06.06.2017
Stand, Raise Your Voices and Speak Out – Confirmation Candidates Urged on Pentecost
Thirty–seven young people from Dublin & Glendalough were confirmed by Archbishop Michael Jackson in Christ Church Cathedral on Pentecost (Sunday June 4). The candidates hailed from the parishes of Celbridge, Clondalkin, Drumcondra, Killiney–Ballybrack, Monkstown, Santry, St Bartholomew, St Catherine and St James with St Audoen, Tallaght, and Whitechurch.
The Archbishop said that the young candidates had been equipped to stand and raise their voices and speak out. He drew on a line from the reading [Acts 2: 1–21]: “But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them” when Peter addressed the crowd on the day of Pentecost and gave them an explanation of what was happening.
“It takes confidence to stand up and speak out in a situation where there is distraction and chaos… Very often when something new happens we say that we don’t like it, we don’t want it, we don’t know where it comes from. But Peter said it came from the heart of tradition,” the Archbishop said. “Looking at that encounter, that is exactly what is happening when we are confirmed. You have prepared and you have formed a new community with people in your parish. Another new community is formed with the people with whom you are confirmed and you are asked to stand and raise your voice to be confirmed.”
The Archbishop said that Pentecost and confirmation help all of us to understand our discipleship. “We are not Jesus Christ. Our calling is to harvest – to spot the signs of God’s Kingdom in the world around us and harvest the gifts of God,” he said. “As Pentecost comes around year on year I hope you will remember that this was the day on which you were confirmed. I hope you will do what Peter did and what you are equipped to do: Stand, raise your voice and say something.”
