Faith Journeys Reflections from Our New Confirmed

We congratulate fifteen members of our community who were baptised and confirmed or received into the Church this Easter.

Joy (Jenny)  

On the evening of my baptism, I felt both nervous and deeply grateful. As I arrived at the church and saw so many brothers and sisters, along with my family and friends, my heart was touched. I could feel God’s love surrounding me through everyone who came to support me.

Although it was a windy night, everyone remained sincere and devoted. Seeing this moved me deeply, and I truly appreciated the love and care from the church.

During the baptism, as I stepped forward, I felt a sense of peace in my heart. When the pastor used holy water and anointed my forehead, I felt as if I were being cleansed and accepted by God. Receiving the light from the candle reminded me that I now carry God’s light in my life.

At that moment, I was filled with gratitude. I felt thankful to God for guiding me to this day, thankful to the church for their kindness, and thankful to my family and friends for walking this journey with me.

When the ceremony was completed and everyone came to congratulate me, my heart was full of joy and emotion. It felt almost like a dream, yet at the same time, very real and meaningful.

This baptism is a new beginning in my life. I hope to continue walking with God, growing in faith, and living with a thankful heart every day.

Wai Sum (Joyce)

My daughter and I have been on this journey of catechumenate together since last September. With the companionship of fellow candidates and the guidance of our instructor, Pat, and the helpers, this period has become a deeply meaningful bond between us as mother and daughter. Being baptized together on 4 April this year filled our hearts with indescribable joy and grace.

Through the catechumenate programme, I have gradually come to realize that God’s love is not distant, but truly present in moments of mutual support and shared life within the community. Even in my weaknesses, I feel accepted and guided. After baptism, I have gained a deeper sense of inner peace and a stronger conviction that I am a beloved child of God. I have also learned to face life with greater compassion and faith.

I look forward to continuing to learn how to live out the teachings of the Bible in my daily life, allowing faith to become a source of strength. In the future, I hope to continue walking in God’s love with my daughter. I also hope that more friends who long for peace will come to know this programme, filled with love, and experience the warmth of the parish community.

Ken (Patrick)

My journey has been shaped by a personal encounter with God. This experience of Reception meant to me personally to become officially part of the Catholic Faith. I felt closest to God during this journey after the sacrament of reconciliation, and I have experienced God’s love in a new way by being able to be absolved of my past sins.

In terms of my identity in Christ, being a member of the Catholic Church means to me now to be focused and continue learning the faith. Being received has changed how I see myself, helping me to be more confident in prayer. I feel that God is giving me a new identity and purpose through a sense of belief, stronger faith and understanding.

As I continue in faith and growth, I am most excited to continue learning about meaningful events of the faith, holy days, the rosary, and more. I anticipate challenges in living out my faith, especially in trying to be able to be a good Christian. To continue to grow spiritually through prayer, Scripture and the sacraments, I will share in prayer through Masses & continue to pray in private, and be proud in what I believe in.

Within community and belonging, I have experienced the parish community so far as very warm and welcoming, with strong Catholic morals and beliefs, and a lot of respect for each other. I feel called to get involved and serve within the Church/Parish by assisting others and helping where I can. Those who can support me in my faith journey going forward include family, friends, parishioners, and priests.

In living it out, God is calling me to live differently now by being accepting of others and their beliefs. A small step I can take this week to live out my faith is by showing a good example, praying, and attending extra Masses. I can be a witness of Christ in my daily life by being proud of my faith and sharing my views with others.

Looking ahead, my hopes for my journey as a Catholic are to grow stronger in faith and continue learning. I see God leading me next to encourage others who may be looking for faith and to give reassurance, it is completely normal to feel unsure, hesitant or even anxious about joining the Catholic Church, faith is a journey, you're not required to understand everything about the catholic teaching, that's why the RCIA is designed to help you go through this journey together. Being a disciple means to me now being part of a ‘Faith Family’, praying together in my community, and attending Mass regularly.

John (Joseph ) B 🙏🏻🕊️(Catechist/Helper)

As a Catchiest helping individuals find their true faith I have felt honoured to have spent time with special individuals called to become Catholics .Learning from our group meetings we have grown together accepting Jesus in our lives , improving our understanding of the Sacraments , and why we attend mass as a group .You all have talents which  you can bring into our Church .Praying together we become stronger. God Bless you all in  your next steps of Faith.

Pat (Catechist Lead)

It is always a real privilege to be part of an RCIA group. We are all on a personal journey of faith, and we gain so much from sharing with each other. Whether leading, supporting or following a path into full Catholic belonging, we all give and receive gifts from each other. We learn together. And when we look back, we can see that the Spirit guides and calls us all. Each year, it is different and rich. For me personally, it gives great joy. It makes me hopeful and confident that our Catholic faith does attract people and our community in this parish is alive and growing. I am so glad to know all our new Catholics and hope and pray that their faith helps them to live deeply fulfilled lives.

Ceci (Faith Formation Coordinator)

This is my third year supporting the RCIA, and it’s a joy to accompany the candidates on their faith journey. It’s been a meaningful experience for me as well—their passion and faith constantly inspire and remind me of God’s work in our lives. I’m truly grateful for the amazing things God is doing among us. Let us continue to keep them and their vocations in our prayers.