Sacrament of Confirmation Celebrated at St. Joseph’s Parish, Gujranwala
Gujranwala – May 30, 2025 — A moment of profound grace unfolded at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Gujranwala, as 100 young faithful received the Sacrament of Confirmation on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Benny Mario Travas, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore.
The parish community, under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Fr. Francis Gulzar, Parish Priest, and Rev. Fr. Raheel George, warmly welcomed His Grace with great reverence and joy. The celebration marked not only the conferral of the gifts of the Holy Spirit but also a deep encounter with the mission of the Church through the example of the Blessed Mother.
In his inspirational homily, Archbishop Travas reflected on the Feast of the Visitation, highlighting the life-changing power of genuine Christian encounters. “There are moments in life when our encounters leave no impact, but there are also divine visitations—like that of Mary and Elizabeth—that deeply transform and direct our lives,” he said. Drawing from the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Grace invited the confirmands and the faithful to reflect on three key attitudes essential to living a Christian life:
- Preparation for Encounter – Genuine spiritual encounters, like Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, require interior readiness. “If you want to find happiness and bring joy to others,” the Archbishop said, “be prepared to give your best—just as Mary gave Jesus.”
- Sacrificial Love – Echoing Mary’s self-giving love, the Archbishop urged the newly confirmed to embrace service, sacrifice, and even suffering for others as a means of bringing Christ to the world.
- Bringing Jesus to Others – Like Mary, who bore Christ to Elizabeth, the Archbishop exhorted the faithful to be bearers of Christ’s presence in every encounter, especially through the witness of love, humility, and generosity.
The celebration concluded with the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a beautiful act of Marian devotion that marked the close of May, the month traditionally dedicated to Our Lady.
A large number of parishioners, religious sisters, catechists, and lay leaders participated reverently in the liturgy, which was followed by expressions of heartfelt gratitude. Rev. Fr. Francis Gulzar offered thanks to God for the grace-filled day. He thanked His Grace, all the concelebrating priests, religious communities, pastoral teams, and parish groups who contributed to the spiritual success of this milestone event.
Stay connected with more sacramental celebrations and diocesan news at www.catholicslahorefocus.com
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