The Sacrament of Confirmation
Receive the Holy Spirit !
“At the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he promised his followers that he would send them the gift of the Holy Spirit who would help them to live as he had taught them and to pass on his message to all the nations.”
(John 20:22, Acts 2)
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This form to be completed for the candidates joining the After School Program, who are generally attending a non-Catholic School
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which has to be completed and taken to the Church at the Confirmation Commitment Mass, along with a copy of the Baptism certificate.
What is Confirmation?
In the Catholic Church, Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments. The sacrament of Confirmation continues, strengthens, confirms and celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism.
The Holy Spirit gives a person the spiritual gifts such as wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of God. Like any gift, these spiritual gifts need to be explored and used to build up God’s kingdom of justice, love and mercy in the world.
What happens at Confirmation?
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the bishop or priest lays his hands on the baptised person and prays that the Holy Spirit will fill the person with spiritual gifts. Then, using holy oil (Oil of Chrism), the bishop or priest makes a cross on the person’s forehead. It is usual for the person being confirmed to take another name, that of a particular saint. The saint will be a source of inspiration by the way he/she lived life while on earth, and an intercessor in prayer to God.
At what age can a person be Confirmed?
In the very early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were usually conferred by the bishop and celebrated together. However, over time, access to bishops became more difficult and Baptism came to be conferred by the local parish priest, so Confirmation began to be celebrated at an older age.
In our parishes, children are usually confirmed at the age of 11 or 12, when they are in the academical level of Year 6.
After School Lessons will commence in the Third Term of 2026
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Celebrating the Sacramental Life from Birth to Death
ACBC Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with People with Disability
At what age can a person be Confirmed?
Yes, only a Baptised person can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you are not Baptised and wish to be Confirmed, you may receive both Sacraments together depending on your age and personal circumstances. There are preparation programs for all sacraments in the parish.
Do I need to attend any preparation program?
The person receiving the Sacrament needs to know what this Sacrament is and the purpose of receiving it. In order to be comprehensive about the Sacraments to be received, the person has to be guided by someone who has the knowledge about it. For Year 6 children attending Catholic schools will be prepared by their teachers as part of their curriculum. If a student attending a non-Catholic School wants to receive this Sacrament, has to attend the After School Program run by the Parish. Please visit the page and enrol accordingly.
Is there a date available for next Confirmation?
For the School aged children, the Sacrament of Confirmation being celebrated in the third term which is usually in September each year. Lessons for non-Catholic school children will begin from the first week of the third term. Enrolment must be done prior to the commencement, and no enrolment will be accepted once lessons have started. Please visit After School Program page for more information. The Sacramental timeline can be downloaded from the top right corner on this page.
Are you not a child and wish to be Confirmed?
Yes, you can be Confirmed, but the process is different. In order for Confirming an adult, the candidate needs to prepare through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Please visit the OCIA information page on this website for more details.
Alternatively you may please contact the Parish Office during the office hours.
It is important to keep the original Sacramental Certificate as it will be required for future Sacraments and school admissions. However if you lost the original, you can obtain a copy from the parish office by providing all relevant information about the person Confirmed. There may be a fee for this purpose.
Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever." (John 14:15)
