At confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm our baptismal promises.  Greater awareness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred through the anointing of Chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop.  The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of initiation.  Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith.  The sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation correspond to this twofold nature of God's gift, first entrance into His family, and secondly our heroic living as witnesses in that relationship, called to be Saints.

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"For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." (John 6:27)

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Every person preparing for Confirmation needs one sponsor or godparent. A godparent helps the parents to ensure the confirmand will come to profess the Faith and live up to it.  The sponsor, need not be a member of the same parish as the confirmand but must meet the following qualifications:

    *At least 16 years of age

     *Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church

     *Have received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist

     *Freedom from any impediment of law to their fulfilling the office of sponsor

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Confirmation Name

The Church has retained the custom wherein a young person preparing for Confirmation may select a "Confirmation Name."  Points of consideration in choosing a confirmation name are as follows:

     

     *Only one Saint name is chosen.

     *This name should not be foreign to Christian sensibilities.

     *Names should be of like gender to the confirmed.

     *The names should be submitted to the Confirmation Coordinator for approval.

     *The Confirmation name should be presented in its proper form, rather than in the        

      diminutive (e.g., John instead of Jack; Susan instead of Sue).

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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.  

 

After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing confirmation to be as an  individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6).  Also the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms.  Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).   

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