CONFIRMATION PREPARATION PROGRAMME
JANUARY – MAY
CONFIRMATION INFORMATION/REGISTRATION 2022
Any young person in St. Joseph’s Parish who would like to join and commit to next year’s Confirmation programme must attend, with their parent or carer, the Information/Registration meeting to be held at St. Joseph’s Church on 22nd November at 6:30pm.
As Father Michael is more familiar with families in our Parish, there is no requirement to meet with him before the registration evening. Candidates must be in Year 9 or above and be practicing their faith at St Joseph's Parish . There will be a charge to cover the cost of the weekend retreat to Abbotswick (28th - 30th January) and other expenses.
For further information on the confirmation programme and/or retreat, please call Karen Clark on 07842 581859 or Mick Griffin on 07770 996217.
Any young person in St. Joseph’s Parish who would like to join and commit to next year’s Confirmation programme must attend, with their parent or carer, the Information/Registration meeting to be held at St. Joseph’s Church on 22nd November at 6:30pm.
As Father Michael is more familiar with families in our Parish, there is no requirement to meet with him before the registration evening. Candidates must be in Year 9 or above and be practicing their faith at St Joseph's Parish . There will be a charge to cover the cost of the weekend retreat to Abbotswick (28th - 30th January) and other expenses.
For further information on the confirmation programme and/or retreat, please call Karen Clark on 07842 581859 or Mick Griffin on 07770 996217.
The sacrament of Confirmation is prepared for in the parish community as requested by the Bishop.
The Bishop visits parishes on a 3 years cycle for confirmations. However, in between special permission is given for the parish priest to confirm at Pentecost.
At Baptism we became members of God's family. In Confirmation we take on the new responsibilities in the Body of Christ - the church. Confirmation is beginning. In the sacrament we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ to help us live our lives as adult Christians. The parish invites practising Catholic students registered in Year 9 to enrol for Confirmation along with any other member of the Parish who has not been confirmed and is over the age of 14.
A notice will be published in the Parish Newsletter advising when the programme beings and when to come and book your appointment for enrolment .
The dates and times for the next Confirmation programme meetings etc will be given out at the enrolment evening.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Presentation of the Candidates
After the Gospel the bishop and the priests who will be ministers of the sacrament with him take their seats. The catechist presents the candidates for confirmation. Each candidate is called by name and comes individually to the sanctuary, they are accompanied by their sponsors and stand before the celebrant.
Homily or Instruction
The bishop then gives a brief homily.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
After the homily the candidates stand and the bishop questions them:
Bishop: Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at Pentecost and today is
given to you sacramentally in confirmation?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All present: Amen.
The Laying On of Hands
“The laying of hands on the candidates by the bishop and the concelebrating priests represents the biblical gesture by
which the gift of the Holy Spirit is invoked”
The concelebrating priests stand near the bishop. He faces the people and with hands joined, sings or says:
Bishop: My dear friends. in baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life
to his chosen sons and daughters.
Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his sons and
daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ the Son of God.
All pray in silence for a short time.
The bishop and the priests who will administer the sacrament with him lay hands upon all the candidates (by extending
their hands over them).
The Bishop alone sings or says:
All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Anointing of Chrism
“The anointing with chrism and the accompanying words express clearly the effect of the giving of the Holy Spirit. Signed
with the perfumed oil, the baptised receive the indelible character, the seal of the Lord, together with the gift of the Holy
Spirit that conforms them more closely to Christ and gives them the grace of spreading ‘the sweet odor of Christ’”
The deacon brings the Chrism to the bishop. Each candidate goes to the bishop, or the bishop may go to the individual candidates. The one who presented the candidate places his right hand on the latter’s shoulder and gives the candidate’s
name to the bishop; or the candidate may give his own name.
Bishop: Dips his right thumb in the Chrism and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed,
as he says: “(Name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Newly confirmed: Amen.
Bishop: Peace be with you.
Newly confirmed: And with your spirit.
Universal Prayer
The universal prayer, or prayer of the faithful, follows.
Concluding Rites
Instead of the usual blessing at the end of Mass, the following blessing or prayer over the people is used.
