Confirmation
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Baptism, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. 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.
Here at St. Anthony's, Confirmation is celebrated several ways:- For adults who need to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we encourage you to participate in our RCIA program.
- For youth, we have an active program for the development and deeping of their faith. More information on that preparation can be found below:
PHASE 1
The foundations of faith formation are presented in a small group setting with an emphasis on Church History, Prayer, and Sacraments.
PHASE 2 ,
Students strengthen their faith by diving deeper into our Catholic teachings and traditions. Emphasis is placed on a more mature exploration of sacred scripture and the sacrament of Confirmation. Throughout the year, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of their commitment to the promises made for them at Baptism, and to discern the meaning of Confirmation in their lives today.
We have also developed a special track for any older student, still of high school age, who wants to enter into the preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The students who attend this program are usually ones that have made a decision to wait to be confirmed or who have been away from the church and religious education for a while. If you or your child meet this criterion, please contact our Youth Minister, Mike Peterson, so that he may guide you through the process.
Basic Program Requirements
- A Christian (preferably Roman Catholic)-please provide a copy of their Baptismal certificate
- Family must be registered in St Anthony of Padua Parish
- Student must attend religious education sessions - home schooling is not an option as Confirmation is a sacrament of community
- Full participation in the preparation process - class, service, retreat, mass
Specific Requirements for Confirmation- Completed registration forms for the Confirmation sacramental program
- Completion of a 2 year sacramental preparation program
- Attendance at sacramental prep classes, special sessions & retreats
- Parent participation
- Completion of 30 hours of community service (per year).
- Completion of a community service reflection worksheet
- Affirmation of baptismal name or selection of confirmation name
- Completion of Confirmation Name / Saint Reflection report
- Selection of a Confirmation Sponsor:
- Sponsor must be a confirmed Catholic
- Sponsor must be active in his/her faith and christian life
- Sponsor can not be the candidate’s parent
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Questions, please contact the Coordinator of Youth Ministries at (973) 838-0031 ext. 13