Confirmation

For those who were baptised as infants, it is an opportunity for them to renew the vows that their parents and Godparents made on their behalf at their Baptism.  The Sacrament of Confirmation makes a Catholic a witness of Jesus in the world with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Confirmation Day is a wonderful day for the Parish community. Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Church. It completes the journey of Initiation into the Catholic Church, together with Baptism and Eucharist. In Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit.

In Confirmation, we confirm what we have already received.  We are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit through the Anointing with the Oil of Chrism. Chrism is Olive Oil mixed with balsam, a sweet smelling perfume. As we are anointed with this oil in Confirmation, we should bring the fragrance of Christ with us everywhere we go. The Holy Oil of Chrism is blessed by the Bishop in the Cathedral in Sligo on Spy Wednesday evening.  We become witnesses to Christ in our world.

The Baptismal Candle which was lit from the Paschal Candle is once again lit and passed on from sponsor to the Confirmation Candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to keep the light of faith burning brightly in their lives, with the support of the parish community and their families.

Confirmation Candidates are generally 6th Class students but people can be confirmed at any age. Adults who wish to be baptised and confirmed in the faith usually complete the RCIA.  Anyone wishing to be confirmed at a later age, should make contact with one of the priests of the parish and they will give them further information about the process.

Confirmation Registration Evening – We will be holding a Confirmation Registration Evening for all parents/guardians of Children who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting should make contact with the Parish Office on 090 6626298 before the meeting to register their child.

Confirmation Commitment Ceremony – The Confirmation Commitment Ceremony will be held in Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on the first Sunday of Advent at the 8pm Vigil Mass. During this Mass, the names of all the children registered for Confirmation will be called out and they will commit to following the programme of preparation for the Sacrament.

Choosing a Sponsor – For the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, there are sponsors who promise to support the candidate to grow in the faith as a follower of Christ. The sponsor promises to help the candidate in their journey of faith. While the sponsor at Baptism, the Godparent, doesn’t have to be the sponsor at Confirmation, it is nice to maintain the link between the two Sacraments if at all possible. At Confirmation, the sponsor presents the candidate to the bishop. The sponsor stands behind the candidate and places his or her hand on the candidate’s shoulder as a sign of support. The sponsor also hands over the Baptismal Candle to the candidate during the Ceremony. When picking a sponsor it is important to remember that the sponsor should be at least 16 years of age, a firm believer, baptised and confirmed, fully initiated into the life of the Church. The sponsor is to be a good role model and someone who practices their faith, through prayer and regular attendance at Mass.

Choosing a Name – It is important when choosing a name for Confirmation, that the candidate picks the name of a saint. Saints are people who have been Christ like. They inspire us to be better people. We are all called to be saints, through our Baptism. This can be difficult at times and that is why it is good to look towards the saints to encourage us on our own faith journey. When people in the Church and in the Bible were setting out on a new journey in life, they were given a new name. The saint whose name the candidates take is to have special meaning for the person and is to be inspirational for themas it was for so many people in the past. There are countless examples of people who have taken a new name. For example, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul and more recently Cardinal Bergoglio became Pope and took the name Francis.

At Confirmation, candidates choose a new name. This is a sign that the candidates are ready to start a new stage of their journey. They are ready to begin living in a new way as witnesses to Christ. The candidates are ready to serve God and live out their baptismal vocation. Please spend some time choosing a name of a saint. There are many wonderful resources on the internet, where candidates can research different saints and see which one appeals to them most. The important thing is that the candidate is inspired by the life of the saint and not simply the name.

Taken from The Faith Of The Catholic Church a CTS Publication

Confirmation is the Sacrament that perfects the grace of Baptism. It gives the Holy Spirit so as to root us more deeply in our relationship with God as His sons and daughters, to incorporate us more solidly in Christ, to strengthen our link with the Church by associating us more closely in her mission, and to help us to witness to the Christian faith in word and deed.