Confirmation
“Be Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”

What is Confirmation?

Along with Baptism and Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Initiation.  Baptism gives new life and makes us children of God and members of the Church.  Frequent reception of the Eucharist nourishes that life.  So why be confirmed?  Confirmation strengthens the divine life in us through a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we can better defend and bear witness to the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Catholic faith. Confirmation completes the grace which was given at Baptism and equips us to live as true disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the world.  

How is Confirmation conferred?

The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop, who is a direct successor of the apostles on whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost.  It was this special outpouring in the form of tongues of fire and roaring wind that changed the timid, scared followers of Our Lord into bold, courageous witnesses.  The bishop anoints each candidate with chrism oil and through the laying on of hands calls upon the Holy Spirit to send forth His seven gifts: fear of the Lord, piety, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, understanding, and wisdom.  These gifts were already given at Baptism but now can be unpacked and used as the young person matures.  

In order to be confirmed a person must:

• Be baptized
• Be in the state of grace (be free from serious sin/celebrate Sacrament of Reconciliation)
• Be properly disposed. Young people need to be willing and open to receive the grace offered in the Sacrament.  It has to be their decision. This readiness is demonstrated through the Confirmation interview.  It is perfectly normal for young people to have initial doubts and to grow in this desire throughout the two-year period of preparation.  
• Be prepared to make a profession of faith (accent to the baptismal promises-the chief truths of the faith- found in the Apostles Creed).

Confirmation Preparation

Confirmation Preparation throughout the Diocese of Rochester takes place over the course of two years and year 1 begins no earlier than 8th grade.

Confirmation Year 1: typically 8th grade (or any high school student seeking to begin)
Confirmation Year 2: typically  9th grade with the celebration of the Sacrament at Sacred
                                      Heart Cathedral in the spring (April-May).


Overview and Components

The goal of Confirmation preparation is to ground candidates in what we believe as Catholics and to prepare them to live a life of faith, strengthened by the grace of the Sacrament. 

To accomplish this, each candidate in the diocese is expected to:

• Participate in parent/candidate meetings
• Faithfully attend Mass each week - as Catholics seeking full initiation, it is vital that candidates regularly attend Sunday Mass.  The Eucharist is the “Source and Summit” of the Catholic life and no classroom learning or level of knowledge can replace our communal worship. 
• Attend Catechetical Sessions (Proximate Preparation)*- 25 hours each year dedicated to exploring and learning the faith of our Church. These classes take place at St. Jerome’s on Tuesday evenings from 7:15-8:30 PM and run from September-April. 
• Attend a 5-hour Retreat each year - focused on prayer and relationship with God.
• Participate in and reflect on Service each year
• Select a Confirmation sponsor 
• Select a Confirmation name/patron Saint
• Participate in a Confirmation interview with parish clergy/staff to determine readiness (Level 2)
• Participate in Immediate Preparation: (4-6 weeks during Level 2) when candidates take a deep dive into the topics pertinent to this Sacrament, prayerfully prepare for its reception, and attend a formal rehearsal with their sponsor. 
• Celebrate of the Sacrament of Reconciliation 

*What if my child is enrolled in a Catholic school?  The 25 hours of classroom instruction is waived as the diocese has determined that the school curriculum covers all the foundational topics necessary.  Catholic school students are still required to register for faith formation through the parish by August 31st and are expected to participate in all other components of the program.  (Please note: everyone is welcome to attend Tuesday evening faith formation classes and to make this journey together with other teens from the parish.  Classroom discussions and faith sharing opportunities are enriched when these young people are present. In addition students benefit from forming relationships with other Catholic teens and may be more motivated to attend youth group or the Steubenville Youth Conference when they know the others in attendance.)

For more information or to register, please contact: 
Mrs. Linda Fantauzzo, St. Jerome’s Confirmation Prep Coordinator at 
[email protected] or 585-645-4889 (cell)