spiritual formation and development.
“The School is entrusted not only that you will become qualified, knowledgeable in science, in academic endeavors but also that you are also trained, that you develop Christian formation, that you also grow spiritually, morally, socially,” he said.
Speaking on the importance and relevance of the Sacrament of Confirmation, the good bishop cited the obedience of little children when told to do something despite not fully understanding the purpose of the act.
He advised everyone present, especially the candidates, to courageously move forward in life despite the challenges and uncertainty in their lives by continuously invoking and heeding to the promptings of the Spirit.
“We need the grace of the Spirit so that we will be able to perform our responsibility for our good and for the good of the community,” said Arch. Palma.
This year’s Confirmation was made possible through the efforts and benevolence of the Grade 8 parents, the confirmands’ sponsors, the School Chaplaincy Office and Religion teachers of PAREF Springdale School.