The Confirmation candidates of St Martin de Porres RC Church, Penal, and their families took part in a Bible enthronement ceremony on November 16 as part of the community’s Bible Month activities.  An effort is being made to integrate all the children who attend catechetical programmes, especially Confirmation, into the life of the church. 

At the beginning of the service celebrated by Deacon Tristram Mathura, the children and their families processed into the church carrying first the paschal candle and banner, and then a bible. Some held ribbons of varied colours which were draped over the open bible and others carried scripture verses.  The coloured ribbons signified the connectivity and community built by the word of God.

As they stood before the altar, Rev Mathura prayed that the word would always be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  He blessed the area of enthronement and a copy of the Christian Community Bible was placed there, along with lighted candles.  The congregation later came forward and touched the bible as they prayed for openness to the word.

Rev Mathura proclaimed the Gospel from the enthroned bible.

At the end of the celebration, two of the Confirmation candidates, with the aid of charts, shared what they had learnt about the bible. Below are their charts which explain that the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments, with the Old Testament speaking to and about the people of God, the Israelites, and the New Testament speaking to the people of God, Christians.  Each Testament is divided into four sections: Books of Law, Historical, Wisdom and Prophetic.

This method of encouraging Confirmation candidates to share what they have been learning with the wider community makes the learning meaningful and builds leadership qualities in the children.

– Bernadette Gopaul-Ramkhalawan

Old Testament                                        

New Testament