In our parish communities of St Mary’s, St John Bosco and St Edward’s, Confirmation is the sacrament in which the grace of Baptism is completed and strengthened through a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Together with Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
Confirmation is not a graduation, a reward for reaching a certain age, or simply a Catholic coming-of-age ceremony. It is a gift of God and a sacrament of mission, strengthening the baptised person to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ and to bear witness to him in the Church and in the world.
What Confirmation gives
Through Confirmation, the baptised are:
- united more firmly to Christ;
- strengthened by a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit;
- bound more perfectly to the Church;
- given greater strength to live and defend the Catholic faith;
- and sent to share more fully in the mission of Christ.
Confirmation leaves a permanent spiritual seal and is therefore received only once.
The Holy Spirit and Pentecost
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and strengthened them to proclaim Jesus Christ courageously.
Confirmation continues this Pentecostal grace in the life of the Church.
The same Holy Spirit first received in Baptism strengthens the confirmed person for a mature life of faith, prayer, holiness, service and Christian witness.
The traditional seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are:
Wisdom · Understanding · Counsel · Fortitude · Knowledge · Piety · Fear of the Lord
These gifts help Christians become more ready to recognise and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation and Christian life
Confirmation is not the end of Catholic formation.
Its grace is given so that we can live more faithfully as disciples of Christ through:
Sunday Mass · Holy Communion · Confession · prayer · Sacred Scripture · charity · service · parish life · Christian witness
The newly confirmed are called to carry their faith into ordinary life — family, friendships, school, work and society — and to allow the Holy Spirit to shape their choices and vocation.
What Are You Asking For?
Confirmation is not a Catholic graduation, a coming-of-age ceremony or simply something to complete because it was missed earlier.
When a baptised Catholic asks for Confirmation, they are asking to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation strengthens baptismal grace, binds the baptised more firmly to Christ and his Church, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and gives particular strength to witness to the Catholic faith.
Confirmation therefore points beyond the celebration itself towards a life of:
- prayer and worship
- participation in the life of the Church
- growth in holiness
- witness to Jesus Christ
- service and Christian mission
In asking for Confirmation, you are asking to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit for a life of Catholic faith, holiness, witness and mission.
Preparing for Confirmation
Preparation in our parish is personal, catechism-led and based upon understanding, desire and readiness rather than simply age or school year.
Because young people and adults have different circumstances and needs, we offer two distinct preparation pathways.
Confirmation for Young People
For baptised Catholic young people preparing to receive Confirmation.
Preparation uses My Confirmation Catechism, with twelve short catechism-led conversations together with Sunday Mass, prayer, Confession and personal accompaniment.
Adult Confirmation
For baptised Catholic adults who have never received Confirmation.
Adults use Preparing for Adult Confirmation — Catholic Preparation Companion, together with Sunday Mass, prayer, Confession and appropriate pastoral preparation.
Not sure which pathway applies?
Please contact the parish if:
- you are unsure whether you have already been confirmed;
- you were baptised outside the Catholic Church;
- you were baptised or chrismated in an Eastern Catholic Church;
- you have never received First Holy Communion;
- or you are uncertain which preparation pathway is right for you.
We will help establish your sacramental history and identify the appropriate next step.
The celebration of Confirmation
The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation, although a priest may also confirm when the Church gives him the appropriate faculty.
During the celebration, candidates renew their baptismal promises and the Church prays for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Each candidate is anointed on the forehead with sacred chrism and receives the sacramental seal of the Holy Spirit.
The words at the heart of the sacrament are:
“N., be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The candidate responds:
“Amen.”
Confirmation strengthens the grace already given in Baptism so that we may live faithfully as disciples and witnesses of Jesus Christ.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 