More than 100 Faithful Receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Madang.

Most Reverend Archbishop Anton Bal, Fr Marek Kondrat FD, Fr Joseph Yakawa Dio, and the candidates who received the Sacrament of Confirmation after the Mass Celebration

Sunday 19th July 2026, Holy Spirit Cathedral Parish, Madang Town, Madang Province.

“We are children of God and have an identity resembling God.” This was the beautiful reminder that His Grace Anton Bal, DD, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madang, delivered to the candidates and faithful during a special Sacrament of Confirmation Mass on Sunday, 19^th of July 2026. The Mass Celebration saw more than 100 candidates receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. His Grace Archbishop Anton was the main presider of the Holy Mass Celebration along with two co–celebrants, Fr Marek Kondrat FD and Fr Joseph Yakawa Dio. The liturgy was beautifully led by students and families of Tusbab High School, Madang Technical College and Kusbau Primary School.

Referring to the reading in Romans (8: 26 – 27), His Grace stated in his homily that we are children of God and have an identity resembling God. We have the desire to relate perfectly with God. However, as human beings, we fall short in expressing our desires and wishes to God. He added that as much as we would like to express the things in our hearts to God using beautiful words, we struggle most times to find the right words to use. This reminds us that we are not perfect. In those moments, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with God.

His Grace further explained to the candidates that the Sacrament of Confirmation is the middle of the 7 Sacraments and likened the sacraments to a child who is growing up and must take on more responsibility to do what is right. At this stage, candidates as Christians must now take responsibility and make the right choices for their lives – Godly choices. He concluded his homily by encouraging the Candidates of Confirmation to make time to converse and present their desires to God.

As the celebration drew to a close, the faithful were reminded that the Sacrament of Confirmation is not only a milestone of grace, but also a call to live with courage, prayer, and responsibility. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, may these newly confirmed candidates continue to walk in faith, make godly choices, and faithfully present their lives and desires to God, confident in the promise that the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us and draws us ever closer to the heart of the Father.