“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” CCC 1315 – Acts 8:14-17
In the Archdiocese of Omaha, children are eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation when they are in the eighth grade. Specific preparation begins in the seventh grade and children must be registered in a Catholic School, Faith Formation classes, or be taught at home with the guidance of the Faith Formation office. Regular attendance at classes is expected. Confirmation is scheduled with the Archdiocese and the date may vary from year to year. At St. Frances Cabrini, it normally takes place in early December.
Preparation requirements set by the Archdiocese include: choosing a “Confirmation Name” and sponsor, submitting a report on the chosen Saint, making a one-day Confirmation retreat, performing the requisite amount of Christian service work, attending practices, and receiving permission to be Confirmed through an interview with either the pastor or catechist.
“Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine, incorporate us more firmly in Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.” CCC 1316
Parents must be equally committed to assisting the children in achieving their goals through reinforcement at home, continuing attendance at weekly Mass, and attending sacramental meetings for parents. For various reasons, some Catholic youth missed making their First Communion in the second grade and some adults missed receiving the sacrament of Confirmation in their youth. In either case, please contact the parish office at (402) 934-7706 for more information on how to receive these sacraments.
Confirmation sponsor
Sponsors play a special role in the journey of a Confirmation candidate. Their relationship to the candidate is very similar to that of a godparent at Baptism. They must be a practicing Catholic over the age of 18, and they may not be a parent of the candidate. If there’s no one in your life who fits these criteria, don’t worry. The parish will provide a sponsor for you.
The sponsor’s ultimate responsibility is to make sure the candidate is prepared to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Sponsors and candidates are encouraged to remain in regular conversation during the preparation process, whether on the phone or face-to-face to talk through matters of faith and life. We will provide sponsors and candidates with conversation suggestions.
Requesting and submitting a baptismal record
Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation and can only be administered to individuals who have received Christian Baptism. Evidence of the Baptism must be provided in the form of a baptismal record in accordance with Canon law.
All Catholic parishes are required to keep record of Baptisms. An original record of the Baptism must be dated and submitted within six months of Confirmation. The requested record must be sent from the parish of Baptism and include the signature of the current pastor and the seal of the parish.