In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the Christian life heroically.
Confirmation gives us the tools to be witnesses to Christ.
Becoming a Full Member
Adult Confirmation
Confirmation is the completion of one’s Baptism and makes one a full member of the Church.
Adults (over 18) who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation are invited to participate in Adult Confirmation Classes in the Spring–after which they will be Confirmed either at the Cathedral with many other adults or at St. Anthony with our youth. Contact Fr. Pat or Bonnie for more information.
Becoming a Full Member
Youth Confirmation
Seventh Grade is the year when we prepare our students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. But, any student between 7th and 12th Grade is welcome in our Confirmation Program. Our program consists of weekly classes beginning on Sunday, Sept 24, 2023 and culminates on Sunday June 30, 2023 with Confirmation with the Bishop.
Requirements of Program:
- Weekly Classes
- Provide a Baptismal Certificate
- Choosing a Sponsor and a Saint
- 4 Hours of Service Work
- Confirmation Retreat & Daily Prayer
Youth Confirmation Materials
Requirements of Program Continued:
All the requirements listed to the left are spelled out in our Confirmation Workbook. Click the image below.
Confirmation Sponsor Eligibility Form
Confirmation Sponsor Information Form
Online Fillable Forms for Sponsors:
Click here to register for the Class.
Explanation of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Below is a simple outline that can navigate you to one of the five sections.
Sacraments of Initiation
- Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Originally, infants received all three of these Sacraments together. The Orthodox still preserve this tradition.
- As the Church grew, Bishops could not be everywhere to perform these three sacraments. So, priests were given the authority to administer Baptism and 1st Eucharist. Confirmation was reserved for the Bishop—when he could make it to a given area.
- Some think of Confirmation as being the Sacrament of Adulthood.
- This seems to make sense due to our current practice of Confirming our adolescents.
- However, since it was received by infants in the early Church, this is not the Church’s understanding of Confirmation. Confirmation is linked to Baptism and it completes one’s initiation into the Church.
- This being said, Confirmation is still a good opportunity for our adolescents to make the faith their own and to make an adult decision to follow Christ.
Fruits of Confirmation
- Perfects Baptismal Grace.
- Gives the Holy Spirit to Root us more deeply in divine filiation.
Incorporates us more firmly in Christ.- Strengthens our bond with the Church.
- Associates us more closely with her mission.
- Helps us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.
The Difference Between Baptism and Confirmation
- Baptism: Seems to focus on the salvation of the individual:
- It is directed at the individual and him/her becoming a new creation, a Temple of the Holy Spirit and brought into a community of faith.
- Confirmation: Focuses the individual outward—on the salvation of the world:
- We’re given the power of the Holy Spirit to live our faith and to witness to Christ in the world—to evangelize.
- In Confirmation the Holy Spirit strengthens us for mission.
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We are empowered with gifts and Fruits of the Spirit:
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The Seven Isaiah gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, council, strength, knowledge, fear of the lord, and piety (cf Isaiah 11:1-3).
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The Fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
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In Confirmation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. A seal is a mark of ownership. In Baptism, we are adopted into the family of God. In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit claims us and empowers us to be sent out as representatives of Christ and the Church to the world.
Symbols
Oil:- Signifies the seal of the Holy Spirit, a mark of ownership.
- Thus, the person now belongs to Christ.
- The sweet fragrance of the oil is a sign that our lives should emit the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
- Laying on of Hands by the Bishop:
- Signifies the giving of the Spirit.
- The Bishop is a successor to the Apostles, who
imparted the Spirit on others by the laying on of hands.
