Confirmation in Tel Aviv

The Solemnity of the Holy Trinty in Our Lady of Valor in Tel Aviv was celebrated in a festive way. A group of twenty-four young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation by Fr. Piotr. The group was prepared by fr. Benny who together with Luca and Dima worked during the entire year with the kids in Our Lady of Valor.

During his homily fr. Piotr underlined the necessity of the daily witness that every Christian is called to. He described briefly the Love of God that we receive from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and reminded that the Church of which the new confirmed girls and boys are now full, mature members, will always be their home, like a Mother that loves all her children. "Wherever you will be, whatever will be your situation, you need to remember that in the Church of Jesus there is always somebody ready to help, because this is your home to which you can always come back" - he said.

Many thanks to Mrs. Beah and the team of the mothers that prepared the feast and assisted the children during the entire year, as well as to fr. Renato and the Sisters from OLV for their patience and help.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in its paragraphs 1302–1303 states:

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15);
• it unites us more firmly to Christ;
• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:

Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.