Confirmation

With Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacrament of Confirmation completes the process of our becoming full members of the Church. Through this sacrament we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the grace Our Lord Jesus Christ won for us on the Cross, the help we need to live our lives as adult Christians.

At what age are people confirmed?

In the Diocese of Nottingham people are normally confirmed between the ages of 11-14. If you are significantly older than this, it might be better to join the group of adults preparing to be received into the Catholic Church through the RCIA programme.

What are the requirements?

If you were not baptised at Sacred Heart, you will need to produce your Baptism certificate.

You must be serious about the practice of your faith and receiving the sacrament. This means you should be coming to Mass on Sundays.

You must attend all of the preparation sessions, participating in them in a mature way.

You need to choose a Confirmation name. This is the name of a saint who inspires you.

You need a sponsor, someone who gives you a good example as a practising Catholic. This can be any practising Catholic – other than your parents – who has been Confirmed themselves and is aged 16 or over.

The Programme

The Confirmation programme will be advertised in the parish newsletter, and you will be able to find out details, therefore, by coming to Mass. You must enrol on the programme before the first session and attend all the sessions put on by the parish. During the sessions we look at, in an adult way, what we believe as Catholics and how the teachings of Jesus and His Church affect the daily lives we live. We also prepare for the sacrament by arranging to go to Confession.

The Ceremony

Normally the Confirmation Mass will be celebrated by the Bishop in the Easter season.