Confirmation
For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.
--Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1285
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of our Catholic faith. Every sacrament is a special moment in our life with God and a deepening of our growth as God’s people. God gives us his life in Baptism, shares His Son with us in Eucharist, forgives us in Reconciliation, strengthens us during the Anointing of the Sick, blesses our love in Marriage and ordains us to a special role in the church through Holy Orders.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is that moment when you, you yourself, promise God that you will be a faithful member of His Church. It is the public event during which you pronounce your “YES” to the process which was begun at your Baptism.
Confirmation gives you the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts help you remain faithful to your promise.
The Sacrament of Confirmation welcomes us and deepens our belonging to the faith community; deepens our relationship to God, as Creator, Redeemer and Spirit; strengthens us as disciples.
A sacrament is part of the way that God loves us and calls us. A sacrament is God’s love expressed as a free, undeserved gift. The Gift within Confirmation is that of strengthening us for discipleship and deepening our belonging to the faith community through the Trinity.
Youth Confirmation
The sacrament of confirmation is ordinarily celebrated when students are juniors in high school. Preparation includes high school religious education classes, community service, and a confirmation retreat. Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation and, as such, is usually celebrated during the Easter Season.
Adult Confirmation
Baptized Adults
For a variety of reasons, many baptized adults (who may or may not have made their First Reconciliation and First Communion) have never been confirmed. Convenient individual and small group confirmation preparation sessions are offered year-round at the parish. See the Becoming Catholic (RCIA) page for more information.
Unbaptized Adults
For unbaptized adults, confirmation is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). For more information, see the Becoming Catholic (RCIA) page.
