Confirmation

 In the United States Confirmation is celebrated as the third sacrament of Initiation. In other countries it is the second and in some it is combined with Baptism.

In the sacrament of Confirmation we are sealed in the Holy Spirit, a continuation of Baptism. As all sacraments it conveys grace.

All Catholics should be Confirmed. It is a requirement for the reception many of the sacraments which follow it.  The usual minister of the sacrament is the bishop however a priest may take his place using sacred chrism consecrated by the bishop.

Preparation for Confirmation

Children in Catholic schools.
Children are prepared for Confirmation through the completion of Religious Education classes as part of their Catholic school curriculum.  St Julie parish is affiliated with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School.

Children in public Schools.
Children are prepared for Confirmation through the completion of Religious Education classes here at the parish.

Adults
Adults prepare for Confirmation through the Rite of Christian Imitation for Adults. (RCIA) 

For additional information see links at left.

A Message from Our Pastor

From our pastor's message for the 2007 Confirmation at St. Julie

"We celebrate the strengthening of these young people through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this sacrament.

It will be a challenge for these young people in the months and years ahead to truly grasp the gifts of the Spirit they will be given in this sacrament. As they progress in their education, moving through the high school years, there will be many opportunities for them to be involved in all sorts of activities, some good, some bad, some in-between. Their lives will accelerate with activity.

In the accelerated, hectic years ahead of them, it will be all-too easy to see Confirmation as a type of “graduation” because their formal religious education ends at eighth grade. It will be all-too easy for them to imagine that they do not need Church and therefore for them to forego Mass each weekend on Sundays.

We’ve Gotten It Backwards

The pope, Benedict XVI, in his latest official writing, calls for the universal Church to consider restoring the ancient order of the initiation sacraments. In this country, because of some interesting historical events, we’ve gotten it backwards (and contrary to the older practice in the Church). I say “backwards,” because of the three sacraments of initiation, Confirmation is celebrated lastly.

But in the ancient Church, Eucharist was the culminating initiation sacrament. One was baptized in waters of new life, one was confirmed through the laying on of hands and anointing, and then one (finally) came to the Table of the Lord to celebrate initiation in its fullness through the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Christian life. It is the “repeatable” sacrament of initiation: we gather around the Table of the Lord every Sunday to renew our baptismal grace and grasp more fully the Spirit into which we have been confirmed.

When the Eucharist is the last of the three initiation sacraments to be celebrated, it is more clearly understood for what it is: the ordinary, weekly event by which we are fueled for the Christian life. Here is a phrase we have never used to describe ourselves: “a conformational people.”

The phrase that best describes us as believers and as a Church is: “a Eucharistic people.” It is the Eucharist that forms and nurtures us. It is the Eucharist that makes us who we are, each Sunday, every Sunday.

Some dioceses in this country have already restored the original order of the initiation sacraments so that it culminates in the Eucharist. Perhaps more will do so as a result of Benedict’s exhortation.

Why is this Important?

All seven sacraments are important, they are vehicles of God’s grace. But they each have differing effects in our lives. Eucharist is fundamental, primary and most important. It is the meal of the Lord. It is the Lord himself, his very real presence, upon whom we feast.

Hopefully, our eighth graders will not be tempted by the opportunities of high school to forget Church. Hopefully, their Confirmation will not be their “graduation.” Hopefully, they will put into practice what they have learned in religious formation and continue to regularly, weekly attend the Eucharistic celebration and be the people of the Lord they are meant to be.

It will be up to us and to their parents to provide a good example of this Eucharistic people."

Rev. Steven M. Lanza

 

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