Sessions and Guide

Purpose

The first session introduces candidates to the Confirmation programme and encourages them to reflect on why they are undertaking this journey.

Candidates should begin to understand that Confirmation is not simply a religious milestone, a family expectation or a certificate. It is an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and become more fully committed to living as disciples of Christ.

Key teaching: What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.

The Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church.

Explain that sacraments are not simply symbolic ceremonies. They are effective signs of God's grace, through which Christ acts in our lives.

Catechist explanation:

A useful way to explain this is to compare a sacrament with something we can physically see that communicates something deeper.

For example, a wedding ring is a visible sign of a person's commitment and love. Similarly, the sacraments use visible signs, such as water, oil, bread and wine, through which God communicates His grace.

However, unlike an ordinary symbol, the sacraments actually bring about the grace they signify.

Key teaching: Who instituted the sacraments?

Jesus Christ instituted the sacraments and entrusted them to His Church.

Encourage candidates to recognise that the sacraments are rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus.

For example:

• Baptism: Matthew 28:19.

• Eucharist: Luke 22:19–20.

• Confirmation: Acts 8:14–17 and Acts 19:5–6.

• Reconciliation: John 20:21–23.

• Anointing of the Sick: James 5:14–15.

Key teaching: Why Confirmation?

Refer to CCC 1285.

Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation, alongside Baptism and the Eucharist.

Through Confirmation:

• Our baptismal grace is brought to completion.

• We are more firmly united with Christ and His Church.

• We receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

• We are strengthened to witness to Christ through our words and actions.

• We are called to participate more actively in the Church's mission.

Important catechist point:

Confirmation is not graduation from the Church or the end of religious education. It is an important step in a lifelong journey of faith.

Discussion

When candidates are asked why they wish to be confirmed, do not expect everyone to give a deeply theological answer.

Some may say their parents want them to be confirmed. Others may want to follow their friends, continue their family tradition or learn more about God.

These are opportunities to explore their motivation.

Encourage them to think about what they personally want from this journey.

Confirmation saints

Explain that choosing a Confirmation saint is an opportunity to identify a saint whose life, example or spirituality inspires them.

Encourage candidates to research:

• Who was this saint?

• What was their life like?

• What challenges did they experience?

• How did they demonstrate their faith?

• What qualities would they like to imitate?

Explain that a Confirmation saint is a heavenly intercessor and a model of Christian discipleship.

The Ten Commandments

Help candidates understand that the Ten Commandments are not simply a list of restrictions.

They are a guide to living in a loving relationship with God and with other people.

Explore how the commandments relate to modern life, including honesty, respect, relationships, social media, possessions and responsibility.

Catechist activity: Ask candidates to identify one commandment that they think young people find particularly challenging today. Invite them to explain why.

Key takeaway

Confirmation is an invitation to deepen our relationship with God and become more committed to living as followers of Jesus Christ.

Purpose

Candidates should develop a clearer understanding of who Jesus is and why He is central to the Catholic faith.

Encourage candidates to move beyond knowing facts about Jesus and begin considering what He means personally in their lives.

Key teaching: Who is Jesus?

Begin with Matthew 16:15–16:

"Who do you say that I am?"

Explain that Jesus asks this question of His disciples because knowing about Him is different from personally knowing Him.

The Catholic Church professes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, who became man for our salvation.

Key beliefs about Jesus

Catechists should help candidates understand the following:

1. Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

2. Jesus is fully God and fully human.

3. He performed miracles, healed the sick and forgave sins.

4. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God.

5. He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

6. He suffered and died on the Cross for our salvation.

7. He rose bodily from the dead.

8. He ascended into heaven and will come again in glory.

Jesus fulfils the promises of Scripture

Refer to Luke 4:16–21.

Explain that Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah and identifies Himself with the promised Messiah.

Help candidates understand that the Old Testament prepares the way for Jesus, while the New Testament reveals the fulfilment of God's saving plan through Him.

How do we recognise Jesus as the Messiah?

Discuss His:

• Teachings and authority.

• Miracles and signs.

• Fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.

• Death and Resurrection.

• Relationship with the Father.

Use Luke 8:22–25, the calming of the storm, to explore Jesus' authority over creation.

