Christians of St. Charles Lwanga Parish , Molyko-Buea, have been drilled on the Sacrament of Confirmation; one of the Sacraments of Initiation which leaves an Indelible mark in the hearts of the confirmed Christians. The Sacrament of Confirmation can be administered to anyone who has received the Sacrament of Baptism . These were the teachings gained during the catechetical session of Monday August 5th,2024 by the Local Ordinary of Buea His Lordship Michael Bibi as he treated the Sacrament of Confirmation as one of the ways through which the church carries out its sanctifying mission.
Christians educated on Confirmation
The prelate also indicated that those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation receive the Holy Spirit and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that this sacrament is administered only by the Bishop or those equivalent to the Bishop. In cases of necessity however, the Bishop offers the faculty of administration to a parish priest or a priest, and in the case of a danger of death, any priest is allowed to administer this sacrament.
Bishop tells Christians about the conditions for confirmation
Moving forward, the bishop enumerated the three conditions to be met before a Christian is confirmed and these include; the Christian must be instructed, must be properly disposed and must be able to renew the baptismal promise. For confirmation to take place, it was noted that there is also a need for sponsors to be available.
Furthermore, the Chief shepherd educated Christians on the components of the rite of confirmation, noting that it must be done within the course of the celebration of Mass except in the case of a danger of death. It also includes the presentation of the candidate by the parish priest, the renewal of Baptismal promises, the imposition of hands and the anointing with chrism. The imposition of hands was further explained to signify that the candidates are possessed by Christ, and that they have been commissioned to be witnesses of the Gospel by their words and actions.
Christians were also told that confirmation expresses the bond that exists between the Christians and their Bishop.
