The Sacrament of Confirmation is an important step in the faith journey of a young person. Confirmation seals the process of Christian initiation, begun with Baptism and First Holy Communion. It roots us more deeply in our faith and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us and makes our bond with the Church more perfect. It also gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ.
“Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.” (CCC 2226)

The Confirmation preparation at St Joseph’s has been described by some of its young participants as a “journey”. During this journey, our young candidates are encouraged to draw on what they already know about their faith and to fan the flame of their friendship with Christ through prayer and attendance at Mass. They are encouraged to grow in knowledge of their faith through an introduction to Sacred Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and through the lively testimonies of faith witnesses, drawn from different walks of life. By choosing a saint as a Confirmation patron and getting to know more about his/her life and by their interactions with their catechists, fellow candidates and sponsors, the candidates are encouraged to consider the impact their faith can have on their lives and to begin being witnesses themselves. Each year, during their preparation, the Confirmation group organises a faith event and invites other young people to attend. Candidates are also encouraged to demonstrate their willingness to be of service to others in the parish community.

Confirmation is open to young people in Year 9 or above who have already received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and who regularly attend Mass.
The journey consists of 12 sessions or “encounters”. Each of the sessions includes attendance at Mass, as this is such a central part of our Catholic faith. The Confirmation team work in close contact with parents, acknowledging their primary role in the transmission of the faith.

The Church speaks about “readiness to receive the sacrament” and suggests three areas where this should be demonstrated: psychological readiness, catechetical readiness and liturgical readiness. These are fairly objective ways of assessing if your child is ready to receive the sacrament of Confirmation and maybe helpful for you to decide if that is the case.

Psychological readiness – shown by a willingness to receive the sacrament. This will include a desire on the part of the candidate to participate fully in the programme of preparation and to receive the sacrament with a reverence and appreciation appropriate to his or her age.

Catechetical readiness will be shown by the awareness of one’s belonging to the Catholic community through baptism. It will be shown by the capacity to understand and believe that God loves us very much. This is the message of Jesus, who revealed the presence of God to us in his life through word and deed. Jesus invites us into intimacy with himself and he invites us to follow him. If the candidate sees that call as relevant and meaningful in their life by acting with compassion, justice and mercy, it shows their readiness.

Liturgical readiness will be shown by regular attendance at Mass on Sundays with a level of understanding of the Mass commensurate with his or her ability.

Preparation at St Joseph’s begins with an introductory meeting in November which candidates must attend with their parents/guardians. Subsequent sessions typically take place between January and June, with the sacrament being conferred by Bishop Nicholas Hudson during the month of June. Application forms are available usually by end July for conferring during the following year in the Church porch or by request from the Parish Office. These must be submitted along with a copy of the young person’s baptismal certificate and the £30 contribution towards the materials for the course by the end of September. Late applications will not be considered.

For more information please contact confirmation.joseph@gmail.com

If you are an adult or in Year 12 and above, you can be considered for Adult Confirmation.
For further information about this, please speak to one of our priests or email: rcia.joseph@gmail.com

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