On Sunday 28th June, three members of the Irish Community in Paris received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor. Warmest congratulations to Chris Ettery, and Molly and Daisy Vincent-Tyson, the newly confirmed and to their families. Afterwards, the community celebrated the event with a summer barbecue. Thanks to the beautiful weather and the hard work of all involved, we all had an unforgettable afternoon together in the courtyard of the Centre Culturel. Vive les liens entre la France et l’Irlande!

Pope Francis spoke of the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2014, he said,

“In our continuing catechesis on the seven Sacraments, we now reflect on Confirmation, which, together with Baptism and the Eucharist, is one of the Sacraments of Christian initiation. These Sacraments make us sharers in the death and Resurrection of Jesus and living members of His body, the Church. In Confirmation, through the Sacramental sign of anointing with sacred chrism, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to be more closely conformed to Christ, God’s “anointed one.”

“We are also strengthened – “confirmed” – in the grace of our Baptism and in our mission of bearing daily witness to Christ and his love. The working of the Holy Spirit in our lives is reflected in the seven spiritual gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.”

“Today let us thank the Lord for the grace of our Confirmation and ask that, filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, we may always mirror Christ’s presence in our relations with others, our openness to those in need, and our living witness to the Gospel message of joy and peace.”