Pentecost, by Jean II Restout, c. 1732

The Sacrament of Confirmation, together with those of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, compose what is commonly referred to as the ‘Sacraments of Initiation,’ as they are the sacraments that initiate one’s life in Christ and His Church. In 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.”[1]

Confirmation is celebrated by the anointing of the baptized person with sacred oil (called chrism) by the hands of a bishop or his delegated priest. “Anointing, in Biblical and other ancient symbolism, is rich in meaning: oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses…and limbers…oil is a sign of healing, since it is soothing to bruises and wounds, and it makes radiant with beauty, health, and strength.”[2] The anointing with sacred chrism is a sign of consecration:

By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which He is filled…by this anointing the confirmand (the one receiving Confirmation) receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object…this seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection.[3]

This sacrament imparts to its recipient an indelible seal, an irreplaceable and immutable mark upon their soul and life that enriches, strengthens, and magnifies Christ’s life and grace in their lived experience in service to the Gospel unto eternal life.

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For the confirming of youth,

The Bishop installed new guidelines for Confirmation having our young people being confirmed by the fall of 7th grade. Making a smooth transition here at St. Edward’s, our current 7th and 8th graders will be celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation this fall as 8th and 9th graders.
 

Below is the planned Confirmation transition:
 
Fall of 2022
8th & 9th graders will celebrate Confirmation
 
Fall of 2023
7th & 8th graders will celebrate Confirmation
(which is the 2022/23 current 6th & 7th graders)

 CONFIRMATION PREP LOG for 5,6 & 7 grades
For more information please follow the link below to transfer to the
Faith Formation page:

Faith Formation

For the confirming of adults, St. Edward’s has the RCIA Program in which the individual is assisted in their journey of faith and prepared for the reception of the sacraments. Please click on the link below to transfer to the RCIA page for more information:

RCIA