The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.
Confirmation completes Baptism, by which in the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism Oil, which first happened at Baptism, we are confirmed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
We are reminded of our participation in the ministry and mission of Jesus, and strengthened to follow Jesus more closely.
The Sacrament of Confirmation consists of the renewal of baptismal promises and the laying on of hands and anointing with the oil of Chrism. The anointing of the candidate is a sign of confirming the gift of the Spirit, and calling the candidates to use these gifts to become involved in the life and mission of the community.
Usually the bishop presides over this sacrament.
The bishop places his hands on the head of the candidates and prays for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This ritualises the connection to Baptism and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit in our vocation to follow the way of Jesus.
The anointing of the candidate at Confirmation recognises that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
The bishop anoints the candidate’s forehead with the Oil of Chrism, saying ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’.
At the end of the rite, the bishop puts his hand on the side of the candidate’s face and says ‘Peace be with you’ and the candidate replies with ‘And with your spirit’, symbolising the candidate’s place within the Church community.
To start the process to be confirmed you will need to contact your local parish. We have a page to help you contact your nearest parish if you are unsure of your parish contact details.
Parents are the first teachers of faith to their children and therefore are required to take part in the parish preparation to enable them to understand the meaning of the sacrament and the commitment they will make to support their child’s growth in faith and life.
To follow up with these, or any other questions, contact your local parish. The parish office staff will put you in touch with either the parish priest or another suitable person who will assist you in the process of your child’s Confirmation.
Any baptised person can be admitted for Confirmation preparation.
Choosing a Confirmation name has never been an official part of the sacrament, although it has been a popular custom in many places.
Our given names are a very important part of our identity. Parents put a lot of thought into choosing a child’s name. It is appropriate for a candidate to confirm the name given at Baptism.
If a saint’s name is chosen, it should be a name of a saint that inspires the child. Choosing a Confirmation name helps put us in contact with our greater Christian story.
Confirmation is a reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism, therefore the Church recommends that a child’s godparent take on the role of sponsor for Confirmation.
Sponsors should be: at least 16 years old, not the child’s parent, a Catholic who has been confirmed, receives Communion and who lives a life of faith.
Since a sponsor has such a significant role to play in the development of the candidate for Confirmation, it is important that this person be one who is a living example of faith, one whose actions reflect the actions of Jesus. A Confirmation sponsor offers support and encouragement during the Confirmation preparation process.
During the Confirmation ceremony sponsors bring the candidates forward and present them to the bishop.
Evangelisation Brisbane and Liturgy Brisbane have developed the following resources to assist with preparation for Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
‘my Sacramental Journey: Confirmation’ is a 16 page activity book designed for children preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This resource is available for sale through the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.
‘my Sacramental Journey: Confirmation to Eucharist’ is a 12 page book designed for children to use on the journey between the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist as they share their gifts of the Holy Spirit with their family, parish, school and community. This resource is available for sale through the Evangelisation Brisbane online store.
This workbook from Liturgy Brisbane is designed to be used in a family setting with the child and parents working together. It enables the parish to view the record of the journey and receive the parents’ discernment of their child’s readiness to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. This resources is available through the Liturgy Brisbane online store.