Confirmation, along with Baptism and Eucharist, is one of the sacraments of initiation. While Baptism is a sacrament typically performed during infancy, Confirmation is a sacrament of maturity and coming of age where the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong.
During Confirmation the candidate is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit through the anointing of Chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop. Just as he did with the 12 apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), during Confirmation God the Holy Spirit comes upon the candidate, accompanied by God the Father and God the Son. The Sacrament of Confirmation draws the candidate into a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit which helps to strengthen one's Christian life.
Confirmation means accepting responsibility for one's faith and destiny, doing what is right on one's own, and having the courage to practice one's faith. There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that are graced to the individual at Confirmation: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
The Confirmation program of the St. Martha-St. Mary Catholic Collaborative is a 4-year program. During 7th and 8th grade, students meet as part of the pre-Confirmation curriculum whereas 9th and 10th grade students participate in the Confirmation curriculum. Please see the Faith Formation section for more details about the Confirmation program and a calendar of classes and retreats.