CONFIRMATION

"Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit, His actions, His gifts, and His biddings, in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands."

–Catechism of the Catholic Church #1309

Confirmation is the third sacrament of initiation and an acknowledgement of the
commitment of faith our parents made for us at baptism. Through Confirmation, we are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and sent forth to grow in faith and love for Christ.

Our diocesan guidelines state that Confirmation preparation is a part of Youth Ministry. Therefore, in order to prepare for Confirmation, we invite high school aged students to participate fully in the parish.

Confirms Baptism:  When we were baptized, our parents and our god-parents made a commitment to raise us in such a way that our lives would reflect the life of Christ.  In and through the sacrament of Confirmation, we confirm this commitment and assume full responsibility for living out the call to be the presence of Christ in our world today.

Completes the Sacraments of Initiation:  The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Confirmation is the completion of the Sacraments of Initiation.  In other words, once one is confirmed in our diocese, one has full membership in the faith community.  It should be noted that although Confirmation technically completes the Sacraments of Initiation in our diocese, our daily or weekly celebration of Eucharist (Mass) is the culmination of all sacraments and brings us all to fullness or "completion."

Bestows Upon us the Gift of the Holy Spirit: In and through the sacrament of Confirmation, one formally recognizes, acknowledges and celebrates the fact that one has been gifted by the Holy Spirit one's whole life.  So, it is not that the Holy Spirit "all of a sudden" appears at Confirmation. Rather, it is we who "all of a sudden" recognize, acknowledge and celebrate the gift of the ever-present Spirit in the midst of the parish community.

Is a Commitment to Embrace Christianity:  Christianity is our Faith.  It is who we are.  To embrace Christianity is to share oneself unconditionally with others the way one shares a loaf of bread with friends.  Thusly, Confirmation is a commitment to love the way Jesus, the Bread of Life, loved.

Is a Commitment to Accept and Practice Roman Catholicism:  Roman Catholicism is our religion.  It is the Tradition through which we choose to express who we are. Confirmation is a commitment to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate who we are in and through the Roman Catholic Religious Tradition.

Is a Commitment to Share the Gift of Ourselves With Our Parish Family of Christ the King:  We, the Church, believe that all of us make up the Body of Christ.  As a parish community, we believe that when we gather around the Table (the Altar), we do not gather as individuals as one would gather at a ball game, but rather, we gather as One Body.  We commit to share life with one another in order to build up the Body of Christ.

Is a Beginning:  In our highly academic society, it is easy for us to mistake Confirmation as a graduation from the parish."  It is very tempting for us to see it as an end.  But Confirmation is a beginning. Confirmation marks the beginning of a new chapter in one's faith journey.

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit.”

–John 20:22