“…[Jesus] breathed on them, and said to them,
‘Receive the Holy Spirit…" --John 20:22

Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He promised to send us His Spirit (John 16:7-8). We receive this Spirit first at Baptism, and that Baptismal gift is deepened and strengthened when we receive The Sacrament of Confirmation. This Sacrament, instituted by Christ, effects the “special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost” (CCC 1302).

Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• it roots us more deeply in faith in God as our Father
• it unites us more firmly to Christ
• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
• it makes our bond with the Church more perfect
• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit:

--- to spread and defend the faith by word and deed as true witnesses of Christ

--- to confess the name of Christ boldly

--- to never be ashamed of the Cross (CCC 1303)

The Sacrament of Confirmation imprints an indelible spiritual mark on the soul, and therefore can only be received once in a person’s lifetime. The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop, although a priest is usually granted the faculty for administering Confirmation for catechumens receiving the Sacrament at the Easter Vigil.

Here at St. Mary's in Canton we have a 2-year Confirmation program that typically takes place during 7th & 8th grade. Our program includes a retreat experience. Confirmation Candidates commit to a 2-year Parish ministry of their choosing in the years following their Confirmation. We use the Spirit of Truth Program from Sophia Press. If you would like more information about the Sacrament of Confirmation for your child, or if you are an adult and you would like to prepare for this Sacrament, please contact us at [email protected] (315)386-2543.