Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.
The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.
Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.
Those who believed in the Apostles' preaching were baptized and received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. The Apostles baptized believers in water and the Spirit. Then they imparted the special gift of the Spirit through the laying on of hands. "'The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church'" (CCC, no. 1288, citing Pope Paul VI, Divinae Consortium Naturae, no. 659).
By the second century, Confirmation was also conferred by anointing with holy oil, which came to be called sacred Chrism. "This anointing highlights the name 'Christian,' which means 'anointed' and derives from that of Christ himself whom God 'anointed with the Holy Spirit'" (CCC, no. 1289, citing Acts 10:38).
From the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Guidelines for Confirmation at Saint Leo
In order to be confirmed at Saint Leo, a child must be baptized and be in a religious education program the year prior to and the year of Confirmation Preparation. If a child is new to the parish, and wishes to enroll in Confirmation Preparation, parents must request a letter from their former parish detailing their child’s participation in a religious education program the previous year. At that point, the child may be enrolled in our program. The Sacrament of Confirmation is traditionally celebrated at Saint Leo in grade eight.
Please contact Bethany Fischer or call her at 336.724.9596.
2018 - 2019 INFORMATION:
**REQUIRED PARENT MEETING: Wednesday, September 19th, at 11:00 am OR 7:00 pm in the youth room - Parents NEED to attend one of the meetings. It will last about 40 minutes.
Confirmation Class Dates: In 2018 - November 11 & December 9 ; In 2019 - February 3 and March 24 (Snow make up day is April 7) Class time: 9:00 - 10:15 am
Weekend Retreat at Camp Hanes is March 1 - 3, 2019'
***If you have not registered your child for Confirmation preparation (separate from registering them for Faith Formation or St. Leo School), please complete this form before our parent meeting on September 19th. There will be two meetings held on that day and parents should attend one of them - at 11:00 am or 7:00 pm, both are in the youth room.