CONFIRMATION – THE THIRD SACRAMENT OF INITIATION
CONFIRMATION VIA FAITH FORMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a sacrament in which the Holy Spirit is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians, followers of Jesus Christ and defenders of the Faith.
Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits. Click here to discover the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. One of the traditional practices in the Church at the time of Confirmation is choosing a saint name to signify your new and deeper awareness of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Your patron saint will remind you of this sacrament and intercede for you in your faith journey. To read about the saints see http://www.catholic.org/saints/. Each individual to be confirmed is required to have a sponsor—someone who will guide you and share the story of faith with you. The same canonical requirements for being a godparent in Baptism apply for sponsors at Confirmation. A Sponsor Form must be completed and returned in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We encourage all confirmandees to reflect on their journey during the sacrament preparation process. During the process they will be invited to meet with a priest to discuss what the Sacrament of Confirmation means to them and how the Holy Spirit will affect their life.
For more information you may contact our Director of Faith Formation and Religious Education, Millicent Griesemer, at 813-839-5337 ext. 131 or by email at mgriesemer@stpatricktampa.org.
CHRISTIAN FAMILY STUDIES
Sometimes, for any number of reasons, one, two, or even all the children in a family may not have received their Sacraments at the same time as their peers. We welcome those parents and families who decide to bring their children to the church to participate in the Sacraments given to us by Jesus Christ. We gather the families together and address each of the needs presented. We assist in preparing the family for any or all of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Please contact the Faith Formation director for specific information.
RCIA – RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
RCIA is an adult and family process of preparation for reception of the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). RCIA meets on Sunday mornings and/or several afternoons during the month. The RCIA process is flexible and tailored to the needs of candidates who proceed through the process at their own pace. Generally, a new class begins each September, however, many factors may require adjustment of the schedule so we welcome your inquiries at any time of the year. Adults who wish to enter the Church and children age seven or above in need of Baptism should contact our Pastor Fr. Sal Stefula, T.O.R. at 813-839-5337 Ext. 115 or sstefula@stpatricktampa.org to learn more.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
- Click here for the Fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit flyer.
- Click here for a Sponsor Form.
- Click here for a Confirmandee Reflection Form.
- Click Here for a Saint Form.