WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

As its name indicates, the sacrament of Confirmation strengthens the individual and makes them firm in their faith. It brings the person to that perfect age, no matter what their physical age, to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in order to defend and extend the good news of the Kingdom.
 
This sacrament enriches the life given in Baptism and contributes to the strengthening of the entire community, the Church in the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Reminiscent of the day of Pentecost when the Spirit descended on the Apostles, the Holy Spirit dwells within and enlightens each individual.
 
The symbols used in this sacrament are an anointing with Sacred Chrism and the imposition of hand calling down the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is most appropriately administered by the Bishop.

By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit and are, therefore, as true witnesses of Christ, challenged to spread and defend their Catholic faith by word and deed.

One Ohana: The Sacrament of Confirmation

The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation, Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which his is filled, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ.  By this anointing the confirmandi receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit. . . .  (CCC 1294, 1295)

Confirmation Requirements ​

The following requirements apply to candidates preparing as students of St. John Vianney School or the parish Religious Education (RE) program. These requirements are based upon the Diocese of Honolulu’s guidelines.
 
Four Components of Formation. There are four primary components of Confirmation formation—1) catechesis; 2) retreat experience; 3) faith formation; and 4) Mass attendance. Besides these four components, another key contributor to the candidates’ formation is their Confirmation sponsor.
 
Catechesis. As mentioned above, one of the components of formation is catechesis. The primary purpose of catechesis in the candidate’s formation is to teach that Confirmation: 1) increases and deepens the grace of Baptism, imprinting an indelible character on their soul; 2) enriches the life given in Baptism including the baptismal conferral of the Holy Spirit in order to incorporate them more firmly in Christ; 3) strengthens their bond with the Church and its mission and the entire community; 4) increases in them the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit; and 5) is a Rite of the Church with unique symbols and prayers as conferred the Bishop (the ordinary minister). The ways the candidate is catechized includes religious teaching in parish school or RE; parents, sponsor, or other Catholic witness; and retreats or other particular forums as established and announced by the Pastor or Religious Education Department
 
Retreat Experience. A second component of formation is the retreat experience. The retreat is typically scheduled in the Spring before Confirmation. The retreat is an exciting opportunity to encounter Jesus in a unique and personal way. It will include prayer, Catholic teaching, and personal witness of our call to a deepening relationship with God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each candidate is expected to participate in the retreat experience as coordinated by the Religious Education Department. This must be a high priority in the candidate’s schedule. If, due to extenuating circumstances, the candidate cannot attend the scheduled retreat, the family must notify the Religious Education Department so that they can begin the process of finding an alternative to the primary retreat experience.
 
Faith Formation.  The third component of formation is for the candidate to better understand the call to serve the Church and the world through faith formation. Through preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation, the candidate should start to better understand the unique charisms (gifts) that the Holy Spirit is calling him or her to lovingly use for the service of neighbor and ultimately to God. Hopefully, this insight into their individual calling will lead to a lifelong passion to serve with the unique charisms given to each person. Saint John Vianney Parish offers faith formation events at least four (4) times during the year, and the candidate is required to attend.  The Confirmation Sponsor is encouraged to attend these events as well as part of their role as a sponsor.
 
Mass Attendance. The fourth component of formation is Mass attendance. Attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is one of the five precepts of the Catholic Church. The five precepts are “meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC, #2041).

​Saint Names. Finally, although not required, choosing a saint name to be confirmed under is a highly encouraged custom. Due to the unity between Baptism and Confirmation, the candidates may use their baptismal name for Confirmation. However, by custom, they may take a different name for Confirmation.
 
A new Confirmation name may be chosen from among the names of holy men and women of the Scriptures, of the saints, or of virtues (e.g., faith, charity). In participating in this tradition, the candidate will explore the holy men and women recognized as Saints by the Catholic Church to learn more about their lives and virtues. The candidate can then chose a Saint that best exemplifies some of the traits they see, or hope to develop, within themselves.

Choose a Christian Confirmation Name

Role of Godparents and Sponsors 

What is a godparent/sponsor to do?
In many cultures the role of godparent/sponsor is part of a highly developed set of traditions associated with family and kinship ties of great importance. In other cultures, being asked to be a godparent/sponsor may be a flattering experience, but it comes with no significant expectations that any real responsibility is involved. Gone are the days when in the popular imagination the primary expectation of a godparent was to raise a child in the Catholic faith should both of the child’s parents die.
 
What does the Church have to say about the role of godparents/sponsors?  
It may be helpful to remember that originally there was no such thing as a Confirmation sponsor apart from the baptismal godparents, since both Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated at the same time. Only when the celebration of the two Sacraments became separated did the role of Confirmation sponsor evolve. Even then there was a popular expectation that the same individuals who served as godparents at Baptism would function as sponsors at Confirmation. Today the Church encourages—but does not require—that those to be confirmed choose as their sponsor one of their original godparents.
 
In order to understand the role of godparent/sponsor, we need to divest ourselves of the very individualistic and privatized way of thinking about Sacraments that has become so commonplace today. The earliest (and best) tradition of the Church understood that Sacraments are public realities, that they are experiences that impact the entire community of faith, and that their celebration is always a communal occasion to celebrate the faith of the entire Church. The phrase “private Baptism,” which is so easily used today, would be simply incomprehensible to a community that truly understood how every Sacrament affects the entire Body of Christ. 
 
