Praise for Confirmation Retreats at Castletown

For the past month at Castletown Retreat Centre we have been continuing our Confirmation Retreat Zoom sessions. It has been a real privilege to accompany the children on their journey towards this very significant Sacrament. What has come across very strongly is the enthusiasm of the children to engage with us and the wonderful work that the class teachers have been doing with the students.

The children are looking forward to receiving the Sacrament (despite not knowing the exact date of the Confirmation ceremony due to Government guidelines) and in the course of the four online sessions we have discussed the importance of God's love for them, the Fruits of the Spirit in their lives, appreciating all their blessings and recognising their own greatness. We have incorporated prayer and meditation in our programme and the feedback has been so positive.

One example of a teacher's feedback is as follows:

"The children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and couldn't wait for them each day. There was the perfect mix of fun, interaction and of course valuable Christian messages that have enhanced Confirmation preparation. It really didn't feel like a regular Zoom because there was such engagement between the three of you and the children. Thank you all. It is obvious that a great deal of preparation went into the programme. Please God we'll be able to visit Castletown next year."

At the moment we still have some Confirmation sessions to finish and then we shall look forward to a restful summer break before we recommence retreats in September. We give thanks for all the schools and children we have worked with over the past year and for the hearts we have touched and the hearts that have touched us too. 

Wishing you all a blessing-filled summer break.

Below is the concluding prayer we use with the children in our Confirmation programme and we pray the same for you all.

Castletown Pastoral Team - Derek, Marie, Micheál