St Raphael Holy Spirit Window photo by jsGrafx, © 2013 Jeff Signorini

We invite any student entering 8th grade and above, to participate in confirmation preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and become full members of our parish family and the Roman Catholic Church.

Our Confirmation program is Veni Sancte Spiritus, Latin for Come Holy Spirit. Our program is designed for youth in 8th grade and up ready to receive their Confirmation. Confirmation Preparation is on select Tuesdays once a month in the Parish Center from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Our program takes about a year to complete and then are confirmed by the bishop in oct of that next year. There will be interviews to ascertain the will, desire, and readiness to receive the Confirmation and the responsibility of full membership in the Roman Catholic Church afforded with all rights and responsibilities.

 The Mass for the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be announced for early Fall 2024 with Bishop Parkes, perhaps coinciding with the parish patronal feast day in late September - as soon as the Bishop sets the date we will make an announcement.

Sign up for Confirmation

Confirmation Calendar 24-25

• September 17th- Orientation Parents & Confirmation Candidate
• October 22nd- Session 1- Relational God
• Retreat Option 1- October 11th - 13th at Good Counsel Camp 
• November 19th- Session 2- Participation in God's Divine Life
• December 10th- Session 3- This Christian Life is possible and worth it!
• January 28th- Session 4- Community of Disciples
• February 18th- Session 5- Spiritual Life
• Sunday February 23rd @ 5:30pm Mass- Presentation of Candidates
• March 11th- Session 6- What We Believe 
• Retreat Option 2- March 28th - 30th at Cedarkirk
• April 8th- Session 7- What are we doing on Earth for Christ's sake
• October 10th - Mass conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation

ABOUT CONFIRMATION

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1302)

From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: 
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";¹¹⁷ 
- it unites us more firmly to Christ; 
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; 
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;¹¹⁸ 
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:^{119 (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1303)}