With such a perspective, it is easy to understand the role of godparent/sponsor as one who represents the larger community into which the candidate is being initiated. The whole community has a stake in this person growing into the fullness of Christ. And so it is logical to expect that a representative of that community would be present to support and encourage not only parents but the individual being initiated as well.
 
How can the role of mentor help us understand the role of godparent/sponsor?  
Today the word mentor has many of the rich associations that godparent/sponsor once enjoyed. The Christian faith requires the development of skills for Christian living, and apprenticeship seems an apt metaphor for how those skills are best learned. 
In a highly mobile society such as ours, it makes sense to choose someone with family ties for this role, since one’s relationship to members of a local community are often likely to be disrupted by relocation. However, those chosen for the role of godparent/sponsor should understand that this is not just an honor bestowed because of family ties.
First and foremost, the godparent/sponsor stands as a representative of the larger Christian community, offering support in the faith journey of a lifetime, witnessing by example the skills required for a life of virtue, and coaching the person being initiated on how to grow into the fullness of life in Christ.

Choosing a Sponsor. The candidate must choose a sponsor to accompany them during their Confirmation preparation. The candidate and sponsor will continue on the formation journey throughout the year until the Confirmation Mass in the spring. Although some candidate-sponsor faith-sharing interactions can be done via telephone, messaging, etc., the sponsor should be available, to their utmost, in certain face-to-face circumstances with the candidate. These settings include attending Mass together (more on that below), the candidate-sponsor meeting(s), and the Confirmation Mass and associated rehearsal. Each sponsor (or their proxy) will be required to attend a sponsor meeting prior to Confirmation.

Choose a Confirmation Sponsor

Requirements for Confirmation Sponsors 

The requirements for Confirmation sponsors at Saint John Vianney Parish are as follows:

• The sponsor must be sufficiently mature for the responsibility (emotionally and spiritually) and at least 16 years of age.
• Complete the required Confirmation Sponsor Pledge Form and return to Saint John Vianney Parish by the required date.
• The sponsor must be an active member of the Catholic Church and initiated in the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. 
• If the sponsor is not a member of Saint John Vianney Parish, they must contact their current parish of membership and request a letter be sent to our parish indicating that they are able to serve as a Confirmation sponsor.
• The parent may not be the sponsor. 

 
Remember also that all Catholics must observe the five Precepts of the Church (CCC 2041-2043):

1. Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligations
2. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year
3. Receive the Eucharist at least during the Easter season
4. Observe days of fasting and abstinence (e.g. Ash Wednesday & Good Friday)
5. Help to provide for the needs of the Church

Children and Youth Confirmation

​Anyone parent who is interested in having their child receive the sacrament of Confirmation at St. John Vianney Parish should contact the Religious Education Department. If your child is a student at St. John Vianney School, let the school office know as soon as possible.  A Confirmation Information Sheet should be completed and submitted to the Parish Office. Our parish observes the restoration to original order the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist.

​Preparation for Confirmation is a two-year program within the Youth Ministry Program of the parish.  Students must be at least 15 old at the time of Confirmation.

Parents’ Sessions:
Parent(s) of any child receiving a sacrament are required to attend five (5) parent sessions during the religious education hours.  These classes hope to better equip you to be able to continue learning with your child during this important year.
 
State of Grace:
Prior to being confirmed, every candidate is to be in a state of grace.  This is fulfilled by going to Reconciliation at least once during Lent, or within 30 days of Confirmation.  Our Parish will hold a Reconciliation Service in the Spring, and students at Saint John Vianney School will also attend a Reconciliation Service during school.  This is a good opportunity for the sponsor to share in the grace of forgiveness by going with your candidate to Reconciliation prior to Confirmation.

Adult Confirmation

Can I Be Confirmed as an Adult?
Yes! It is not unusual to not have received the Sacrament of Confirmation as a young person. For this reason, St. John Vianney Parish offers a preparation program for adults of all ages.
 
Requirements
In order to be confirmed, one must be baptized as a Catholic and have received their first Holy Communion. If either of these or both are not completed, then the normal route is for the person to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
 
Classes
The preparation for adults is quite different from that of children or young teens. The process is one of a small-group, adult learning experience. The focus of the program is to connect the practice of our Catholic Faith to our experiences in our everyday lives. For many who participate in this program, it is an opportunity to see, for the first time, the faith of the Church with an adult understanding. Ideas formed in childhood are challenged, developed and nuanced. The resources are varied and many and they include a scripture study of the Book of Acts, The US Catholic Catechism for Adults, the Bible and some of the Vatican II documents. Participants will look at how their image of God affects the way they are in relationship with Him and spend significant time connecting daily life with the underlying meaning of incarnation and Eucharist.

Adults may receive Confirmation from the Bishop at the annual parish celebration during the Easter season or from the pastor at another time during the year with unique circumstances.
 
To register for adult Confirmation classes or for more information, contact the Parish office.