What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a sacramental outpouring of the Holy Spirit that leaves a permanent mark on the soul as it seals the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism. It completes Christian initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation) and empowers us to be Christ to the world (see CCC 1302-1305).
The Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown chooses 8th grade as the appropriate time for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. All parish eighth graders are invited annually to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At St. Paul Parish we annually request Confirmation for November - sometimes that is not possible - we will keep you posted on the exact date by the beginning of the school year. If you have any questions, please contact Dustine May at the Church office.
The Confirmation Journey
Confirmation for students is a journey. It’s a chance to say YES to God, YES to faith, YES to the church. We want to help you build relationships that help you know whether you want to make that choice at this critical point in your lives. Here are the steps you will take on your Confirmation journey:
July 25, 2023, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM at Holy Spirit Parish
September 24, 2023, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (location TBA)
Our Confirmation Retreat is booked at Damascus Catholic Camp, Centerburg, OH, for October 25-27, 2024. Parents will receive a link to the camp (specific for our parish) to register their students.
Confirmation Camp is partially sponsored by St. Paul's Knights of Columbus! Thank you to our Knights for their continued support of faith formation within families and youth!
CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CHOOSING A SPONSOR
CHECK OUT THIS LINK FOR A LIST OF POSSIBLE SAINTS (There are a LOT of other websites too!)
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR WORKS OF MERCY IDEAS
Dear sister, dear brother, do you want proof that God has touched your life? See if you can stoop to bind the wounds of others. Today is the day to ask, “Am I, who so often have received God’s peace, his mercy, merciful to others? Do I, who have so often been fed by the Body of Jesus, make any effort to relieve the hunger of the poor?” Let us not remain indifferent. Let us not live a one-way faith, a faith that receives but does not give, a faith that accepts the gift but does not give it in return. Having received mercy, let us now become merciful. For if love is only about us, faith becomes arid, barren and sentimental. Without others, faith becomes disembodied. Without works of mercy, it dies (cf. Jas 2:17). Dear brothers and sisters, let us be renewed by the peace, forgiveness and wounds of the merciful Jesus. Let us ask for the grace to become witnesses of mercy. Only in this way will our faith be alive and our lives unified. Only in this way will we proclaim the Gospel of God, which is the Gospel of mercy.
~ Pope Francis - Excerpt from Divine Mercy Sunday Homily 2018
You and your sponsor will both have Confirmation Journals to complete.
Additionally, there are several videos for you to watch on your own, as well as a few
to watch and discuss with your sponsor.
RCIA--FOR ADULTS SEEKING BAPTISM AND/OR FULL COMMUNION WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: If you are unbaptized, or if you were baptized in another Christian tradition but considering becoming Catholic, you can contact Michele Blate at the parish office about any questions you may have on the process of exploring these steps in your faith life! Check out the RCIA page on our website for more information.