A total of 283 young Catholics received the Sacrament of Confirmation during the 60th Annual Marian Feast at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish in Sargodha, Punjab province, as thousands of devotees from across Pakistan gathered for three days of prayer, worship and spiritual renewal from October 16 to 18.
Held under the theme “Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” the celebration brought together families, young people and parish delegations from different cities, towns and dioceses across the country.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi presided over the main Eucharistic Mass and urged families, educators and parish communities to prioritize the education, moral formation and spiritual development of children and young people.
Aligning his message with the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi’s pastoral focus on the Year of Children, the archbishop described young people as the future and strength of the Church.
He encouraged them to pursue higher education alongside technical and vocational training to develop the skills needed for independent and dignified lives.
Archbishop Arshad also highlighted the role of Mary, honored under the title Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in accompanying families through difficulties and interceding for peace, protection and healing.
Quoting Mary's response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” he encouraged the faithful to face challenges with courage, strengthen family unity and reject harmful practices such as slander.
He challenged the 283 newly confirmed young Catholics to become “missionaries of hope and soldiers of Christ,” putting their faith into practice through responsible Christian living.
The three-day feast featured a solemn procession, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, healing prayer services and moments of reflection. Schoolchildren also presented educational, cultural and spiritual performances highlighting harmony and moral formation.
The Confirmation ceremony was a major highlight of the jubilee celebration, marking a milestone in the young Catholics’ faith journey and their commitment to active participation in the Church.
St. Francis Xavier Parish, located on University Road in Sargodha, is one of the prominent Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi. The parish traces its missionary roots to the Capuchin missionaries and the subsequent pastoral work of the Mill Hill Missionaries.
Its wider institutional complex includes Presentation Convent High School, Sargodha Catholic High School, Sargodha Institute of Technology and Fatima Hospital, reflecting the parish’s involvement in education, vocational training and health care.
The Sargodha Institute of Technology, established by the Mill Hill Fathers in 1958, provides technical education and vocational skills for young people.
Parish Priest Fr. David John and his team of priests, religious sisters and organizing committees coordinated arrangements for the thousands of pilgrims.
Fr. David John thanked Archbishop Arshad for his pastoral guidance and expressed appreciation to visiting priests, religious sisters, catechists, choir members, security personnel and youth volunteers who helped organize the celebration.
He described the annual feast as an occasion for Catholics from across Pakistan to renew their faith, find spiritual consolation and strengthen their bonds of unity.
The jubilee celebration concluded with prayers for lasting peace, reconciliation and unity among families and communities throughout Pakistan.
Its wider institutional complex includes Presentation Convent High School, Sargodha Catholic High School, Sargodha Institute of Technology and Fatima Hospital, reflecting the parish’s involvement in education, vocational training and health care.
The Sargodha Institute of Technology, established by the Mill Hill Fathers in 1958, provides technical education and vocational skills for young people.
Parish Priest Fr. David John and his team of priests, religious sisters and organizing committees coordinated arrangements for the thousands of pilgrims.
Fr. David John thanked Archbishop Arshad for his pastoral guidance and expressed appreciation to visiting priests, religious sisters, catechists, choir members, security personnel and youth volunteers who helped organize the celebration.
He described the annual feast as an occasion for Catholics from across Pakistan to renew their faith, find spiritual consolation and strengthen their bonds of unity.
The jubilee celebration concluded with prayers for lasting peace, reconciliation and unity among families and communities throughout Pakistan.
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