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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, ‘Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit’

This Sunday at St Joseph’s, Guildford, the Parish Church of the ‘Guildford Catholic Parish’, (of which our Community of St Joan of Arc is a part of, along with Heath End, Ash, Godalming & Milford, Cranleigh & Bramley, Haslemere, Hindhead and Chiddingfold), 22 of our own teenagers will be Confirmed and sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They complete their Sacraments of Initiation and play a fuller part in the life of the Church.

The effects of this sacrament are:

• To strengthen the Christian who is in a spiritual battle. By receiving and co-operating with the gifts of the Spirit they are better able to overcome sin and live a devout life.
• To perfect Baptism, giving the Christian an active power to be fruitful in life, especially in regards embracing and living out our vocation – to the consecrated virginity of the single life, or the joy and graces of Holy Matrimony, the Religious Life or Holy Orders.
• To be a solider of Christ, to take up the spiritual weapons of prayer and formation and be effective in our mission to announce and defend the Catholic and Apostolic Faith.
• To bring about a closer union with Christ and his Church. If this Sacrament simply becomes a ‘sacrament of exit’, all the grace on offer simply withers and fades away.

For those who will be in school years 10, 11 or 12 from September, and are contemplating receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2027, now is the time to ensure that the Holy Mass, especially on a Sunday is the source and summit of your life. Applications will open in October.

Please note: On 26th July, Fr. Simon is on the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage. Fr. Gilmour will say the 5pm (Sat), 9.15am and 11.15am Mass. There will be no 5pm Sunday evening Mass.