The Sacrament of Confirmation is a significant step in the growth and development of every Catholic, necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. At Confirmation, we affirm our commitment to God and the Church and receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The grace of this sacrament deepens our faith and brings us into a more abundant life with Christ, and strengthens us to share the love of Jesus Christ with others.
Most Catholics are confirmed after formation in a Catholic school or a parish religious education program. Older teenagers and adults are also invited to prepare for this sacrament through Confirmation classes, which will provide a better understanding of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives in this sacrament Church. If you are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for yourself or your child, please contact our parish office so that we can assist you.
Common Questions – Confirmation
Being sealed and strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit to be a living witness to Christ
No. Catholics acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin. If you were baptized validly in a different Evangelical Christian faith tradition, you will be received to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, then you will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. This is usually done during the Easter Vigil, after the completion of the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) program.
Yes, we receive the Holy Spirit during Baptism. During Confirmation, the soul of a baptized Christian is imprinted with the permanent seal that sets you apart as a Christian forever. “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!’;
It unites us more firmly to Christ;
It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
It renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1303)
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are (1 Corinthians 12:8-10):
- Wisdom
- Understanding
- Counsel
- Fortitude
- Knowledge
- Piety
- Fear of the Lord
Receiving these gifts at Confirmation equips the confirmand to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ and the Gospel.