Seventeen people received the sacrament of confirmation at St Mary's Cathedral last night (Thursday 30 July).

The sacrament completes the process of initiation into the Church and is the means by which Catholics receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

In his homily, Archbshop Cushley said: "My dear friends, as you are confirmed tonight, God’s Spirit will come to live in you.

"In the coming days and years, open your minds and hearts. Learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, that will now dwell deep within your heart; learn again to pray; learn to pray by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and learn to pray as a Christian ought to pray, in the Holy Spirit, through Christ, to the Father.

"And learn to listen for the inspiration of the Spirit guiding you in your lives, in whatever you do, to be witnesses always to God’s goodness."

Archbishop Cushley used the Chrism oil that was blessed at the Chrism Mass last week in the ceremony, making the sign of the cross on their foreheads. It's a sign of the connection to Baptism which is the first time people are anointed with oil.

Read the full homily here. Tomorrow (Saturday 01 August), two seminarians will be ordained deacons at St Mary's - Bobby Taylor and Martin Eckersley. 

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(All pictures by Benedicta Lin)