Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ for the conferral of sanctifying grace and the strengthening of the union between the individual and God. In Catholic teaching, the effect of the sacrament is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of the grace of Baptism – rooting us more deeply in the divine, uniting us more firmly to Christ, increasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, rendering more perfect our link with the Church, and giving a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend our faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ. The Bishop of Syracuse confirms the candidates’ faith in the Catholic Christian heritage by using ancient and sacred rites and readings, using contemporary input from the candidates and his own reflections. For two years, our young people in grade 9 and 10 participate in scripture study, community service and a variety of seminars and activities. A retreat experience is offered as well as an invitation to spaghetti dinner at the rectory with the Pastor. All of this provides an opportunity to reflect in small groups on the significance of the sacrament, on ways of identifying our connections to church, concerns to be shared, interests to be pursued. Through Confirmation, we are called to recognize the movement of God’s Spirit in our lives inviting us into a deeper relationship with God but also inviting us to be part of the building of God’s kingdom in our world.
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Confirmation prep info click image