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CONFIRMATION
2004
20
January 2004
Dear Parents,
There was an excellent
attendance at the meeting for parents held on Wednesday last in the
church. Hopefully the
meeting provided a useful starting point for parents as they engage with
their child in the various preparations for Confirmation.
In this newsletter,
specifically for 6th class pupils and parents, we give
details of the Retreat in Gort Muire on Tuesday 17th February
and the Ceremony of Light, Thursday 26 February.
Details are also given of the actual arrangements for
Confirmation Day. This
Newsletter is also available on the school web site at www.stcolmcilles.org.
Retreat:
Gort Muire Tuesday 17 February 2004.
Our 6th
Class Retreat in preparation for Confirmation takes place on Tuesday 17
February in Gort Muire, Ballinteer.
Gort Muire is a Retreat Centre owned and run by the Carmelite
Order, which they very kindly make available to us each year for our
Retreat. It is an excellent location and the Retreat provides a
valuable opportunity for the children to reflect on aspects of The
Sacrament of Confirmation. We
have assembled a group of facilitators who will conduct various seminars
with the children on themes such as:
-
The Journey towards Confirmation.
-
Peer pressure in relation to Drugs and Alcohol.
-
Guided Prayer/Meditation.
This will be followed
by a Penitential Service and the Retreat will conclude with Mass.
We encourage you to discuss the Retreat with your child prior to
and in the aftermath of the event.
The children will leave the school at 9.00 a.m. and return at
2.30 p.m. approx. Each
child is asked to contribute €5 towards the transport and other
expenses of the day.
Service of Light
Thursday 26 February 2004.
Our
Service of Light for parents and pupils takes place on Thursday 26
February at 8.00 p.m. in the church.
During the Ceremony, the children will be making their promises
in relation to abstaining from Drugs and Alcohol. Children are required
to have their baptismal candles on the night.
Should the original baptismal candle no longer be available, an
alternative baptismal candle would need to be obtained.
(Baptismal candles and other religious requisites are available
at the Church Shop, open after Sunday Masses and weekday morning Masses,
and from 1.30 p.m.-2.45 p.m. most weekdays).
All Parents are requested to attend the Service of Light, which
is an integral part of the Celebration of Confirmation.
Parents have an essential role to play in the Ceremony.
Connect Group
We liaise with this
group each year in the run-up to Confirmation.
They arrange for The Eva Coffey School of Drama to make a
presentation to the children on Peer Pressure and Alcohol.
They also invite a speaker from the Rutland Centre to address the
pupils. In addition a
representative from the local Pioneer Association will speak to the
children.
Confirmation
Reception.
As is customary, there
will be an informal Confirmation reception in the Community Centre
immediately after the Confirmation ceremony on both Confirmation Days 23/24
March.
Parents of 6th
class pupils are asked to assist with the Confirmation reception in the
Community Centre as set out below.
The time involved on the day would be from 12 noon to 1.45 p.m.
approx. Please telephone
Betty, our School Secretary, at 494 2527 and let her know of your
availability to help.
Tuesday
23 March – Parents of pupils
from Ms. Glennon’s,
Mr.
Kearney’s and Mr. Ruddy’s classes are asked to assist with
the reception.
Wednesday
24 March – Parents of pupils
from Ms. Corcoran’s,
Ms.
Ní Reachtabhra’s and Mr. Byrne’s classes are asked to assist with
the reception.
CONFIRMATION
2004-INFORMATION
DATE:
Confirmation will take place on Tuesday 23 March for
Ms. Corcoran’s,
Ms. Ní Reachtabhra’s and Mr. Byrne’s classes and on Wednesday 24
March for Ms. Glennon’s, Mr. Kearney’s and Mr. Ruddy’s
classes. The Ceremony will commence on both days at 11.00 a.m. and
conclude at
1.00 p.m. (approx).
BISHOP:
Most Rev. Eamon Walsh DD.
SEATING:
There will be strict seating arrangements in the church.
The front centre seats will be reserved for the children and
their sponsors – specific seats within this area will be assigned to
the individual child and his/ her sponsor.
Each child sits with his/her sponsor.
The rest of the church is not reserved and is available for
families and friends of the children being confirmed.
SPONSORS:
Sponsors should themselves be confirmed, over 16 years of age and
practising their faith. There
will be only one sponsor per child. One of the Baptismal Sponsors (Godparents) would be an ideal
choice. The sponsor may not
be the child’s parent.
CLOTHES:
Children will wear their school uniform i.e. blue shirt, school
tie, navy pinafore/trousers, navy jumper with crest, navy socks and
black or navy shoes.
RECEPTION: A
short reception will be held after the ceremony in the Community Centre.
Hopefully the bishop will attend and give you the opportunity to
meet him informally.
CAMERAS/VIDEOS:
The bishop has requested that people would refrain from taking
photographs or using video cameras during the ceremony.
CONFIRMATION
NAMES: Please
ensure that the name chosen has some appropriate significance for the
child and is of the Christian tradition.
BROTHERS &
SISTERS:
Brothers and sisters of those being confirmed who are also
attending the school may take the day off school to join in the
celebrations.
CHOIR:
The school choir will be singing at the ceremony but the entire
congregation are expected to play a full part.
Please encourage your child to join in the praying and hymn
singing.
PHOTOGRAPHS:
A photographer will visit the school on
Thursday 25 March and a group photo of the various Confirmation
classes will be taken. Individual
photos will also be taken on this day and may be subsequently purchased
if parents so wish.
Baptismal
Certificates:
As notified last
September, any child who was not baptised in St. Colmcille’s,
Knocklyon must bring in a Baptismal Certificate to their class teacher.
We hope you have a
fruitful and enjoyable day with your son/daughter.
Yours sincerely,
________________
____________________
Pádraig Ó Néill
James Murray, O. Carm.
Príomhoide
Parish Priest
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