Confirmation

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Letter to Bishop Denis

LETTER TO THE BISHOP: Bishop Denis would like all candidates who will be confirmed by him to submit a letter prior to Confirmation. This letter is to be written at home by the candidates in consultation with their parents/guardians and then signed by the candidates and their parents/guardians. The letters should then be sent by the parish to the bishop together with the enclosed form three weeks before the celebration of Confirmation in your parish. If your parish has multiple confirmati0ns please ensure that the letters are bundled together and labelled with the names of schools and the corresponding Confirmation Ceremony. The following information should be included in the letters:

BIOGRAPHY: The candidate should introduce themselves to Bishop Denis using some of the following information
• Their name and age
• The name of their school and the class that they are in
• The name of their parish
• Something about their family
• Their interests/hobbies/favourite things to do

DESCRIPTION OF PREPARATION AT HOME, IN THE PARISH AND IN SCHOOL: The candidate needs to say something to the bishop about how he or she has prepared to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

PERSONAL MEANING: The candidate should reflect on what the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation means to them.

CONFIRMATION NAME AND SPONSOR: The candidate should tell the bishop what name they are choosing and why. They might also say something about their sponsor and the reason for choosing this person.

FOR 2023: The candidate should say something to the bishop about each of the following:
• what would help them to be more involved in their parish community once they have been confirmed. This could be based on the discussion that they will have in class about their choice of word for the Poster that they will present to Bishop Denis on the day of Confirmation. This word will describe their hope for the church of the future. It might also be helpful for them to reference the following in their letters:
1) Do I know of any opportunities for me to be involved in my local parish community after Confirmation?
2) What could my local parish do to help me be more involved?
3) What would you say to Bishop Denis about how the church in Kildare & Leighlin could help you and other young people stay involved?

Confirmation in the Faith

Confirmation celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit.

In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 2, verses 1 to 13, we read of the Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit. They had been hiding after Jesus’ death, afraid and uncertain. The coming of the Holy Spirit with his gifts inspired them and enabled them to take the step of preaching the good news.

We are made members of God’s family at Baptism. At Confirmation, our Baptism is completed or “sealed” by the Holy Spirit and we are called to be Christian witnesses, just like the apostles. The whole of our Christian living and the life of the Church, too, are sustained by the same Spirit.

Who Can Receive?

Any baptised Catholic wishing to advance on the path of developing their faith. For young people, this is usually part of the 5th/6th class primary school programme.

For adults who were not confirmed as children, it means taking part in the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.)

Sponsor

A sponsor stands behind the candidate for Confirmation at the Confirmation ceremony and places their hand on the shoulder of the candidate as a sign that they will support them in living out their baptismal promises. However, the role of the sponsor is not just for one day. The sponsor undertakes to assist the confirmed person in growing in the fullness of their faith and in their membership of the Catholic Church.

A person qualifies as a sponsor by being a reasonably mature adult, who is at least 16 years old, and has already received the Sacraments of Initiation, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) themselves. The Confirmation sponsor may be one of the people who was a sponsor at Baptism (subject to the notes here).

Choosing a Sponsor

(Ref. Code of Canon Law §874) To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

  • be appointed by the candidate, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;
  • be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;
  • be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;
  • not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;
  • not be either the father or the mother of the candidate.

Name

The tradition of taking a new name at Confirmation emphasises the new identity of a Christian being called to witness to their faith. People are encouraged to take the name of a saint or a person from the Bible who inspires them in some way

Oil

The oil used is called the Oil of Chrism. It is olive oil mixed with balsam that is blessed by the bishop and priests of the diocese in the Cathedral at the ‘Chrism Mass’ on Holy Thursday. The Sacrament is conferred with the anointing with this ‘Oil of Chrism’ on the forehead as the Bishop says ‘Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit’.