“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized…”
Acts 8:14-16
Confirmation complements Baptism by sealing and strengthening the believer to live as a child of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The ordinary minister of the sacrament is a bishop who, through the laying on of hands and anointing with oil, invokes the presence of the Holy Spirit on the baptized person. In this powerful encounter with God, we experience the grace of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles.
This sacrament provides an increase and deepening of the grace of Baptism which increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism.
Confirmation…
- Roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Unites us more firmly to Christ
- Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
- Renders our bod with the Church more perfect
- Gives us the special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church #1303)
The age at which Confirmation is celebrated, varies by diocese. In the Diocese of Richmond, a baptized Catholic youth can prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation once they are 15 years old and when he or she will enter the sophomore year in high school (or higher). If you would like to enroll your adolescent in the Confirmation preparation program, please contact Angy Corrigan at the parish office. Adults who are not Confirmed and would like to prepare for and receive the Sacrament should contact Amanda Roberts at the office.