As the third and final Sacrament of Initiation into the church, the Sacrament of Confirmation can be seen as an interior movement that affects a more mature and active participation in the life of the faith community. Through this Sacrament, we are enriched with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which brings to perfection the grace we first received in Baptism. “Confirmed people more closely identify themselves with Jesus Christ. They reflect more deeply on how living by Jesus’ values affects their relationships with friends, family, and strangers. They desire to be Christ’s hands and feet, reaching out to serve others in need. They hope that when other people hear their words and see their actions, those people see a reflection of Christ acting in the world today. This is one of the reasons the programs preparing [young people] for Confirmation usually have a strong focus on the life of Jesus.” (The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, 3rd ed., Saint Mary’s Press.)
Preparing for Confirmation
If you would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, contact us to find out more about preparation. Registration forms can be found here and online registration is available here. For this year's detailed information on requirements, deadlines, retreats, and class schedules for Confirmation, please see page 8-9 of the Faith Formation Brochure here.
Youth need to have a solid foundation through Catholic School, Faith Formation and/or Youth Ministry sessions before beginning Confirmation Preparation. In our Diocese, preparation is a two-year process, beginning no sooner than grade 8 (provided the young person has already been enrolled in Catholic School or Faith Formation prior to grade 8).