Bishop: God our Father made you his children by water and the Holy Spirit:
may he bless you and watch over you with his fatherly love.
All: Amen.
Bishop: Jesus Christ the Son of God promised that the Spirit of truth
would be with his Church for ever: may he bless you and give you courage
in professing the true faith.
All: Amen.
Bishop: The Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples
and set their hearts on fire with love: may he bless you, keep you one in faith and love,
and bring you to the joy of God’s kingdom.
All: Amen.
Bishop: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Prayer Over the People
Instead of the preceding blessing, the prayer over the people may be used.
Deacon or other minister: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.
Bishop: Extends his hands over the people and sings or says:
God our Father,
complete the work you have begun and keep the gifts of your Holy Spirit active in the hearts of your people. Make them
ready to live his Gospel and eager to do his will. May they never be ashamed to proclaim to all the world Christ crucified
living and reigning for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Bishop: And may the blessing of almighty God the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit come upon you and remain with you for ever.
All: Amen.
Presentation of the Candidates
After the Gospel the bishop and the priests who will be ministers of the sacrament with him take their seats. The catechist presents the candidates for confirmation. Each candidate is called by name and comes individually to the sanctuary, they are accompanied by their sponsors and stand before the celebrant.
Homily or Instruction
The bishop then gives a brief homily.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
After the homily the candidates stand and the bishop questions them:
Bishop: Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at Pentecost and today is
given to you sacramentally in confirmation?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Candidates: I do.
Bishop: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All present: Amen.
The Laying On of Hands
“The laying of hands on the candidates by the bishop and the concelebrating priests represents the biblical gesture by
which the gift of the Holy Spirit is invoked”
The concelebrating priests stand near the bishop. He faces the people and with hands joined, sings or says:
Bishop: My dear friends. in baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life
to his chosen sons and daughters.
Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his sons and
daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ the Son of God.
All pray in silence for a short time.
The bishop and the priests who will administer the sacrament with him lay hands upon all the candidates (by extending
their hands over them).
The Bishop alone sings or says:
All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin
and gave them new life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Anointing of Chrism
“The anointing with chrism and the accompanying words express clearly the effect of the giving of the Holy Spirit. Signed
with the perfumed oil, the baptised receive the indelible character, the seal of the Lord, together with the gift of the Holy
Spirit that conforms them more closely to Christ and gives them the grace of spreading ‘the sweet odor of Christ’”
The deacon brings the Chrism to the bishop. Each candidate goes to the bishop, or the bishop may go to the individual candidates. The one who presented the candidate places his right hand on the latter’s shoulder and gives the candidate’s
name to the bishop; or the candidate may give his own name.
Bishop: Dips his right thumb in the Chrism and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed,
as he says: “(Name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Newly confirmed: Amen.
Bishop: Peace be with you.
Newly confirmed: And with your spirit.
Universal Prayer
The universal prayer, or prayer of the faithful, follows.
Concluding Rites
Instead of the usual blessing at the end of Mass, the following blessing or prayer over the people is used.
Bishop: God our Father made you his children by water and the Holy Spirit:
may he bless you and watch over you with his fatherly love.
All: Amen.
Bishop: Jesus Christ the Son of God promised that the Spirit of truth
would be with his Church for ever: may he bless you and give you courage
in professing the true faith.
All: Amen.
Bishop: The Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples
and set their hearts on fire with love: may he bless you, keep you one in faith and love,
and bring you to the joy of God’s kingdom.
All: Amen.
Bishop: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Prayer Over the People
Instead of the preceding blessing, the prayer over the people may be used.
Deacon or other minister: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.
Bishop: Extends his hands over the people and sings or says:
God our Father,
complete the work you have begun and keep the gifts of your Holy Spirit active in the hearts of your people. Make them
ready to live his Gospel and eager to do his will. May they never be ashamed to proclaim to all the world Christ crucified
living and reigning for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Bishop: And may the blessing of almighty God the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit come upon you and remain with you for ever.
All: Amen.
A link to help understand the symbolism of the sacrament.
