People born into a Catholic family are usually baptised as babies. This is when the family and friends promise to bring up the baby in the Catholic faith. When that person is old enough to make their own decisions they can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. They will have to attend a Preparation Course, where they will learn about Christianity and the meaning of the promises they will make.
The Sacrament of Confirmation, which is usually performed by the Bishop, takes place in Mass after the homily. The names of the candidates are read out, and each one stands up goes before the Bishop. They will profess their belief in God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and ask for strength and courage to live as Jesus would want them to and to tell other people about their faith. The Bishop then lays his hands on each of them, a sign of the power and strength that will come to them through the Holy Spirit. The Bishop says the candidate's name, normally a specially chosen saint's name. He then traces the sign of the Cross on their forehead with the oil of chrism, an ancient sign of being chosen by God. The sign of the Cross shows that the candidate is a child of God and the oil heals and gives strength. The Bishop then says "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit," followed by "Peace be with you," and the candidate replies, "And also with you ."
Young people over the age of 13 who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in November 2010 should contact the clergy immediately as our preparation course starts on the 4th February.