By Karabo Ntanzi
St James Anglican Church in Galeshewe was filled to capacity with friends and family members who came to witness the confirmation of 37 young parishioners last Sunday.
Bishop Brian Marajh, the steward for the Kimberley and Kuruman Diocese officiated the confirmations according to the rite of the Anglican Church. When delivering his homily, the Bishop thanked the parents, guardians and God-parents for keeping their promise. “When these children were baptised as infants you promised to bring them up in the Anglican Church teachings. Today you are fulfilling that promise,” he said.
According to the Anglican faith parishioners are elegible to be confirmed from the age of 15 years. Being confirmed allows a parishioner to receive the Eucharist or the blood and body of Christ. He reminded parents, guardians and God-parents that their responsibility does not end there. “You must continue supporting the newly confirmed members of the parish”. The Bishop pleaded with parishioners to involve young people in the activities of the church.
Marajh reminded parishioners about the “Feast of Christ the King” which was observed on that Sunday. “The Solemnity of Christ the King is on the last Sunday of the year according to the liturgy of the Anglican church. “This is the period for all of us to take stock. Look at our challenges and assess how we can grow as a parish, diocese or individual. We should be grateful for what we did well and seek penance for areas that we failed in”.
Confirmands were anointed with oil and presented with a candle lit from the Paschal candle. Thereafter the confirmands received the Eucharist for the first time in their lives. One of the candidates said: “I am filled with grace after receiving the Eucharist for the first time”.
Vangiwe Mnxaso, a retired teacher who mentored and prepared the confirmands by walking the journey for 18 months with the candidates, attested that it was fitting for the candidates to be confirmed because they were obedient.
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