Catechist explanation:

The miracle demonstrates that Jesus is not simply an extraordinary teacher. His authority reveals His divine identity.

Encourage candidates to consider why the disciples were frightened and amazed.

Developing a personal relationship with Jesus

Candidates may understand Jesus as someone who lived 2,000 years ago but struggle to understand how He is relevant today.

Explain that Jesus is alive and present with us.

A relationship with Christ develops through:

• Prayer.

• Reading Scripture.

• Receiving the Eucharist.

• Participating in the life of the Church.

• Spending time in Adoration.

• Following His teachings.

• Seeking His guidance in difficult situations.

Is our relationship with God transactional?

Explain that prayer should not be limited to asking God for things.

A relationship with God involves love, trust, gratitude, listening and surrender.

Ask candidates to consider whether they remember God only when they need something or whether they make time to thank Him.

The four parts of the Catechism

Introduce the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1. The Profession of Faith – The Creed.

2. The Celebration of the Christian Mystery – The Sacred Liturgy and Sacraments.

3. Life in Christ – The Christian moral life.

4. Christian Prayer – Developing our relationship with God.

Explain that these four parts help us understand what Catholics believe, how we worship, how we live and how we pray.

Key takeaway

We are invited not only to know about Jesus but to know Him personally, trust Him and allow Him to guide our lives.

Purpose of the session

This session explores Christian discipleship and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Candidates should recognise that discipleship is not simply attending Mass or identifying as Catholic. It is about allowing Christ to influence the way we think, speak and behave.

Key teaching: Who were the disciples?

Explain that Jesus called ordinary people to follow Him.

His disciples came from different backgrounds. Some were fishermen, others were tax collectors, and some had difficult pasts.

Examples include:

• Peter – a fisherman who initially struggled with fear and later denied Jesus.

• Matthew – a tax collector.

• Mary Magdalene – a faithful disciple and witness to the Resurrection.

• Thomas – who initially struggled to believe in the Resurrection.

• Paul – who persecuted Christians before his conversion.

Jesus did not call people because they were perfect. He called them to follow Him and be transformed by His grace.

Jesus as a friend

Refer to John 15:15, where Jesus says:

"I have called you friends."

Explain that Jesus offers us a personal relationship based on love, trust and faithfulness.

Encourage candidates to consider what makes a good friendship.

Explore the following qualities:

• Love and acceptance.

• Honesty and trust.

• Respect.

• Forgiveness.

• Encouragement.

• Loyalty.

• Helping one another grow.

Peer pressure and Christian identity

This is an important opportunity to connect faith with candidates' everyday experiences.

Discuss how friendships and social groups can influence behaviour.

Help candidates recognise that being a Christian does not mean judging others or refusing to associate with people who make different choices.

Instead, it means remaining faithful to Christ while treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Explore:

• How can we stand up for what is right?

• What happens when our friends encourage us to do something wrong?

• How can we support someone who is struggling?

• How can we remain Catholic without making others feel judged?

Being Christ to others

Explain that Christians are called to make Christ visible through their actions.

Examples include:

• Including someone who feels isolated.

• Standing up against bullying.

• Forgiving someone.

• Helping someone in need.

• Being honest, even when it is difficult.

• Offering encouragement to someone experiencing difficulties.

Virtues

Introduce the three theological virtues:

• Faith – believing in God and accepting His revelation.

• Hope – trusting in God's promises and eternal life.

• Charity – loving God above all things and loving our neighbour for His sake.

Introduce the four cardinal virtues:

• Prudence – knowing how to make good decisions.

• Justice – giving God and others what is due to them.

• Fortitude – having courage and perseverance.

• Temperance – exercising self-control and moderation.

Explain that virtues help us develop good habits and become more Christ-like.

The Angelus

Introduce the Angelus as a traditional Catholic prayer that recalls the Annunciation and the Incarnation.

Explain the significance of Mary's response to God's invitation.

Encourage candidates to understand Mary as an example of faith, humility and obedience to God's will.

Key takeaway

Being a disciple means allowing Jesus to shape our choices, relationships and behaviour. We are called to follow Him even when it is difficult.

