St Raphael Holy Spirit Window photo by jsGrafx, © 2013 Jeff Signorini

We invite any student entering 8th grade and above, to participate in confirmation preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and become full members of our parish family and the Roman Catholic Church.

The preparation gatherings will be one Tuesday evening a month from September to April, participation in either the Fall Retreat (October 20-22) or the Spring Retreat (March 1st-3rd), and opportunities for service. There will be interviews to ascertain the will, desire, and readiness to receive the Confirmation and the responsibility of full membership in the Roman Catholic Church afforded with all rights and responsibilities.

The Mass for the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be announced for early Fall 2024 with Bishop Parkes, perhaps coinciding with the parish patronal feast day in late September - as soon as the Bishop sets the date we will make an announcement.

Sign up for Confirmation

2023-2024 Schedule
All Sessions are in the Parish Center (Gym) from 6:30pm-8pm

• September 26th- Orientation Parents & Confirmation Candidate
• October 10th- Session 1- Relational God
• Retreat Option 1- October 20th-22nd at Good Counsel Camp 
• November 14th- Session 2- Participation in God's Divine Life
• December 12th- Session 3- This Christian Life is possible and worth it!
• January 9th- Session 4- Community of Disciples
• February 13th- Session 5- Spiritual LIfe
• Sunday February 25th @ 5:30pm Mass- Presentation of Candidates
• March 19th- Session 6- What we Believe 
• Retreat Option 2- March 1st-3rd at Cedarkirk
• April 16th- Session 7- What are we doing on Earth for Christ's sake
• Fall 2024- Mass conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation

ABOUT CONFIRMATION

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1302)

From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: 
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";¹¹⁷ 
- it unites us more firmly to Christ; 
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; 
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;¹¹⁸ 
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:^{119 (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1303)}