Confirmation

We belong to one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

In baptism we become members of the Catholic faith community and are called to holiness.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of three sacraments of initiation; it completes the Sacrament of Baptism.
The Sacrament of Confirmation helps us continue on our life-long journey of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Like Baptism, the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated only once in our lives.
The imposition of hands during the Confirmation ritual symbolizes the divine power of the Holy Spirit which we receive in Confirmation.
The anointing with oil during the Confirmation ritual symbolizes the strength given to us in this sacrament.
Being marked with the sign of the cross during the Confirmation ritual is a reminder that we share in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
In the Catholic Church, the ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop, although he may delegate that responsibility to a pastor.  Confirmation sponsors represent the Christian community; they should be models of faith.  The parish faith community has a responsibility to witness to and foster the faith of those who are Confirmed.

WE BELIEVE in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God’s effort for our salvation never ends.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity; the Spirit sent by the Father and the Son guide each of us and unite us with
God’s people in faith.
The Holy Spirit strengthens our relationship with Jesus and empowers us to proclaim and live the mission and ministry of Jesus in the world.
The Holy Spirit enlightens our choices so that we can do God’s will in our lives.
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit help us make good choices and live a holy life. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, Piety, Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding and Counsel. They complete and perfect the Virtues of those who receive them.

WE RESPOND as disciples of Christ helping to build the Kingdom of God.
When we are confirmed we are empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we may be better able to participate in the mission and ministry of Jesus by sharing his or her faith with others.
Our faith journey is a lifelong process.
During the Confirmation ritual our response to the bishop (“Amen”)indicates our personal desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and an active member of the Church.
The theological virtues of faith, hope and love are gifts from God; they dispose us to live in close relationship with the Holy Trinity.
The practice of good habits, or virtues, leads to good relationships with God, ourselves and others.
The four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance—guide our conduct in accord with reason and faith.
When we are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit, we are enriched with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we make a deeper personal commitment to become more involved in the life of the Church.

See Grade 8 under Religious Education for further information