Upcoming Confirmation
Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.
– Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 1316
When: 7.00pm, Friday 8 November 2019
Where: St Philip Neri Church
Celebrant: Bishop Patrick McKinney
Bishop Patrick will be visiting on Friday 8 November to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Philip Neri. We are now inviting young people of secondary school age from across our churches to enrol for the preparation course which will begin on the 9 May. Enrolment forms and course details are available at the back of all our four churches and at All Saints Academy, or can be downloaded from the website – to be returned to the parish office by 5 April. Adults who wish to be Confirmed will be prepared separately and are invited to register their interest at the parish office.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is the sacrament that completes baptism and makes someone a full member of the Church. Like baptism, confirmation is a sacrament that can only be received once because it confers a ‘character.’ What this means is that in Confirmation the Holy Spirit is poured out upon as and effects a permanent change to our souls. In baptism the image of Christ is drawn at the heart of who we are. In confirmation that image is further drawn out and completed. By a special pouring out of the Holy Spirit confirmation is each Christian’s personal Pentecost, where we receive the fulness of the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These special graces are given so that we might be strengthened for the work of Christ, namely to grow in holiness and share the Gospel with others.
