Oblate Youth Service News

OYS Faith Friends Project 2013

The aim of the Faith Friends Programme is to add a wider community dimension to the preparations being made to the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation. As a member of the Oblate Youth Service, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to be a Faith Friends Leader and help the sixth class students prepare for a very special day in their lives.

As a Faith Friends Leader, we met the sixth class students in an informal and fun environment. Each night we had a different topic to discuss such as “Belonging”, “Believing” and “Christianity” and how these are important in being a member of the Catholic Church. We were able to answer their questions about the Holy Spirit and what the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit mean. A huge part of the programme for us as leaders was to let them learn and listen from each other’s opinions on what they thought Confirmation was. One answer that particularly stood out to me was that it was their choice to continue on the same religious path that their parents chose for them when they were born. To hear a twelve year old say this was so inspiring.

It has been a number of years since I received my Confirmation but I feel that from this experience I have not only helped prepare children for their own Confirmation but I have revisited how important the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are in our every day lives.

The Author: Amy Kiernan

Oblate Youth Service Member