Confirmation

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.

1 Pete 4:10

CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. It completes the Sacrament of Baptism. While Confirmation is a distinct and complete sacrament in its own right, its purpose is to perfect in us that which was begun in Baptism. We might say—in a sense—that we are baptized in order to be confirmed.

it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!”
it unites us more firmly to Christ;
it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
it gives us a 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.

Confirmation Preparation

From the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Sacraments of Initiation there are two main areas: Foundation Preparation and Specific Preparation:

Youth ordinarily should have attended a Catholic school or a parish religious education program for at least two years before enrollment in the free-standing parish specific Confirmation formation program. The free-standing, parish-conducted Confirmation formation program must be distinguished from the ordinarily required two year prerequisite foundational religious education program. Whether accomplished through an off-site retreat, an on-site classroom, or some other model determined appropriate by the Pastor, the parish Confirmation formation program should occur independently from the on-going religious education program.

In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in High School, which ordinarily occurs when the youth is in the (10th) tenth grade. At St. Thomas Aquinas, the earliest a Foundational year can count is in (8th) eighth grade (called year 1). Foundational preparation continues through a variety of options generally during (9th) ninth grade (called year 2).

A student who has not completed an eighth grade Faith Formation program will be required to complete 2 years of formation prior to Confirmation preparation.

The required free-standing parish specific Confirmation program will occur simultaneously within the 2nd year of Foundational preparation. This will consist of a few in-parish sessions and a home faith sharing packet to be completed by the family. There are additional requirements during the following Fall (called year 3): sessions and a one-night retreat. Then Sacrament is generally celebrated in the Fall of the youth’s 10th grade.

Because students who attend Catholic high schools will be covering formation material at school, they will not be required to participate in High School Faith Formation. Catholic school students should register for Confirmation prior to the ninth grade year so that they will be included in schedule updates as they become available.

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