After a few years of trying to get it right, on-going catechesis is now fully implemented in St Dominic’s parish, Morvant.

First Holy Communion children with Fr Merrick

Confirmation candidates with Archbishop Harris

New altar servers

On June 17, 20 children made their First Holy Communion and on July 12, 16 worthy candidates received the sacrament of Confirmation. Simultaneously, five new altar servers were initiated. The training for receipt of the sacraments took what seemed like a lifetime but in fact it was only two years. At the Confirmation ceremony, Archbishop Joseph Harris congratulated the youth who endured to the end as there are so many distractions that clamour for their attention in this digital age. The benefit of having the programme for this length of time is that the youth grow in genuine relationship with fellow group members and the parish community before receiving the sacrament. According to Fr Dwight Merrick, “this has worked like a charm in that the First Communion day and Confirmation day has stopped being a graduation exercise, where the children disappear from church”. Rather, after these days, they filter into the various ministries of the Church since after this period of time, they are well bonded and are familiar with the operations of parish life.

As part of their program, the children and youth are trained in dramatisation of the gospel for Easter and Christmas concerts, they go on external overnight retreats, take part in the annual parish events such as Fun Day, work in stalls for the parish harvest and go to Corpus Christi processions and the more recent “March for Jesus”.

Both days were very happy defining moments for the parish community. The youth expressed their love and appreciation for the parish priest and catechists for steering them on the right course and the leaders of the various ministries were happier yet as the youth would increase the complement of lectors, collectors and altar servers, in addition to revitalising their own Youth ministry.

Archbishop Harris encouraged them to say “yes” when they hear God’s call to the priesthood and religious life. He was assured by Parish Co-ordinator, Thora Best, that the adults of the community will continue in their efforts to foster vocations and mentioned that the Vocations Cup had been passed around from family to family in the parish every week since its inception, specifically with the intention of praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. – Cheryl-Ann Mader, parishioner