“But the Holy Spirit will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”
(Jn. 14:26)
WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION?
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third Sacrament of Initiation in the Catholic Church. When a person receives this sacrament, he or she receives the Holy Spirit, and this enables him or her to more fully live out the life of a Catholic Christian in every aspect of their lives.
THE CONFIRMATION OF YOUTH
The youth at Our Lady of the Rosary is an integral and vibrant part of our parish and community. One of the goals of our Confirmation program is to develop our youth by deepening their faith and love of God, and to recognize their God-given gifts and talents, so that they will become more active members of our parish and the universal church. In short, we are preparing the participants and leaders of our future church.
How old are youth when they start preparing for Confirmation?
Youth must be in High School to enroll in the Confirmation program.
When are Confirmation sessions held?
Even though there the Confirmation Program is part of our Faith and Ministerial Formation program, it has unique, weekly sessions. The meetings are held on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
When is the Sacrament of Confirmation conferred at OLR?
There is one Mass for the Rite of Confirmation at OLR each year, typically in the spring. The Sacrament is conferred by either the Bishop of Oakland or the Vicar General (on alternating years).
What is the role and qualifications for Sponsors?
A Confirmation candidate will have one sponsor. The sponsor must be a baptized, practicing Catholic.
The primary responsibility of the sponsor is to provide the candidate prayerful support and guidance in his or her Christian walk and to “take care that the confirmed person behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations inherent in this sacrament” (canon 892).
Being a sponsor is a lifelong commitment. A sponsor takes on the role of a spiritual parent who “brings the candidate to receive the sacrament, presents him to the minister for the anointing, and will later help him to fulfill his baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit” (Rite of Confirmation 5).
What process is followed leading up to the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation?
This is the process that a young person follows to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation:
- The parents will complete the Faith Formation Program Registration Form
- The Confirmation candidates and his or her parents will attend an informational meeting before the first Confirmation program session in the fall
- Confirmation candidates are expected to perform community service hours
- Confirmation candidates will attend a weekend retreat per diocesan requirements
At the time that the Faith Formation Program Registration Form is completed, a copy of the candidate's baptism certificate is to be submitted. The certificate can be submitted:
- In person at the Parish Office
- Via email (dmarquez@olrchurch.org)
- As a photo of the certificate sent via text (to the cell of Mr. Márquez)
To complete the Faith Formation Program Registration Form, click here.
THE CONFIRMATION ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 18
Adults who are over the age of 18 will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation by enrolling in the RCIA program. RCIA stands for the "Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults." It is a process of reflection, prayer, instruction, discernment, and formation. The RCIA program is a two-year long program where adults typically prepare for any sacraments they have not yet recevied (Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation). They receive the sacraments at our Easter Vigil Mass.
This program beings in September, but anyone who has interest in RCIA can contact us at any time. To enroll in this program, the person who is interested should fill out the RICA Inquiry Form. To access this form, click here.
