Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Vacation time for most kids is at an end. The Lazy days and the sleep-ins are over. The early mornings, the return to discipline of the early morning call from Mum or Dad, the homework and all that’s involved with going to school begins anew. Here in the parish the first meeting of the Fall religious education programs is on August 24th. Confirmation is the first program. We talk of confirmation as the sacrament of the Holy Spirit, where we receive the gifts of the Spirit. I like to think of confirmation as the Sacrament of taking responsibility for the promises of baptism made on our behalf many years before. We begin to become Adult Christians as we journey towards adulthood. We put into action in our lives the practices we have learned over the years and we begin to share our faith with others in word and deed. We have been part of the family centered faith formation and we have listened and learned together. At confirmation we move to a different level and once again we ask: how do I interact with God? How do I interact with others? How do I live my faith out in my daily life? We interact with God in our prayer, in listening, in reading the word of God and in the Eucharist. We try to keep and live his commandments in our daily life. We interact with others and show God’s care for us when we act courteously towards others, when we try to be there for others, by listening and by assisting when needed. We get in involved in an organization or church group that helps the sick or needy. Above all we show by example that we are trustworthy and caring individuals. In all of these things we develop a relationship with our God and we try to put that relationship into everything we do. Thank you for being part of our Parish and for getting involved in our religious education programs. Let our believing journey continue with Christ as our center and rock. Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl