Confirmation

For on him the Father, God, has set his seal. (John 6:27)

At confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm our baptismal promises. Greater awareness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred through the anointing of chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop.
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. (CCC 1316)
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:
Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. (no. 11)

Scriptural Foundation for Confirmation

In the Acts of the Apostles we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, confirmation gives birth to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to the active messianic mission of Christ in the world.

After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing confirmation to be an individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6). Also the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms. Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).

Preparing for Confirmation at St. Clare Parish


Confirmation preparation builds on the foundation laid at Baptism and supports our young people as they continue their lifelong journey of faith. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, students receive the Holy Spirit

in a deeper way - uniting them more fully to Christ, strengthening the gifts of the Spirit

within them, and empowering them to live as bold, faithful witnesses of Christ through their words and actions.


In response to Archbishop Sample’s recent change in the age of Confirmation - from high school to 7th grade - we’ve developed a pro-

gram that meets the needs of both middle

and high school students. Our Confirmation program blends solid catechesis with meaning-

ful experiences that foster community and faith in action. Students will grow spiritually and socially through team-building activities, a weekend retreat, monthly service projects as

a class, and a shared spiritual experience with their sponsors.


We encourage you to spend time in prayer and conversation with your youth to discern whether this is the right year for them to begin their Confirmation preparation.


Ready to move forward? Please complete the Registration and Emergency Contact Forms.


For more information, contact Debbie Henkelman, Children's Faith Formation Coordinator, at debbie@saintclarechurch.org.


2025-26 Parent Letter 2025-26 Registration Form Student Emergency Form 2025-26 Class Schedule