Confirmation at Christ the King Plymouth

The Ordinary, Mgr Newton, with the
newly confirmed and her sponsor

With the blessing of Plymouth Cathedral Dean, Mgr Nannery, the Ordinariate celebrate the Confirmation of one of its young members, Saffi, at Christ the King in Plymouth today. The Ordinary travelled down from London for the day in order confer Confirmation. Saffi had been received into the Catholic Church in 2013 and after catechesis was ready to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. In the Ordinariate, Confirmation is conferred before First Holy Communion, and so it is conferred at a younger age compared to most Catholic parishes in England and Wales.

Leaving the Lady Chapel after singing
the Regina Caeli at the end of Mass.

Following the Mass (of Ss Philip and James) there was a lunch party in the hall. We were particularly pleased to welcome members of the Ordinariate from all over the area: including from Cornwall, and mid-Devon.

Saffi had chosen St Catherine as her confirmation name and patron, and Mgr Newton reminded her of the Bas Relief of St Catherine in Rome, of her wagging her finger at the Pope. Mgr Newton said she was a very strong and powerful Christian lady and so he expected Saffi to grow into a strong Catholic woman with the assistance of St Catherine's prayers.

Saffi chose a lemon cake for her Confirmation cake, which was made by her sponsor, Mrs Hellyer.

The Confirmation cake

The occasion was one of great blessing for us all, but especially we thanked God for His strengthening of young Saffi by Confirmation, to make her ready to be a good witness to Christ as she grows into adulthood.

Fr Ian