Almost 300 Gozitan girls and boys received the sacrament of Confirmation in a collective ceremony on the parvis of Ta’ Pinu sanctuary.

The ceremony, led by the new Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Aldo Cavalli, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and the Maltese bishops, anointed 267 boys and girls, aged between 12 and 13.

For the first time, the youngsters wore a cape or toga, which Mgr Grech said helped refocus the ceremony on its religious significance.

We wanted to help children and families celebrate it in a dignified and simplified way

“It is something new we are introducing this year and will continue. Those with experience of such ceremonies know that the Confirmation ceremony used to look like a fashion show,” he said during the morning TV programme TVAM yesterday.

Mgr Grech said that when he used to preside over such ceremonies, he used to ask himself whether the girls were wearing their own clothes or those of adults.

This decision followed a similar one taken by late Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi who had introduced a common dress code for those who received their First Holy Communion.

Aside from being a fashion statement, Mgr Grech said the practice was becoming an expense for families.

In fact, businesses who rented out outfits were among the first to protest the decision, he said. “We wanted to cleanse it (the Confirmation ceremony) from all things that detract from its essence and help children and families celebrate it in a dignified and simplified way”.

Speaking about the choice of material for the cape, Mgr Grech said they looked into the possibility of using a less expensive material. However, the parish priests wanted it to be of good quality and the “expense will be shouldered by the parish community and not by the family”.

Mgr Grech said the Church was celebrating Pentecost, which this Sunday marks the end of the Easter season in the Christian calendar and celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

“We are celebrating Pentecost. The journey of the Holy Spirit brought about a strong movement that improved the quality of life of mankind,” he said.

The Holy Spirit was similar to a “strong wind” that would shake up things that were at a standstill in people’s lives.

“We want Pentecost to have this effect on our hearts, families and society,” he said.

“It is a feast for all - not only for adolescents – because we renew the choice we made in favour of Christ. Through His spirit we will be a presence that will make a difference in society,” Mgr Grech said.