DIRECTOR: Bethanne Maus-Schaefer
Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. Through Confirmation, our personal relationship with Christ is strengthened. We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service. The sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through anointing with chrism and the laying on of hands - a signing with the gift of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts—wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord—to assist us in our mission and witness. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development. When we are responsive to the grace of Confirmation and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit. The tradition of the Church names twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.
In our two-year program that prepares youth for Confirmation, students select 8 out of 10 elective classes—Being Catholic, Church History, Confirmation, Liturgy, Mary & the Saints, New Testament, Old Testament, Prayer, Sacraments and Stewardship. Other preparations include completing Mass reflections, attending a retreat each year, performing service each year, attending prayer services.
Please go to our Forms, Schedules, Booklets, Flyers Page for more detailed information on our programs, requirements and registration.
Please note that Home Study is not available for the Confirmation program.
Sacraments at a Later Age (SALA) is a program for children and youth, grades 4 through 10, who have been delayed in the reception of the sacraments of Baptism and/or First Communion and/or Penance. SALA is a two-year process. During the first year, participants attend the parish's Religious Education classes only. During this year, children and youth become familiar with religion classes, vocabulary, prayer, and ritual. The second year of the process includes sessions from November to Easter in addition to regular elementary or youth ministry religion classes. For specifics, phone the Christian Formation Office at 262-679-0880.