CONFIRMATION
Sunday, January 21, 1:30 - 4:00 PM -- Candidate & Sponsor Retreat (SJPC)
Sunday, April 8, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM -- Candidate Retreat (Pro Sanctity) Thursday, April 19, 7:00 PM -- Confirmation Practice (SEA) Friday, April 20, 7:00 PM -- Confirmation (SEA) Thursday, April 26, 7:00 PM -- Confirmation Practice (SJ) Friday, April 27, 7:00 PM -- Confirmation (SJ) PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION
SO, WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT CONFIRMATION? Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism by John. Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit. Those who believed in the Apostles' preaching were baptized and received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. By the second century, Confirmation was also conferred by anointing with holy oil, which came to be called sacred Chrism. "This anointing highlights the name 'Christian,' which means 'anointed' and derives from that of Christ himself whom God 'anointed with the Holy Spirit'" (CCC, no. 1289, citing Acts 10:38). United States Catholic Catechism for Adults SEVEN THINGS TO DO NOW TO PREPARE... 1) TALK as a Family Our first and most important teachers are our parents. The family is the “domestic Church” because that’s the first place we learn about God and his call to holiness. Parents have an essential part to play in preparing for Confirmation. You can prepare as a family by:
2) SEEK out a Confirmation Sponsor A Confirmation sponsor is an adult Catholic who helps the candidate on his or her faith journey both before and after Confirmation. Choose someone who’s involved in a parish and is a positive Christian role model. The sponsor will participate in the preparation process and stand with the candidate during the Confirmation ceremony. Because Confirmation completes Baptism, a candidate’s baptismal sponsor (godparent) would be an excellent choice. Otherwise, sponsor requirements are:
3) CHOOSE a Confirmation Name God calls each of us by name. At Baptism, we receive the Christian name that we will take into eternity. At Confirmation, we again receive a name signifying the start of a new stage in our Christian life. It is customary to choose the name of a saint whose life and heroic virtues inspire the candidate to live a life of holiness. Candidates will be expected to explain the significance of their chosen name. 4) SERVE Others Candidates at our parishes are required to perform service in imitation of Christ. Candidates must complete 10 hours of service in the seventh grade, and 20 hours of service in the eighth grade. Candidates will be expected to perform, document and reflect on service done in four categories: 1) Family; 2) Parish/School; 3) Community; 4) Needy Individuals (elderly, sick, homebound, etc.). Service must be completed by April 1. Requirements are:
Alternate Service Projects Candidates may also complete the service requirement by participating in a single approved service project. The project must be approved in advance, and additional documentation/reflection may be required.
5) KNOW Your Faith The Archdiocese asks that candidates for Confirmation demonstrate knowledge of their faith by meeting the following standards:
6) REFLECT on Your Life An important part of preparation for Confirmation is reflecting on what we believe and how we can share our faith with others. Each candidate must provide a 50-word written response to each of the following prompts. Responses must show substantial thought and introspection (looking inside), and will be submitted as instructed by September 1. 1 My greatest personal strength is… 2 The person I most look up to is… 3) My family is… 4) My most cherished physical possession is… 5) The most difficult part of being Christian is… 6) A question I have about Catholicism is… 7) I give witness to my Christian faith by… 8) The most interesting thing about Jesus is… 9) Being a follower of Jesus today means… 10) When I pray I usually… 11) A time I felt especially close to God was… 12) The biggest problem in the world today is… 13) When I go to Mass, I often feel… 14) My biggest regret in life so far is… 15) What I need to change about myself is… 16) Right now I believe God is calling me to… 17) The first 3 Commandments are all about… 18) The final 7 Commandments are all about… 19) I could be a saint if… 20) I want to be Confirmed because... 7) PRAY, Pray, Pray… Pray often during the months ahead, both alone and with others. Candidates will be required to make a half-day retreat with sponsors (in January) and a full-day retreat closer to the date of Confirmation with just the candidates. Pray to your Guardian Angel and to your chosen Confirmation Saint. Memorize and recite often this Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; Enkindle in them the fire of Your Love. Send forth your spirit, and they shall be created; And you will renew the face of the earth. Amen. Click HERE for a digital version of this as a one-page handout! |
Confirmation at SJS
Students in eighth grade at St. James/Seton receive the sacrament of Confirmation in the spring at their respective parishes. This is the third "Sacrament of Initiation" (with Baptism and Eucharist), which seals us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthens us to live out our baptismal call as members of the Body of Christ. Information particular to students' sacramental preparation can be found here. |