Purpose of the session

Candidates should understand who the Holy Spirit is, His role in the Church and His importance in the Christian life.

This session is particularly important because Confirmation involves a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Key teaching: Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

He is fully God, equal with the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit is not simply a feeling, an energy or a symbol. He is a divine Person who acts in our lives and in the Church.

In the Nicene Creed, we profess:

"I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life."

Understanding Pentecost

Read Acts 2:1–13.

Explain that before Pentecost, the apostles were frightened and uncertain following Jesus' death and Resurrection.

At Pentecost:

• The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.

• They received the courage to proclaim the Gospel.

• They spoke in different languages.

• People from different nations heard the Good News.

• The apostles began their public mission of evangelisation.

Explain that Pentecost marks the public manifestation of the Church and the beginning of its mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Help candidates understand the imagery used in Scripture and Church tradition.

• Wind or breath – God's life-giving presence and power.

• Fire – purification, transformation and the power of God's love.

• Dove – peace and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at His Baptism.

• Water – new life and spiritual renewal.

• Oil – anointing, strengthening and consecration.

The Holy Spirit in the Church

Explain that the Holy Spirit:

1. Guides and strengthens the Church.

2. Inspires Sacred Scripture.

3. Acts through the Sacraments.

4. Helps Christians grow in holiness.

5. Strengthens the Church's mission.

6. Helps us pray and discern God's will.

7. Builds unity among believers.

Catechist guidance

Candidates may struggle to understand how the Holy Spirit works because He cannot be physically seen.

Use everyday examples.

For instance, someone may feel encouraged to forgive another person, speak up against injustice, help someone in need or return to prayer during a difficult period.

Explain that the Holy Spirit can guide and strengthen us in these situations.

However, remind candidates that not every feeling or thought automatically comes from the Holy Spirit. We discern God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, the teachings of the Church and the fruits of a good Christian life.

Key takeaway

The same Holy Spirit who strengthened the apostles at Pentecost is given to us in Baptism and poured out upon us in a special way through Confirmation.

Purpose

Candidates should understand the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits that become evident when we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us.

Encourage candidates to connect these gifts with real-life decisions and challenges.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Refer to Isaiah 11:2–3 and CCC 1831.

1. Wisdom: Helps us see things from God's perspective and recognise what truly matters.

2. Understanding: Helps us grasp the truths of our Catholic faith more deeply.

3. Counsel: Helps us make good decisions and recognise what God is asking of us.

4. Fortitude: Gives us courage and strength to remain faithful, especially during difficulties.

5. Knowledge: Helps us recognise God's purpose in creation and understand our relationship with Him.

6. Piety: Develops a loving relationship with God and a desire to worship Him.

7. Fear of the Lord: Inspires reverence, awe and respect for God, and a desire not to turn away from Him.

Important distinction: Fear of the Lord does not mean being terrified of God. It means recognising His greatness, loving Him and respecting His holiness.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit

Refer to Galatians 5:22–23 and CCC 1832.

The traditional Catholic list identifies twelve fruits:

1. Charity – loving God and others.

2. Joy – finding lasting happiness in God.

3. Peace – living with trust in God.

4. Patience – remaining calm and persevering through difficulties.

5. Kindness – treating others with compassion.

6. Goodness – choosing what is right.

7. Generosity – giving freely and selflessly.

8. Gentleness – treating others with care and respect.

9. Faithfulness – remaining loyal to God and our commitments.

10. Modesty – showing humility and respect in our behaviour.

11. Self-control – managing our desires and actions.

12. Chastity – respecting the dignity of ourselves and others in our relationships and sexuality.

Gifts versus fruits

This distinction is important.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are graces given to help us respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The fruits are the signs of a Christian life increasingly shaped by the Holy Spirit.

An easy way to explain this is:

The gifts help us live according to God's will; the fruits show the goodness that develops in our lives as we cooperate with His grace.

The Holy Spirit as Advocate

Refer to John 14:26.

Explain that Jesus promises to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who teaches and reminds the disciples of His words.

The Holy Spirit does not replace Jesus' teaching. He helps us understand, remember and live it.

Free will and our response to God

Discuss the importance of free will.

