Confirmation

There are seven ritual signs or sacraments in the Catholic church. Baptism and     Confirmation are rites of initiation into the Church. Marriage and Holy Orders are sacraments of commitment and the Eucharist is a sacrament of continuing nourishment (and also considered as part of initiation). Reconciliation and the      Anointing of the sick are sacraments of healing.

Confirmation is a ‘coming of age’ ritual, administered to a baptised person by a bishop anointing the candidate’s head with oil. The sacrament of confirmation completes the sacrament of baptism. When we are baptised our godparents and parents make our baptismal promises for us. When we are Confirmed, we renew those promises for the first time for ourselves.

Through the sacrament of Confirmation, we make the decision to be an adult member of the Church and we are strengthened with the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to live a life that gives witness to Christ’s presence.