Confirmations at Blackfriars

As Pentecost approaches, the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in many parishes. However, as the Priory of the Holy Spirit in Oxford is not a parish church, we seldom witness this wonderful sacrament in our community. This year on 8 May, we were happy to welcome 15 boys from Magdalen College School and their families and friends to our Conventual Mass, during which they were confirmed by Bishop William Kenney CP, the area bishop for Oxford.

The boys had been prepared for Confirmation for several months by fr Daniel Jeffries OP and Dr Paul Shrimpton who is a teacher at the school. The Dominican community has an on-going pastoral involvement with Magdalen College School, which is why they were confirmed in Blackfriars rather than in their own parish churches.

Please pray for all who have been confirmed recently and for all who will receive this sacrament during this season of Easter and Pentecost:

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them
to be their helper and guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.