Confirmation is a Sacrament in which those who have been baptized receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord sent upon His apostles at Pentecost. It is a sacrament that celebrates God’s special strengths and gifts. In 1972 the Church published the “Rite of Christian Initiation” (RCIA). RCIA stresses the connections between the three sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. Through Baptism, you receive grace and life from the Holy Spirit. In Confirmation, your baptismal promises are renewed and the sealing with the Spirit serves as the preparation for a mature Christian life. In Holy Eucharist, the great sign of Christian unity, we the faithful are nourished and strengthened. We are transformed into a more loving and united community of believers. Through these sacramental rites, the faithful are officially acknowledged as Christians, and are received as fully initiated members of the church. By our Baptism, Confirmation, and through the Eucharist we are all commissioned to carry on the work of Christ and his Church. We are called to promote the kingdom of God here on Earth.
Confirmation is a parish community celebration. It provides us all the opportunity to reflect on our baptismal commitment. At Confirmation the parish community celebrates the Gifts of the Holy Spirit among us. These gifts help all Christians to live lives more fully committed to Christ. Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgment, Knowledge, Courage, Reverence, Wonder and Awe. Living with the gifts of the Spirit, active in our lives, we are able to enjoy the fruits of the Spirit, which help all Christians make good moral choices and live as Christ has challenged each of us to do. Charity, Faith, Joy, Modesty, Kindness, Goodness, Peace, Patience, Self-Control, Chastity, Endurance, Mildness