Over 45 happy boys and girls received their Confirmation yesterday at the Church of The Sacred Heart, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co Tipperary, all attending from three primary schools in the immediate area.
The ceremony which began at 11.00am was presided over by His Grace, Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of the Cashel & Emly Diocese.
Archbishop Clifford was in Rome recently to ordain four Deacons at the Irish College in Rome on Easter Tuesday April 2nd last.
Speaking to the newly confirmed candidates, His Grace spoke of his visit to St. Peters Square in Rome to attend a Wednesday audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis, and afterwards his one to one meeting with the Holy Father.
Archbishop Clifford conveyed the good wishes of the Diocese to His Holiness and in return the Pope asked the Archbishop to pray for him. The Archbishop also passed on a request from His Holiness, latter who asked to be prayed for, by all residents of the Cashel & Emly Diocese.
Dept Of Social Protection Cut Exceptional Needs Payments For Religious Ceremonies
Meanwhile, nationally the Government has announced it is cutting the exceptional needs payments for religious ceremonies. Over €3.4m was paid out to over 14,000 families in Communion and Confirmation grants in 2011. This payout was drastically reduced in 2012 with some 12,500 families receiving €1.5m in assistance. This year the Department of Social Protection has decided this grant will be axed altogether.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) advise parents in low income circumstances to make out a budget, to fully estimate what they can really afford. They also suggest that celebrations be held at home rather than at restaurants & hotel venues to avoid unnecessary hardships.
Photo’s courtesy G.Willoughby.
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