Confirmation

---

Confirmation
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "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. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." (CCC 1285)

Goals of a Confirmation Process:

1. To guide young people in the call to holiness by developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by meeting Him in the Scriptures, in the life and teachings of the Catholic Church, and in their own prayer lives.
2. To invite youth to fully participate in the traditions of the Catholic community both by worship and the development of a youth community
3. To empower young people to embrace the richness of diversity, to live the moral and theological virtues and to apply these virtues in their decision-making.
4. To equip and empower youth to use their gifts and talents for the greater glory of God and His Church.

The Instruction for this sacrament is not meant to make up for all that the candidates did not receive, learn or retain of their previous religious education. Although the deeper truth of our Catholic faith are learned during the process , the ultimate goal of catechesis for Confirmation is to bring them to a deeper understanding of their sacrament, their relationship with Christ and with their Church. Instruction should never be used as an end in itself. Rather it is as a means to an end, that is, that the candidates will ultimately posses:

• A deeper understanding of the meaning of the Sacrament of Confirmation
• A deeper longing and love for Jesus
• A deeper desire to belong to and to serve the Church

For more information about the Confirmation program at Saint Polycarp Catholic Church, please click on the link below: 
www.stpolycarp.org/teens.html

---

Adult Confirmation 
The sacrament of Confirmation perfects Baptism and completes the Sacraments of Initiation. Confirmation is the Sacrament of spiritual maturity, giving us the grace we need to participate in the public ministry of the Church.
If you were raised Catholic, but missed this important Sacrament, please join us for our adult Confirmation program. Classes begin at the end of January with announcements appearing in the church bulletin beginning in November.
If you have any questions please contact the Faith Formation Office at  (714) 892-3158.