Confirmation Preparation for Adults

Adult Confirmation Celebration - Spring 2012

Our spring celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for adults will take place on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester at 2:00 p.m. This celebration is intended for those adults who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Reconciliation but did not complete their initiation with the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is intended for candidates over the age of eighteen who are being properly catechized and who regularly practice the faith.

Adult Confirmation Classes & Celebration

Adult Catholics (ages 18 and older) who have been baptized, received First Eucharist and are practicing their faith but have not celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation are invited to participate in a preparation program.

Interested adults must inform the pastor or a member of the parish staff in their home parish that they wish to prepare for the sacraments. They will then be advised of the process for this preparation and what is required of the candidate.

Preparation program schedules differ, but most involve six to eight sessions. They may take place weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, and may be offered by the parish, or several parishes collaborating on Adult Confirmation preparation. You will be advised of the options in your area. For questions about Adult Confirmation, please contact the Office of the Catechumenate or Eileen Smith at esmith@rcbm.org or (603) 663-0174.

Helpful Resources

Questionnaire - This sample questionnaire is a helpful tool that program organizers are welcome to use. It also provides participants with an idea of the information they will likely need to provide at the first session.
Bulletin Announcement

Class Schedules

Attention Priests: Are you offering Adult Confirmation Preparation Classes at your parish the spring celebration? Please contact Eileen Smith at esmith@rcbm.org or (603) 663-0174 to add your classes to this website.

Click on the following links for more information and to download the schedules:

The Sacrament of the Holy Spirit

The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace…

“By the sacrament of Confirmation [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.” -CCC, no. 1285, citing LG, no. 11

The Effects of Confirmation

Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation [becoming adopted sons and daughters of God] which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”
it unites us more firmly to Christ;
it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit inn us;
it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

-CCC, no. 1303

Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) and Adult Confirmation

Those adults who were baptized Catholic and received the Sacrament of First Eucharist, but did not have an opportunity for further religious education instruction or who were not regularly practicing their faith, may be directed to the RCIA process. However, since the ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a bishop, these adults in the RCIA process who will receive just the Sacrament of Confirmation will participate in the diocesan celebration unless permission is granted by the bishop for a priest to confirm for special reasons. The diocesan celebration is held during the Easter season .

The Theology of Confirmation According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

In order to have a balanced theology of Confirmation, five principles must be kept in mind.

Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. “Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation”,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1285).
It is a distinct sacramental rite. “The sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”. (#1300)
Confirmation includes a unique giving of the Holy Spirit. The confirmand is “enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit”. (#1285) “It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.” (#1302)
It is a “ratification of Baptism”, “and the strengthening of baptismal grace”. (#1289) This strengthening and ratifying is understood by a greater unity with the Church. “It renders our bond with the church more perfect.” (#1303)
Confirmation provides greater power for public witness of faith. “The confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially”. (#1305)

“I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Mark 13:11. The words of Mark’s gospel remind us of God’s invitation to share in the grace – filled journey of life. We pray that the Sacrament of Confirmation will deepen your relationship with the Lord, your parish community and the Church.

For more information, please contact:
Eileen Smith
Director of the Office of the Catechumenate
(603) 663-0174
esmith@rcbm.org