Advertisement

“Be of value to the world”: Apostolic Nuncio to Confirmation Candidates at Kenyan Parish

Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen with those he conferred the Sacraemnt of Confirmation at the Chapel of Loreto Convent Msongari School under St. Austin’s Msongari Parish of Nairobi Archdiocese. Credit: ACI Africa

The representative of the Holy Father in Kenya and South Sudan has called on candidates who were receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Chapel of Loreto Convent Msongari School under St. Austin’s Msongari Parish of Nairobi Archdiocese to “be of value to the world.”

In his homily during the Confirmation Mass, Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen encouraged the candidates of the Sacrament to seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit in their daily activities.

Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen. Credit: ACI Africa

“In the Sacrament of Confirmation, God shares His power, His identity with you in order that you yourself will become a temple of that Spirit, a temple of the presence of God in this life; in a sense you yourself become like a little church,” Archbishop van Megen said during the Sunday, June 11 celebration, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Credit: ACI Africa

Advertisement

He added, “Once you have been encouraged by that spirit, move out into the world, give something to the world, be of value to the world.”

“Because the world needs you, each and every one of you, each and every one of you has something unique, each and every one of you has talents and capacities in very different fields,” the Apostolic Nuncio told the 34 candidates he was to confer the Sacrament of confirmation.

Credit: ACI Africa

He continued, “Develop your qualities, develop your talents, develop those gifts that God has given you in whatever field it is and God will see you; He will stand by you; He will encourage you, and you will find heaven on earth in this sense.”

“The good thing about young people is they are ready to give much and they should give much because if you don't do it now, you won't do it anymore,” Archbishop van Megen said, and added, “Do something for the world, try to be of meaning for the world, try to be of importance for the church, try to be of importance for your community.”

More in Africa

Credit: ACI Africa

The representative of the Holy Father in Kenya and South Sudan encouraged the Confirmation candidates to “play a role in society because our culture is a culture of absorption and consumption, but we don't let anything out.”

“But young people have this spirit of wanting to be important, wanting to give to sacrifice, wanting to be heroes, wanting to show that they have value in them; let that fire work for you,” he said, and added, “God expects great things from you; God expects beautiful things from you.”

Credit: ACI Africa

Reflecting on the first reading of the Sunday of the Most Holy Body of Christ, Archbishop van Megen encouraged the candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation to "follow the example of the Israelites entering the promised land in fighting for their faith.” Credit: ACI Africa

Advertisement

“Stand for your faith. We have a strong identity because we have been fed with the bread of life and we have drunk from the cup of the blood of Christ,” he further said, adding that God gives the Sacrament of Confirmation in order that “we grow deeper in that inner knowledge about God.”

Credit: ACI Africa
The Sacrament of Confirmation, Archbishop van Megen said, “moves us to go beyond our limits, to step over our fears; moves us into the unknown places that maybe we fear.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.