Holy Family Catholic Church
Rockford, Illinois

Holy Family Confirmation

What is the Sacrament of Confirmation?

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the last Rite of the Christian Initiation process. The sacrament traces it roots back to the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). In Acts the story of Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles like "tongues of flame" is recounted. The apostles, who were in hiding for fear of their lives, were gifted by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2) with understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, wisdom, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts enabled them to come out of their hiding place and begin to preach the Good news of Jesus Christ.

Today, the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrates the Holy Spirit coming more fully into the lives of young Catholic Christians. This "confirmation" and sealing of our Baptism by the Bishop is an integral part of taking on full responsibility for our faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ. As the Bishop "confirms" our membership in the community and each candidate repeats the Baptismal promised made by his/her parents and godparents at baptism, the Holy Spirit extends it's gifts to each candidate enabling them to better live their lives as Catholic Christians.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a powerful gift for teenagers growing up in the world today, dealing with the choices and struggles that our "sometimes unchristian" culture can offer.

Holy Family Parish confirms students during their Eighth Grade year.

Confirmation sessions are held during the students' regular Religious Education and Parish School Classes.

Religious Education (or CCD) Confirmation classes  are held on Wednesday evenings. To sign up call Carol Webber at 815-397-9395.

Holy Family School Confirmation classes are held during religion class on Thursdays.

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When Is Confirmation?

The date of Confirmation is assigned to the parishes each year by the Diocese This year the Diocese is celebrating their Centennial Anniversary and are planning to hold the Confirmation Liturgies together, Deanery wide, on February 24, 2008 at Boylan High School, as part of this celebration. This means that the Rockford Deanery (area parishes) will be having their Confirmation Liturgy as a large group.

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Selecting a Sponsor

All Candidates for Confirmation must select a suitable adult (over the age 16) to serve as a Sponsor. The sponsor is an invaluable assistant to parents in transmitting the faith. The sponsor needs to be able to fulfill several requirements. When you are selecting this adults please keep in mind the following guidelines:

· Sponsors should be an active, practicing Catholic who has already been Confirmed.

· Sponsors should be an adult, other than your parent, who you see trying to live a life rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

· Sponsors should be a role model for your faith.

· Sponsors should be a mentor, someone who can witness to you by their actions.

· Sponsors should be more mature, more informed, and more experienced in the ways of our faith than the candidate. It is recommended that the sponsor be an older person who has some experience with his or her faith and, hence, a clearer perspective from which to speak.

· The sponsor is one who is willing to share his or her faith with the candidate and is to “walk” and “talk” with the candidate on the faith journey.

· The sponsor is an assistant to the parents as the prime transmitters of the faith.  

· The sponsor needs to be an open, honest, caring, committed and encouraging person who will help the candidate grow in his or her understanding of the faith as the young person comes to a deeper appreciation of God in his or her life.

· Sponsors should meet the guidelines for Sponsors as defined in Canon law (below).

ROLE OF SPONSORS:

 

Can. 892: As far as possible a sponsor for the one to be confirmed should be present:

It is for the sponsor to see that the confirmed person acts as a true witness to Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations connected with this sacrament.

Can. 874: To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must:

Be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the one who takes their place, or in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing this role.

Have completed the sixteenth year, unless a different age has been established by the Diocesan Bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause.

Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken.

Not be bound by any Canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.

Not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized or confirmed.

A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be admitted except as a witness to baptism or confirmation and together with a Catholic sponsor.

 

Common Questions and Answers:

Q. What if I want to choose a sponsor who can not attend the day of the Confirmation ceremony?

A. If your sponsor cannot be present at the Confirmation ceremony, you may choose someone to stand in for them as a proxy.

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Choosing A Confirmation Name

You choose the name of a saint who inspires you. This symbolizes a new beginning in your faith life and a connection with that saint. Your commitment to “spread and defend the faith” that you are making at Confirmation is symbolized with the taking of a new name to show that you are in some ways a new person. This practice of taking a new name is found throughout both the old and new testaments as a sign of conversion or change. This new name would be used after your present middle name and before your family (last) name. Added to your Christian name, it gives you a heavenly patron who you should endeavor (try) to imitate.

The name you choose should represent the direction you feel your faith life is taking, or represent a strength or attribute you feel you need. It is important and necessary to know a lot about the saint before you decide on that name. You do NOT choose a new name because you like the sound of the name, how it fits with your other names, or because it is the name of a nice friend or relative.

Once you have done enough prayerful reflection and research you are ready to choose your new name! Again make sure you choose a saint that there is plenty of information on for you to get to know who he or she was.

Common Questions and Answers:

Q. Can I choose any name I want?

A. The norms for Confirmation indicate that you choose the name of a saint. This saint will then be your heavenly patron.

Q. How do I pick a saint?

A. There are many sources to find exciting saints. Check out some of the resources listed below and see what‘s available. Since each saint has a feast day sometimes people pick a saint based upon an important day in their life like a birthday. Each saint is also the patron of an activity or job. Sometimes it‘s the events of the life of a saint that connect to you. However you decide, take some time and find the saint whose life speaks to you. Then invite them into your life as patron and model and mentor.

Q. Do I have to select a name that is the same gender as I am?

A. Not at all. You can choose any saint to be your patron. A girl could just as easily choose Luke as she could choose Anna.

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Resources For Finding Saints’ Information

Books

There are many great books about the saints that you can find at the library.

Internet

Check out these sites:

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Last updated 9/13/07