Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler of Cambodia administered the sacrament of confirmation to forty-one young people at Saint Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Samrong Thom village, Kein Svay district, Kandal province, 30 kilometers from the capital Phnom Penh.
Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler asked the confirmation candidates three times to confirm their faith in God and unfollow Satan and reject Satan’s temptations. The candidates replied in affirmative, bowing their heads on the mat with a prayer to God seeking mercy and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“The sign of the confirmation is the Holy Spirit, the love of God, the life of God, the wisdom of God, the courage and strength of God, which goes forth unto you to be a Witness of God, " said bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler in his homily on February 13.
The bishop told the confirmation candidates to receive the Holy Spirit to enter in the life of God – a life given to us on earth.
“God wants us to be happy with Jesus,” bishop Olivier said. “God Himself bring us happiness in heaven in the future. The life we receive from God fills us with love - full of energy to proclaim the Gospel in our lives. God changes the tears that make us tired and to be full of joy with God Himself.”
Bishop Olivier said, “What we do on earth today will be a heavenly inheritance in the future.”
Bishop Schmitthaeusler encouraged the faithful to reflect on good behaviors, like caring for others, behaviors that bring about forgiveness and display mercy.
“Let us not love only by speaking but let us love in practicing in our day-to-day activities,” said the bishop of Cambodia. “Listen carefully to the Word of God and live in the love of God so that our lives will be brighter and can guide others in today's society.
Nay Bunny, a newly confirmed parishioner from Saint Mary Immaculate Catholic Church said "the Confirmation today made me excited and speechless. Holy Spirit, help me. I become a Catholic because I love helping the poor and who are suffering.”
Nguyen Veng Ven, another candidate, said that this sacrament gave him strength, joy and can meet the bishop. Veng Ven noted that he wants to serve God after the confirmation by using his talent. “I will join the core group because I love this so much.”
The forty-one candidates are from parishes in the Mekong Pastoral sector, namely Rong Chhak, Praek Dach, Samrong Thom and Kampong Chamlong.
The sacrament of Confirmation is the second sacrament in the Catholic church. The Catholic church has seven sacraments: baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Ordination, and Marriage.
With inputs from Kagna Keo.
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