Confirmation
Confirmation is also a sacrament of initiation into the Catholic faith which began at Baptism. The sacrament of Confirmation reminds us that we are growing older and we are now deepening our relationship between our Creator God and one another. In the sacrament we are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit; Wisdom and Understanding, the spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, Knowledge and Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts are given to live out our faith now as a full member of the community.
The sacrament of Confirmation is usually received by, children in Year 6 or older In the sacrament they are anointed with the sacred oil of Chrism. This oil is a special oil blessed at Easter and indicates their honoured place now within the Christian Community.
Requirements
The child seeking Confirmation in the Catholic Church needs to have received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Holy Communion. The candidate is expected to have attended Mass regularly at the Reconciliation Church.
“Confirmation recognises that I am ready to be a full member of the Church and to live out my life in faith following Jesus. As part of your preparation for Confirmation at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, we get to learn about some of our great ancestors who show us and encourage us on how to live our lives”
(Fr Darryl Mackie, ACM Chaplain)
Preparation
We require that parents or care-givers be attending Mass with the child, who is to be Confirmed. There will also be an interview and a preparation process to complete.
Candidates for the sacrament of Confirmation have lots of work to do in preparation for the day when the Church will officially recognise them as adults. The sacrament will be held in line with the local Catholic schools’ program to ensure that the candidate has completed sufficient preparation.
If your child is not attending a Catholic school the ACM Team will assist you in preparing your child.
Confirmation Sponsor
A Confirmation sponsor supports the candidate as they prepare to become full members of the Church. It’s an important role to play. Choosing a sponsor is a decision that a candidate should take seriously.
The following are a few things the candidates can consider when choosing a sponsor for their Confirmation candidacy.
There are certain rules and requirements regarding who can and cannot be a Confirmation sponsor. You may need to discuss the guidelines for sponsorship with a member of the ACM team.
In general, a sponsor must be at least 18 years of age. In addition, candidates cannot choose one of their parents to act as a sponsor. However, Godparents or even siblings often do qualify as sponsors.
A Confirmation sponsor must also be a confirmed member of the Catholic Church. The sponsor must also be a practising Catholic who attends Mass.
