The Roman Catholic Church in Bermuda celebrated Pentecost Sunday with a special confirmation service led by Bishop Robert Kurtz at St Theresa’s Cathedral.According to Essie Hans, Director of Religious Education for the Diocese in Bermuda: “Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium, ‘Pentecost is a major feast in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, on par with Christmas and Easter. It commemorates the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus when the glorified Jesus Christ poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and disciples as related in chapter two of the Acts of the Apostles. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is revealed as a divine person and the mystery of the Holy Trinity is fully manifested’.”Pentecost Sunday was celebrated at masses at Catholic churches across the Island, however, a special service was held for those young adults from among the parish churches to come together and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Bishop himself.“Confirmation for our young emerging adults is the fulfillment of their baptismal promises made by their parents at their baptism. The conjunction of the two celebrations signifies the unity of the paschal mystery, the close link between the mission of the Son, Jesus Christ, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the connection between the two sacraments through which the Son and the Holy Spirit come with the Father to those who are baptised.”“For our young people, this means being fully initiated into their faith and retain the support of the people of God, going forth with the help of others, growing and maturing as they themselves commence the faith-filled journey of loving and helping others as witnesses to Jesus Christ.”At the service, 48 young people received confirmation. During the ceremony, their godparent places their right hand on the shoulder of the candidate, and the candidate then requests the sacrament blessing.“The Bishop dips his right thumb in the Chrism oil, an oil blessed during Holy Week, and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed, saying, ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’,” explained Mrs Hans.Also participating in the service were Fr. Joseph Scollard of St. Anthony and St. Joseph; Fr. Joseph Morley of Stella Maris; Fr. Vladimir Sobolewski of St. Patrick’s; Fr. Paul Voisin of St. Theresa’s Cathedral; Fr. Attilio Morelli of St. Michael; and Fr. Julio Blazeiewski, the Episcopal Vicar for the Portuguese community.