Confirmation

Confirmation

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

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.
Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. (CCC 1316)
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:
Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. (no. 11)

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 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).

Preparation for Confirmation
Preparation for Confirmation continues immediately after the child has received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Catechism classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation are conducted for two years after receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.

To be a candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation here at St. Helen Church the person must be
1] in the Fifth grade or be at least 10 years of age
2] a Baptism Certificate must be presented for Parish records
3] Faithful and consistent participation in Parish Catechism Classes

The Catechism Class Schedule for confirmation can be explained to you by the Religious Education Director. Please call the office 520-466-7258.
The candidate must have an appropriate understanding of the Christian life and understand and accept the life of Christ in their lifestyle
A firm determination to live the Christian life to the best of their ability. the candidate must be a good steward, giving in Christian proportion of time, talent, and treasure

Appreciation of the importance of worship and prayer in the life of the Church, the candidate must understand the importance of personal and communal worship.

If you have questions, call the Parish Office at 520-466-7258.

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