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“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:14-17
It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once was granted to the apostles on the day Pentecost.
From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of Baptismal grace:
• It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry “Abba! Father!”;
• It unites us more firmly to Christ;
• It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 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.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1302, #1303The Sacrament of Confirmation enables the baptized person to be enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit and unites them to the Catholic Church to become true witnesses of Jesus Christ. The effects of Confirmation enables us to be more united to Jesus Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us, and deepens our involvement in the Catholic Church.
Youth who are interested in being confirmed, must be active in a youth ministry program and be turning 15 by the end of January the year of their confirmation. Please visit the Youth Ministry Formation page for more information on preparing for confirmation.
Adult Catholics who have not been confirmed may inquire about the process of Adult Confirmation. Non-Catholics who are interested into being received into the Catholic Church through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) please visit the Adult Ministry Formation page for more information.
