Page 88 - The Gonzaga Record 1989
P. 88
March
The meetings with the boys started, many during the Easter holidays.
There were five meetings, each with its own theme, but there was always
the flexibility to vary the theme and use whichever scriptural readings
seemed the most helpful. We always ended with a short prayer (many
were said for the Junior Cup Team around that time).
The boys, too, must have felt some initial trepidation. Was it to be
another religious class? Were they expected to know the answers? They,
too, were to realise that it was not the intellectual knowledge of their
Faith which was being challenged, but an exploration of a living Faith
experience as a journey together.
The sessions were demanding but enjoyable for the Faith Friends and
the boys, but also enormously rewarding for all concerned. Not only did
they hopefully throw a new light on the relevance of Confirmation, but
the involvement of other adults added a community dimension to the
event.
April
The great day arrived-there were no doves and no tongues of fire and
no speaking in strange tongues - but we were confident that there was
a keener awareness of this rite of initiation and its relevance for a living
Christian community. We have no doubt that the sharing of Faith
between boys and Faith Friends gave a much deeper understanding of the
day to boys and parents which can only have added to the joy of
celebration which followed.
The hardest question to answer is whether the boys or the Faith
Friends benefited the most - perhaps that can be left to the Holy Spirit!
Finally, we are all indebted to Fr Brennan and Mr McNelis who put
so much time, energy and enthusiasm into the organisation of this new
venture.
Gina Menzies
86
The meetings with the boys started, many during the Easter holidays.
There were five meetings, each with its own theme, but there was always
the flexibility to vary the theme and use whichever scriptural readings
seemed the most helpful. We always ended with a short prayer (many
were said for the Junior Cup Team around that time).
The boys, too, must have felt some initial trepidation. Was it to be
another religious class? Were they expected to know the answers? They,
too, were to realise that it was not the intellectual knowledge of their
Faith which was being challenged, but an exploration of a living Faith
experience as a journey together.
The sessions were demanding but enjoyable for the Faith Friends and
the boys, but also enormously rewarding for all concerned. Not only did
they hopefully throw a new light on the relevance of Confirmation, but
the involvement of other adults added a community dimension to the
event.
April
The great day arrived-there were no doves and no tongues of fire and
no speaking in strange tongues - but we were confident that there was
a keener awareness of this rite of initiation and its relevance for a living
Christian community. We have no doubt that the sharing of Faith
between boys and Faith Friends gave a much deeper understanding of the
day to boys and parents which can only have added to the joy of
celebration which followed.
The hardest question to answer is whether the boys or the Faith
Friends benefited the most - perhaps that can be left to the Holy Spirit!
Finally, we are all indebted to Fr Brennan and Mr McNelis who put
so much time, energy and enthusiasm into the organisation of this new
venture.
Gina Menzies
86
