St Stephen's Church, Skipton

Events - Confirmation Mass (22 November 2003)

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THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

was conferred by the Rt Revd Bishop David Konstant of Leeds

upon eleven Candidates of our parish on 21 November 2003.

The Candidates with their Catechist, Mrs Carol Lewis. They had undergone eight weeks of intensive preparation to help them to be receptive to the grace of the Holy Spirit conferred in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Mrs Lewis with Robert Snelling, a 5th year seminarian of the diocese at the Reconciliation Service for the Candidates and their family and friends held on 20 November. Robert is on long-placement from Ushaw College in the parish and he is an Acolyte.

The Reconciliation Service was organised by Robert and allowed the Candidates to draw from the graces of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with pure hearts. Unlike Confirmation, Confession is a sacrament which may and indeed should be received regularly in order to help us to grow in love for God and our neighbour.

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

Extracts taken from The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

"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 Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17).

1302 It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

1303 From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";
- it unites us more firmly to Christ;
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

1317 Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian's soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one's life.

1319 A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs.

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