My name is Niamh Devlin and I am in 6th class at St. Mura’s N.S, Tooban. I am in the final few days of my joyous and slightly hectic journey through primary school. This year has certainly been an exciting one, between preparing for secondary school and Confirmation I feel that I have grown so much as a young person. I celebrated my Confirmation of the 4th of June in St. Mura’s church, Fahan and I was lucky enough to celebrate it with all of my family and friends. I was eager to welcome the Holy Spirit into my life and I hope to put its gifts to good use. We prepared eagerly for Confirmation, learning lots of valuable lessons. A few lessons that stand out to me were learning about morality, parables that Jesus told us, the Beatitudes and learning about people such as Father Peter McVerry and John Hume.
I attended the Fan The Flame Mass with my classmates and pupils from other schools in our diocese. I found the Mass to be a very uplifting and enlightening experience. We learned a lot about our diocese this year so it was nice to see all the other candidates in the diocese. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and we even got to meet Bishop McKeown.
I feel very excited and a bit nervous about secondary school but I am more than ready for the next adventure that it will bring. I hope to use the Holy Spirit in the next few years to help me to become a responsible young adult and to live just as God wishes. I understand now that I am a young adult in the eyes of the church and I am very willing to take on the responsibility of being a valued member of my community.
Niamh Devlin is a 6th Class pupil at Saint Mura’s National School, Tooban, in the Parish of Burt, Inch and Fahan, Diocese of Derry.