Confirmation

Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church

Confirmation

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

All Powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
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.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Prayer of the Bishop over the confirmandi

Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church. About this Sacrament, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

1315 "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17).

1316 Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.

1317 Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian's soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one's life.

1318  … In the Latin Church this sacrament is administered when the age of reason has been reached, and its celebration is ordinarily reserved to the bishop, thus signifying that this sacrament strengthens the ecclesial bond.

1319 A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.

1320 The essential rite of Confirmation is anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism ..., together with the laying on of the minister's hand and the words: "Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti" (Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.) in the Roman rite...

1321 When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, its connection with Baptism is expressed, among other ways, by the renewal of baptismal promises. The celebration of Confirmation during the Eucharist helps underline the unity of the sacraments of Christian initiation.

PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is a two-year process which usually starts at the beginning of the school year for the ninth grade. The preparation continues through the tenth grade, and the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the fall of the eleventh grade.  Students should have completed a minimum of one year of Religious Education prior to enrolling for Confirmation (8th grade), either at Epiphany or another Catholic parish, or at a Catholic school. Regular attendance at the Sunday evening sessions is a requirement for Confirmation.  Older students will need to contact the Director of Religious Education at 405-722-2110 ext 118.

PARENT AND STUDENT COMMITMENTS TO THE PREPARATION PROCESS

  • Attend Mass regularly and observe the other precepts of the Catholic Faith.
  • Be enrolled for Confirmation through the R.E. Office prior to the start of the program.  No one will be allowed to enroll without the written permission from the Director of Religious Education two weeks after the start of the classes.
  • Have documented 20 Hours of Community Service for each year.
  • Attend preparation sessions including retreats (minimum 80% attendance & 2 retreats).
  • Obtain a copy of your (the confirmandi's) baptismal record and first communion so that it is on file with us.
  • Select a Saint's name as your special patron and have that on file with us.
  • Select a sponsor and ensure that his or her sacramental records are on file with us.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

As the primary catechist of the your son or daughter, parents are invited to support their children in the preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation in response to God’s call.  This includes helping them to arrive at Mass, classes, and retreats on time and to follow the other commitments of the process.

CONFIRMATION STUDENT COMMITMENTS

Students are invited to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation in response to God’s call in the parish of Epiphany of the Lord, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma according to the directives of our Pastor, Reverend Stephen Bird, the Director of Religious Education and catechists.

AFTER CONFIRMATION

Religious Education does not stop at Confirmation!  Mystagogy and Religious Education continue through the end of 12th Grade.  Please support your young person's on-going journey of faith by encouraging them to end the Mystagogy portion of the Confirmation process and then to continue on with Religious Education.

Mystagogy is the period after the rites of initiation into the Catholic Church. It's a time for settling in, such as when you move to a new place, start a new job, or begin at a new school. It is exciting to begin, but those first steps might be wobbly. We rely on people around us to help us. That's the purpose of mystagogy. 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM READY FOR CONFIRMATION?

None of us have done anything to deserve the astounding grace present in the sacraments.  Thankfully, God does not require us to be worthy, but only asks that we cooperate with His grace and prepare ourselves as best we can.  We do that by:

  • Taking seriously the process of preparation and completing the requirements to the best of our abilities.
  • Selecting a sponsor who can be a role model and provide spiritual guidance on our journey.
  • Work with your sponsor and catechists to understand the teaching of the Church, especially on issues of disagreement or concern.
  • Making a personal, positive choice to receive the sacrament. 

Ultimately, if you are able and willing to stand before the Archbishop and the congregation of Epiphany of the Lord Parish in honesty and sincerity to request Confirmation, you are ready. God will handle the rest.