Melbourne News

Korean Confirmation Mass

Friday 21 September 2012

ON Sunday 16 September, Bishop Peter Elliott celebrated Mass of confirmation for the Korean Catholic Community at St Bernadette’s Church, Ivanhoe.

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In his homily, Bishop Elliott remembered the witness of the Martyrs of Korea.

“But let us not forget all those hidden living martyrs who silently suffer persecution in the North,” he said. “The example of these faithful Catholics, past and present, should inspire each of you to give your whole life to Jesus Christ.”
 
Read Bishop Elliott's homily

Bishop Elliott expressed his gratitude to Fr Yoon and the committee for inviting him to confer the sacrament.

“I thank the catechists who have prepared these men and women for Confirmation,” he said.   “Your work within the Korean Catholic Community is very important.  Yes, it is quiet work, but it is God’s work for others.”


MASS OF CONFIRMATION KOREAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
ST BERNADETTE’S CHURCH, IVANHOE

Sunday, September 16, 2011
 
Most Rev Peter J Elliott, Auxiliary Bishop
 
Dear candidates for Confirmation, this morning I come to St Bernadette’s church to complete your initiation into the Holy Catholic Church. You have already been born again in water and the Holy Spirit in Baptism.  Today you will receive the Holy Spirit for ever.
 
The Holy Spirit, the gift of God the Father, came to the Apostles as Jesus Christ had promised. Six weeks after Jesus had been crucified and had risen from the dead in his own body, the Holy Spirit came to the apostles.  On the Jewish Feast Day of Pentecost, they received divine grace, the strength and power to continue to be the witnesses of the Resurrection.   Pentecost has been called the “birthday of the Church”.
 
Three signs showed that the Spirit was coming. 
 
1. The great wind was a sign of God’s mighty power, giving strength and taking away fear.   God brings strength to you today, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
2. The flames of supernatural fire blazing in the heads of the apostles was a sign of God choosing people for his work on earth, This sign shows us the warmth and love of our God.  God has chosen you today.
 
3. The gift of different languages was a sign that the message of Christ, the Good News, is proclaimed for all people of all nations and all races. In the Catholic Church we are One People.
 
Today is your Pentecost. Today, as a successor of the Apostles, I bring you the Holy Spirit  -  not with dramatic signs but through a holy sacrament.
 
I will lay hands on you and sign your foreheads with the Holy Chrism. This is the most sacred oil of the Catholic Church. It is solemnly blessed consecrated, each year by the Archbishop.  Chrism is the oil of priests, kings and queens, and prophets.  It is the fragant oil of God’s holy People, filled with the power and love of God the Holy Spirit. 
                                     
You receive Confirmation only once. This sacrament has a permanent effect. You are “sealed”, that is, you are marked and signed for ever with the Holy Spirit. Sealed by the Holy Spirit you are called to be a true image of Jesus Christ, a true Christian.
                                               
Let us remember the brave witness of the Martyrs of Korea. But let us not forget all those hidden living martyrs who silently suffer persecution in the North. The example of these faithful Catholics, past and present, should inspire each of you to give your whole life to Jesus Christ. 
 
The martyrs used the seven gifts of the Spirit that they received in Confirmation.  May you use those same gifts as you go forward in the wonderful journey of the life of a Christian. Your sponsors stand with you and accompany on that journey. May Mary our Holy Mother be with you in the years ahead, on the pilgrimage of life.
 
I wish to conclude by thanking Father Yoon and the committee for inviting me to confer this great sacrament. I thank the catechists who have prepared these men and women for Confirmation.  Your work within the Korean Catholic Community is very important.  Yes, it is quiet work, but it is God’s work for others. May this mission continue for we are all enriched by the life-giving Spirit to carry out the work of God’s People.

Photos courtesy of the Korean Catholic Community