The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John. Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.
Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. . . . We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
The Sacrament of Confirmation equips us to be ambassadors for Christ by giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you receive these gifts, you are strengthened to carry out the mission of the Church in service. A two-year program is available to those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Confirmation program begins for the student in their 8th grade year. The Office of Faith Formation runs an all-encompassing class-based program in helping youth gain an understanding of their Catholic faith and prepare them to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Parents should contact the Parish Catechetical Leader, Emma DeBorja, at 908-647-1075 x113 or [email protected] to learn about the program and register their children.
If you are an adult seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation, please click the ministries link at the top of our website for information on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.