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Confirmation
Restored Order
“The world needs saints. Even as our society becomes more distant from faith and more forgetful of God, it still hungers for joyful witnesses who have been transformed by Christ. At the same time, new generations of Catholics need grace to sustain them in a non-Christian environment.To answer these needs, I have decided to restore the Sacraments of Initiation to their original order, that is, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This will make available every sacramental grace the Church has to offer to children who have reached the age of reason.”
Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Archbishop of Denver
Reconciliation
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins - CCC 1422
Those approaching Reconciliation:
- are called to conversion and the first step back toward the Father from whom they strayed
- acknowledge and praise the mercy of the Father
- are able to respond to the call to "love thy neighbor" living in the love of God
Confirmation
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins - CCC 1422
Those approaching Reconciliation:
- are called to conversion and the first step back toward the Father from whom they strayed
- acknowledge and praise the mercy of the Father
- are able to respond to the call to "love thy neighbor" living in the love of God
Eucharist
The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. - CCC 1322
The Eucharist:
- is the "Source and Summit" of Christian life
- is the culmination of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit
- unites us with the heavenly liturgy in anticipation of eternal life
Preparing for the Sacraments
We are so excited to help you on your journey as you prepare for the final Sacraments of Initiation!
Preparation for First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion takes place during the Faith Formation program. For more information on how to get started please contact our Director of Faith Formation, Phillip Sandoval.
The Order of Reception
At Good Shepherd Parish and in every parish of the Archdiocese the common practice now is the following:
- The Sacrament of Penance, which is not a Sacrament of Initiation but a Sacrament of Healing, is celebrated sometime in 2nd Grade.
- The Sacrament of Confirmation is followed immediately at the same mass with the celebration of First Eucharist. This occurs in the 3rd Grade.
What happens if a child or an adult was not confirmed in the 3rd Grade?
Every parish in the Archdiocese has welcomed new parishioners from various states and countries. At any age, over 3rd Grade, if a child or an adult has not been confirmed, simply contact our Faith Formation Office and arrangements will be made for helping anyone over the age of 3rd Grade to be prepared and to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Choosing a Sponsor
One of the more challenging tasks to parents of children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation is finding a sponsor. Qualifications for sponsorship are determined by the Universal Law of the Church. Consequently, it is not a matter of each parish determining who is able to be a sponsor. A sponsor needs to be chosen by the candidate (or a candidate’s parents if they are a minor child).
- A sponsor must be at least 17 years old.
- A sponsor must be a Catholic who is baptized, confirmed and has no impediments to participating in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This means that any Catholic who is married must have been married in the Catholic Church.
- A sponsor must also be someone other than the parent.
If there are any issues with someone whom you would like to choose as a sponsor, our Faith Formation Office can assist in most cases with helping a prospective sponsor return to full union.
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