Receiving the Gifts of the Spirit: Youth and Adults
We are so glad you have chosen our parish to begin your preparation for this sacrament.
Role of the community
“The Confirmation candidates need the community’s prayers, witness and support throughout the preparation process. In offering catechesis to the parents and sponsors, the Church shows its love for and eagerness to support them as well as their children.”
– National Catechetical Directory #117
Youth Registration
Youth Confirmation Preparation: The program is transitioning from 10th to 8th Grade in 2022
(Note: We will hold classes for 8-10th graders during the ’22-23 school year)
Youth from both public and Catholic schools will be preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation together. Classes will be held on Sunday evenings from 4:30pm-6:00pm in the Basilica School.
We will look deeper into the following topics: Catholic Identity and Personal Spiritual Growth, Social Justice/Service, the Sacraments, the Power of the Holy Spirit, Personal Relationship with Christ, Prayer, and Discipleship. During the year of preparation, students will be asked to log eight hours of parish service, attend worship on a regular basis, and attend a retreat.
Students will also be required to form an intentional relationship with his/her Confirmation sponsor. Regular attendance at Confirmation preparation sessions and group assigned Mass participation is expected for students so that they are able to better discern their readiness to be confirmed.
Parish Policies for Sacraments
- All families celebrating sacraments at The Basilica of Saint Mary must be registered member of the parish.
- Youth must participate in weekly classes the year in which they are to receive the sacrament,and attend Mass on a weekly basis.
- Students are expected to participate in Faith Formation or Catholic school in the years prior to 10th Grade.
- A recently issued copy of your child’s baptism certificate MUST be on file at the Basilica PRIOR to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. If your child was baptized at the Basilica, you will not need to request a copy.
We welcome you wherever you are on your faith journey and hope you find a home here at The Basilica.
Those who were not confirmed as youth often find themselves seeking greater unity with the Church later in life. Our community values those who yearn to share more fully in the life of the community.
Candidates meet and study throughout the year to examine their faith and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Adult confirmation occurs during the Easter Season here at The Basilica of Saint Mary.
Scripture clearly testifies to the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian initiation. However, there is no record of a particular rite of confirmation.
Early Christians left no evidence about their specific understanding of a rite of confirmation. There is some testimony that the bishop used the same oil during the initiation rites (anointing with water and oil and sharing the Eucharist).
By the 5th century, the connection was made between anointing and the coming of the Holy Spirit. However, the anointing happened in conjunction with the water bath and the celebration of the Eucharist: the three rites of initiation.
As Christianity spread, the rites of initiation changed in different parts of the Church. In general, the Church in the West felt that the connection between the bishop and the anointing was more important than the sequence and connection between the sacraments of initiation. As a result, separate rites of baptism with water, confirmation and first Communion developed.
Confirmation is the second sacrament of initiation and it follows Baptism.
It essentially consists of a prayer to call down the Holy Spirit and an anointing with sacred Chrism (oil).
Through this sacrament, Christians are given strength and promised the gifts of the Holy Spirit with which to live out their baptismal covenant.
Confirmation complements baptism and both lead to the Eucharist. The faithful are born anew in baptism, strengthened by confirmation and sustained by the Eucharist.
For more information or to get involved contact:
Christine Moore
Coordinator of Sacraments
Christine returned to the Learning Department in 2019. She holds a BA in Theology from The College…
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