THE SACRAMENT PROCESS BEGINS WITH AN ALL SACRAMENTS RETREAT FOR THE PARENTS OF A CHILD IN NEED OF A SACRAMENT OR THE ADULT THEMSELVES WHO WANTS TO RECEIVE A SACRAMENT.  This meeting will be held periodically throughout the year.  FIRST OFFERINGs are SEPTEMBER 5TH (5:30-7:30pm)  and Sreptember 7th (11am-1pm).  Meeting takes place in St. Martha Hall.  Please enter through door 12.

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation, like the other sacraments is a unique encounter with Jesus.  In this encounter, our longing and desire to serve as Christ’s soldier is blessed by Jesus with an outpouring of the life and gifts of the Spirit. 

 In Confirmation we are spiritually equipped to join Jesus on the battlefield, to share the Good News, to make present the Kingdom of God, to fight for God’s  glory and to fight for the salvation of souls; i.e. join Him in His Mission.

Viewing confirmation with the lens of conflict, strife, combat, and battle captures a certain quality of the Christian life and our participation in Jesus’ Mission that is easily overlooked or forgotten.   Christ came to save the world, to unite His people in perfect everlasting union with the Trinity in Heaven, and give us a foretaste of this union here on earth.  This is a Mission worth fighting for.
 

The effects of confirmation on the christian

• Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His gifts as at Pentecost.  
• An increase and deepening of baptismal grace.
• Renders our bound with the Church more perfect.
• Gives us special strength to spread and defend the faith.
• “By this sacrament the Holy Spirit endows them with special strength so that they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith, both by word and by deed, as true witnesses of Christ” (Lumen gentium, 11; cited in CCC 1285)
• The confirmed catholic “shares more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit” CCC 1294

Quick look at what is required at St. Max for Confirmation

• Attend the ALL SACRAMENTS MEETING. 
• Be a baptized Catholic, because confirmation strengthens the relationship with Jesus started at baptism.
• Live the graces of the other sacraments prior to Confirmation... attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day ... frequent confession (the encounter with the Mercy of God) so as to restore our relationship with God once damaged by sin.
• Confirmation equips us to be on the mission of Jesus.  Thus a desire to share Jesus with others must be present in addition to a desire to deepen relationship with Jesus and Holy Mother Church.
• Confirmation is also received within a Parish community. The youth seeking confirmation is to be a registered and involved member at the Parish (one who is known and serves within our Parish).  Participation in the Rescue Project with a parent is one of the best ways to prepare for reception of the sacrament. 
  
   

Confirmation for Adults

Occasionally, for various reasons, an individual has not been confirmed while in his/her childhood or youth. Adults who are not yet confirmed are invited to call the parish office to make arrangements to celebrate this sacrament.