Confirmation
"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit..." - Ephesians 1:13
Confirmation at St. Joseph
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the initiation Sacraments in our Catholic Faith. It is often misunderstood, as it is Jesus Christ who confirms our faith rather than “us choosing to be Catholic.” This Sacrament helps to mature us into Adult Catholics, as it is one of the Sacraments of Initiation.
Arranging for Confirmation in our parish
Previously, the Diocese of Jefferson City typically conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on those individuals who had reached the age of 16 and were at least juniors in high school.
Moving forward, our Diocese has presented a three-year plan to lower the confirmation age to 12 years of age or 7th grade. To learn more about this change, you can download the "Frequently Asked Questions" sheet below, or visit the "Renewing Confirmation" page on the Diocesan website.
St. Joseph's formal preparation program will run from September to November of the following year, with a summer break between May and August. The class curriculum being used is Ascension Press's "The Chosen" series, along with four-component events - Social, Service, Stewardship, and Spiritual, to deepen students' sense of their Faith at work in their Parish family and the local community.
The class will meet after the St. Mary's Sunday morning mass (10:00 am) and last around 60 minutes. Please contact Our DRE to enroll in the preparation program. Downloadable forms for Confirmation are located below and printed forms are available in the Parish Office.
DRE - Amy Nation
660-248-2439
stjosephfayette@outlook.com
Obtaining Confirmation Records
To obtain a copy of your certificate of Baptism, Marriage, First Holy Communion, and/or Confirmation, please contact the parish office or submit a written request mailed to:
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Attn. Sacramental Records
300 S. Cleveland Street
Fayette, MO 65248
Sealed with the Gift of the Spirit
“The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life…The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life”
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1212
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.
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 the 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.
You can learn more about Confirmation, prayers, and preparation on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website.
Changing the Age of Confirmation in Our Diocese
For information and frequently asked questions regarding changing the age of confirmation within the Diocese of Jefferson City, please visit the Office of Youth Ministry and Religious Education’s confirmation page.
This document addresses common questions the Diocese has received.