CONFIRMATION

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation completes one's full initiation into the Catholic Church. This brings the recipient and outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Confirmation preparation helps candidates, their parents and sponsors to develop a fuller understanding of the mission of Christ.

For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, (the baptized) are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285). Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation in which those who are Confirmed are fully initiated into the Catholic Church. But one's growth in faith does not stop with Confirmation. Rather, we all have the responsibility to deepen our understanding of our faith throughout our lives. C3L serves that purpose here at St. Ignatius.

Attendance
During the Sacramental Confirmation year, attendance is required at all 8 Confirmation sessions.. The sessions will begin in January and end with a Retreat. Every other class will be a student sponsor class. Unexcused absence may be cause for a candidate to have to repeat the course to receive the Sacrament. It is also MANDATORY that the candidate attend the annual Confirmation retreat.

Service
Community service is required and highly encouraged to produce an awareness of need within the parish, community, and family, and the awareness of the importance of Catholic Social Teaching. The candidate must complete a total of 30 service hours divided between the areas of parish, community and family. During the Sacramental preparation year candidates must help during a Parish Dinner or C3L Program. The candidate must participate in a day-long retreat. The retreat helps prepare the candidates for Confirmation by strengthening and deepening faith through speakers, song, sharing, and prayer. This retreat is mandatory and the candidate must attend the ENTIRE retreat, no exceptions.

Mass Attendance
As it is an obligation of our faith to attend mass weekly. It is even more important that the candidate attend mass and strengthen their knowledge of the Word. They may attend the mass of their choice.

Saint Report
Each candidate is asked to research a Saint that they wish to emulate. A report is to be written about the saint of their choice this is the name they will take at confirmation. The report is to tell about what they have learned about the Saint and the reason they have chosen this saint to emulate in their life. It should be at least one typed page long. Information about saints can be obtained in the parish library and on the internet.

Interviews
Each candidate will be given the opportunity to sign up for an interview time of their choice. This interview will be conducted by the Pastor and Catechetical Leader of the parish. The confirmation candidate should be ready to explain why they are ready to receive the Sacrament and reflect on their journey toward the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Final Preparation
We celebrate our Confirmation at the Rosary Cathedral. All Candidates are required to be to the Cathedral 1 hour before the liturgy begins for final instructions. A special recognition will be given to the newly confirmed at the 11:30 mass the next day at St. Ignatius. They will sit together and receive their certificates.

Contact our Christian Formation Office (419)693-7662 for more information.