God does not force us to love Him. He invites us into a relationship with Him.

Candidates should understand that receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit does not mean we automatically become perfect or stop making mistakes.

We must freely cooperate with God's grace.

Applying the gifts to everyday life

Examples:

• Wisdom when deciding whether to follow peer pressure.

• Understanding when learning about a difficult teaching of the Church.

• Counsel when making an important decision.

• Fortitude when standing up against bullying.

• Knowledge when recognising God's presence in creation.

• Piety when developing a regular prayer life.

• Fear of the Lord when choosing to avoid sin because of our love and reverence for God.

Key takeaway

The Holy Spirit equips us with the grace to live as Christians. We are called to cooperate with that grace and allow the fruits of the Spirit to become visible in our lives.

Purpose 

Candidates should understand that the Church is more than a building or an organisation.

The Church is the People of God, the Body of Christ and a community brought together by the Holy Spirit.

Candidates should recognise that they already belong to the Church through Baptism and have a responsibility to participate in its life and mission.

The four marks of the Church

Refer to the Nicene Creed.

We profess our belief in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

ONE

The Church is one because she has one Lord, one faith, one Baptism and one body.

Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (John 17).

Explain that this unity is expressed through the profession of the same faith, the celebration of the sacraments and communion with the Pope and bishops.

HOLY

The Church is holy because Christ is her head and the Holy Spirit gives her life.

This does not mean every member of the Church is perfect or without sin.

Rather, the Church is called to holiness and continually invites her members to grow in holiness.

CATHOLIC

Catholic means universal.

The Church is for all people, across every nation, culture and background.

She is entrusted with the fullness of Christ's teaching and the means of salvation.

APOSTOLIC

The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles and continues to preserve and hand on their teaching.

Explain apostolic succession: bishops are successors of the apostles, and the Pope, as Bishop of Rome, is the successor of St Peter.

Understanding the Church through Scripture

Help candidates explore the biblical images of the Church.

• John 10:8–9 – The gate and the shepherd.

• John 15:5 – The vine and the branches.

• 1 Corinthians 3:10 – The foundation.

• 1 Corinthians 12:18–27 – The Body of Christ.

Explain that each image helps us understand a different aspect of the Church.

For example, the Body of Christ shows that every member has a role and that we need one another.

What does it mean to be the People of God?

Explain that through Baptism we become members of God's family.

We are not simply individuals practising religion independently. We belong to a community of faith.

Being part of the Church means:

• Participating in the Eucharist.

• Supporting the community.

• Living out the Gospel.

• Serving those in need.

• Sharing our faith.

• Working towards unity and holiness.

The three fundamental duties of the Church

1. Proclaiming the Word of God: Teaching and sharing the Gospel.

2. Celebrating the Sacraments: Making Christ present through the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.

3. Serving humanity in love: Caring for the poor, vulnerable, suffering and marginalised.

The Church today

Use examples from parish and wider Church life.

For example:

• Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

• Catechesis and sacramental preparation.

• Youth ministry and chaplaincy.

• CAFOD and charitable outreach.

• Visiting the sick and elderly.

• Supporting families and those experiencing difficulties.

• Welcoming new members into the community.

Catechist guidance

Encourage candidates to understand that they are not simply observers of Church life.

They are members of the Church and have something valuable to contribute.

Ask them to think about what their parish would look like if young people actively participated in its mission.

Key takeaway

The Church is not just somewhere we go. It is a community to which we belong, and we each have a responsibility to help it grow.

Purpose

Candidates should understand what sacraments are, why they are central to Catholic life and how they strengthen our relationship with God.

Give particular attention to the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

What is a sacrament?

Use the definition traditionally attributed to St Augustine:

"A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace."

Explain that God uses visible signs and actions to communicate His grace to us.

The sacraments are encounters with Christ, who acts in and through His Church.

The seven sacraments

Help candidates organise the sacraments into three groups.

Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism.

• Confirmation.

• Eucharist.

Sacraments of Healing

• Penance and Reconciliation.

• Anointing of the Sick.

Sacraments at the Service of Communion and Mission

• Holy Orders.

• Matrimony.

Sacraments of Initiation

1. Baptism

Purpose:

• Frees us from original sin.

