CONFIRMATION
Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit
It is not always easy to be a witness to our faith. We need special help from God just as Jesus’ disciples did. As the disciples were blessed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we receive the sign or the seal of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. When we were baptized we began our initiation into the Church. Through Confirmation, we continue with one more step into the Body of Christ. We are called to give public witness to the good news to the Catholic community. We are then sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthened to live our baptismal promises. Because, like Baptism, Confirmation imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, like Baptism it can never be repeated.
​
When we are confirmed, we may choose another name in addition to the one given at Baptism. This additional name may be the name of a patron saint we admire.
​
Confirmation is celebrated during a Mass with a bishop or his representative presiding. During the celebration, the bishop extends his hands over those to be confirmed and prays to God, the Father, “Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.”
The bishop then makes the sign of the cross on their foreheads and anoints them, saying, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” This anointing is the most important sign of the sacrament of Confirmation. The Sacrament of Confirmation perfects baptismal grace and through the gifts of the Holy Spirit helps us grow to Christian maturity. This sacrament strengthens our bond with the Church, associates us more closely with her Mission and helps us bear witness to the Christian faith in words and deeds.
​
The normal period of life for confirmation in the Catholic Church takes place around 14 years of age. At St. Mary, our young adults usually celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation while in the eighth grade. Please contact our Religious Education Office at 740.363.4641 ext.104 for more information.
Confirmation 2024-2025 Information
​
Welcome to the special and exciting year of Confirmation Preparation! Our next Parent Meeting is Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 at 6:30-7:30pm in the Commons.
​
Confirmation Mass: May 24, 2024 at 11am, St. Joseph's Cathedral
​
All Confirmation Students at St. Mary's Parish Requirements
-
Mass Attendance.
Students are required to attend Sunday Mass weekly. If students attend Mass at St. Mary, there will be a sign-in sheet at the back of church. Please sign in. If students are attending Mass at another parish, they need to bring back a bulletin signed by the priest to be turned in at the next class. If students are not attending Sunday Mass, they will not be confirmed.
-
Confirmation Retreat Nov. 1-3 at Damascus
To register, please make an account (or login to an existing account), register and pay for this date through Damascus using this link that is exclusive to St. Mary Delaware's group - input code CMARYDELA2024. Please register by October 11th. This is a requirement for Confirmation.
-
Service Hours
All students are asked to complete 15 hours of service in the community before they are confirmed. This is to help them find their interest - or charism - in being part of the larger church community, once they are fully initiated Catholics after Confirmation. 10 of the 15 hours must be completed in service to St. Mary Parish or School. The remaining 5 can be completed outside of our community, or completed at St. Mary's. Download the Service Form.
-
Picking a Sponsor
Prayerfully discern this person to mentor you through your spiritual life moving forward. They must also be an actively participating Catholic that has received all Sacraments of Initiation, and must be at least 16 years of age. Parents cannot be sponsors.
If the sponsor chosen attends a parish OTHER than St. Mary's, they must contact Clare Galuzny (cgaluzny@delawarestmary.org) stating their name and parish with location they attend.
If the sponsor chosen does attend St. Mary, they must contact the parish office for us to verify. Please email Clare Galuzny, our Sacraments Coordinator, at cgaluzny@delawarestmary.org.
-
Picking a Saint
Discernment Process will be introduced in class. This process is essential to picking a Saint for Confirmation.
-
Readiness Meeting with Fr. Toner. Students are required to meet to Father Toner articulating their choice and desire to be Confirmed.
PSR Formation
7th and 8th Grade Confirmation Formation takes place on Thursdays from 4:30-6pm in the Beitel Commons. Download the calendar here. Please note that several of these dates are also required for parents to attend!
​
7th Grade = Year 1
8th Grade = Year 2
​
Above requirements only pertain to Year 2 Students, with the exception of class dates.
School Formation
Religious formation based on the diocesan religion course of study standards are taught during the school day for St. Mary school students. St. Mary school students are welcome, but not required, to attend Thursday evening sessions.
We strongly encourage those in the school to also attend the monthly Jesus Movement Middle School Formation nights for fun fellowship and formation with their peers in the parish and diocesan community. We hope that Confirmation students will build friendships and community that will continue after 8th grade, as they go into high school and attend Youth Ministry programming after Confirmation.