Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:

Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. (no. 11)

Scriptural Foundation for Confirmation

In the Acts of the Apostles we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, confirmation gives birth to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to the active messianic mission of Christ in the world.

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at our Parish

Youth Confirmation Preparation

The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation completes one’s initiation into the Catholic Church by bestowing upon the person the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Youth preparation for Confirmation at Sacred Heart Parish is a one-year preparation process. The purpose of the one-year timeframe is to introduce and prepare the youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as to prepare the youth for a lifetime of living out the Catholic Faith. During this process, the following are the steps to be taken by parents, Confirmation candidates, and their Confirmation sponsors:

*Parents with youth in sacramental preparation should send in a copy of the youth’s baptismal certificate to the Faith Formation Office.

1. Sacramental formation is not a 1-2 hour per week process, but rather it is ongoing and requires attention to the spiritual life outside of the church building. During preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is recommended that:
2. Parents attend Mass weekly with their teen preparing for Confirmation. It is vital that Confirmation candidates witness their parents’ faith in action as they prepare to receive the Sacrament.
3. Confirmation candidates attend all class sessions during the year.
4. Discuss the faith as a family. Whether this is simply by talking about the homily or readings after Mass, or setting aside time each week around the dinner table to have open and honest conversations about the faith.
5. During the preparation process, candidates spend time researching their Confirmation Saint and reflecting upon their place in the Catholic Church today.
6. All Confirmation candidates attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once during the Season of Lent in anticipation of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation after the Easter Season.
   
   
7. Confirmation is typically after the Easter Season or during Pentecost of a youth’s 8th grade year.
8. If a child has 3 or more absences during 8th grade, they will be required to meet with the Faith Formation Director and Pastor, along with their parents, to discuss a plan going forward.
   
   
9. Since sacramental preparation is also preparation for full and active participation in the parish community, Confirmation candidates will be asked to be involved in outreach service, Confirmation classes, and a yearly retreat.
10. With the communal aspect in mind, there is not an at-home or home study option for sacramental preparation.
11. Each Confirmation candidate will be asked to participate in a service project at the parish during class time. Service projects are intended to allow the candidates an opportunity to live out the lessons that they have learned during Faith Formation.
    
    

Finally, it is important to mention that the Confirmation process at Sacred Heart Parish is intended to provide a safe communal environment for the candidates to share their faith and receive guidance on how they can better live out their faith. This question of living out the faith is important to emphasize during this one-year process as it both draws upon prior knowledge and also provides the beginning of a foundation for continued faith formation. The whole purpose of Confirmation is not to set the stage for “Catholic graduation,” but rather for continued participation in the parish community.

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for Adults who have not been fully initiated into the Catholic Church

If you are an adult seeking to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation after first receiving the Sacraments of Baptism and First Holy Communion, you will take part in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process. However, since you are already a baptized Catholic Christian, you will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Colorado Springs. Those preparing for Confirmation alongside OCIA candidates and catechumens are encouraged to take part in the Holy Week Liturgies along with the candidates and catechumens.