Confirmation is the second sacrament of initiation and lays down the foundation for Christian life.  Confirmation is open to every baptised person and is celebrated around the age of reason.  The minimum age is 12 years and you are required to be supported by a sponsor.

Confirmation at St Lawrence’s is generally prepared for through the months of April and May with the celebration held towards mid-June.

Candidates in Year 8 upwards of Secondary School are invited, to make application by letter to the Parish Priest. They are asked to produce their Baptismal Certificate and to undertake to follow the Preparatory Course faithfully.  
Adults who have not been confirmed are able to arrange with the Parish Priest to be prepared with appropriate instruction and be confirmed with the Candidates at the same Mass.  At some point during the course, the young people are encouraged to join the youth group which will facilitate them remaining as a group continuing to enjoy each other’s company socially, and also to explore their faith in the faith input part of the sessions.

Here are some useful questions and answers:-

Who can be my sponsor?

Anyone who is:

• a practising Roman Catholic (who is baptised and confirmed)
• over 16 years of age
• not your own mother or father

Your sponsor is someone who stands beside you at your Confirmation to present you to the Bishop.  The sponsor brings the candidate to receive the Sacrament, presents them to The Bishop for the anointing, and will later help them to fulfil their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

What about the Confirmation name?

You do not actually have to have a new “Confirmation name” but most people do. The idea is that you choose the name of a saint who will be your special patron. You must therefore know something about the saint and why you are inspired by him or her. We will help you in this during the course of the preparation programme.

What the Church teaches 

The sacrament of confirmation is an important step to achieving this. Confirmation completes the process of initiation into the catholic community, building on the sacraments of Baptism, Penance and Holy Communion.

It forms part of a journey that establishes adults and young adults as full members of the faith. A journey that starts with Baptism – when often our parents make promises to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on your behalf. At confirmation we renew and confirm those commitments and promises ourselves.

Being confirmed in the Church is a coming of age. It means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. It means that you are tasked to do what’s right – but not on your own – equipped with the grace and courage provided to you, by the Holy Spirit, through the Sacrament of Confirmation.