“Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit in your hearts.” St. Ambrose

“Confirmation is the sacrament by which those born anew in baptism now receive the seal of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Father and the Son. Confirmation, as the sealing of the candidate with the Spirit, is linked with the other sacraments of Christian initiation, baptism and the Eucharist.” (General Catechetical Directory, par. 11)

Although the sealing of the Spirit is a preparation for the witness of a mature Christian life, it is important to remember that confirmation is not a rite of passage, or a mark of coming of age. Confirmation is the completion of the Christian initiation, the completion of Baptism.

Youth Confirmation

Ordinarily, preparation for this sacrament takes place in the eighth grade. Young adults in public school need to have been enrolled in Religious Education program for two years prior to the year they are receiving the sacrament. Holy Face Religious Education 8th graders meet every Sunday morning from September through May. Holy Face young adults who are enrolled in a Catholic school to receive Confirmation must have completed 7^th and 8^th grade instruction in the Catholic faith. All candidates for Confirmation (both from Catholic schools and Religious Education program) in addition to Religious Education classes also participate in special evening sessions, rehearsals, and the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation students will also participate in a retreat. Confirmation generally takes place in June. Rehearsals will be held prior to the ceremony.

Adult Confirmation

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Confirmation Sponsors

For a parishioner to receive a Parish Letter of Good Standing to act as a sponsor for the Sacrament of Confirmation, he or she must call the parish office at (301) 994-0525 to obtain a letter stating that he or she is an active member in good standing at Holy Face. He or she must be registered in the parish for 6 months before a request for a Parish Letter of Good Standing can be fulfilled.

Requirements for confirmation sponsors are the following:

1. Sponsor must be a practicing Catholic.

2. At least sixteen years old and

3. Baptized, confirmed and received the Eucharist

4. If married, sponsor must be married in the Catholic Church by a priest or deacon; or otherwise approved by the Church.

5. Living an upright life

6. No penalties (e.g., left the Church, etc.). Therefore, a Catholic who has left the Catholic Church cannot be a sponsor if they join another Christian community

7. Cannot be either parent

If an individual from another Catholic parish wishes to be a Confirmation sponsor for a Holy Face student, he or she must obtain a Letter of Good Standing from the parish in which he or she is registered.