• Makes us children of God.

• Makes us members of the Church.

• Gives us new life in Christ.

Biblical reference: Matthew 28:19.

Important symbols:

• Water.

• Baptismal candle.

• White garment.

• Sacred Chrism.

2. Eucharist

Purpose:

• Nourishes us spiritually.

• Makes Christ truly present.

• Unites us with Jesus and His Church.

• Makes present the one sacrifice of Christ.

Biblical references: Luke 22:19–20 and John 6.

Important signs:

• Bread and wine.

• The altar.

• The words of consecration.

3. Confirmation

Purpose:

• Completes baptismal grace.

• Strengthens our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

• Binds us more firmly to the Church.

• Gives us strength to witness to Christ.

Biblical references: Acts 8:14–17 and Acts 19:5–6.

Important signs:

• Anointing with Sacred Chrism.

• Laying on of hands.

• The bishop's words: "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."

Sacraments and our feelings

An important teaching point is that the sacraments are effective because Christ acts through them.

Their effectiveness does not depend on how emotional or spiritually moved someone feels during the celebration.

However, our openness, faith and disposition matter greatly in how we receive and respond to sacramental grace.

For example, someone may receive the Eucharist without experiencing a particular emotion. This does not mean that Christ is any less present.

Five effects of Confirmation

Help candidates understand the five effects described in CCC 1303:

1. A deeper rootedness in our divine filiation as children of God.

2. A firmer union with Christ.

3. An increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

4. A stronger bond with the Church.

5. A special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith through words and actions.

Key takeaway

The sacraments are essential to our Catholic faith. Through them, Christ gives us His grace and strengthens us throughout our Christian journey.

Purpose

This session should help candidates develop a deeper understanding of the Holy Mass and the central importance of the Eucharist in Catholic life.

This is an especially important session because candidates cannot fully understand Confirmation without understanding its relationship with the Eucharist.

What is the Eucharist?

Refer to CCC 1322, 1324 and 1413.

The Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives us His Body and Blood, His Soul and Divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

Explain that this means the Eucharist is the centre of Catholic worship and the highest expression of our communion with Christ and His Church.

When did Jesus institute the Eucharist?

Refer to Luke 22:19–20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine, gave thanks and instructed His disciples to continue this celebration in memory of Him.

Explain that the Mass is not simply a meal remembering something that happened in the past.

It makes present the one sacrifice of Christ on Calvary in a sacramental manner.

The Real Presence

Catholics believe that Jesus is truly, really and substantially present in the Eucharist.

This is not simply a symbol or a reminder of Jesus.

Through the consecration at Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.

Transubstantiation

Explain this carefully.

The Church teaches that at the consecration, the whole substance of the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the whole substance of the wine becomes His Blood.

The appearances of bread and wine remain.

This change is called transubstantiation.

A helpful way to explain it is that although what we see, taste and touch remains the appearance of bread and wine, the reality of what is present has changed.

Candidates should understand that this is a mystery of faith, not something that can be explained fully through ordinary scientific observation.

Why do Catholics attend Mass?

Mass is not simply an obligation or a weekly routine.

We attend because:

• We encounter Christ in the Eucharist.

• We hear and reflect on the Word of God.

• We participate in Christ's sacrifice.

• We receive spiritual nourishment.

• We gather as the Body of Christ.

• We give thanks and praise to God.

The different ways Christ is present in the liturgy

Pope Paul VI's teaching in Mysterium Fidei can help candidates appreciate that Christ is present in several ways.

Christ is present:

• In the Church gathered in prayer.

• In the proclamation of Sacred Scripture.

• In the Church's works of mercy.

• In the ministry of the Church.

• In the celebration of the Eucharist, in a unique and substantial way.

Emphasise that these forms of presence are real, but Christ's presence in the Eucharist is unique.

Eucharistic Adoration

Explain that Eucharistic Adoration is an opportunity to spend time with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Encourage candidates not to worry about finding the perfect words.

They can pray, reflect, remain silent or simply spend time with Jesus.

Eucharistic miracles

Use this as an opportunity for candidates to research Eucharistic miracles.

Encourage them to consider:

• Where did the reported miracle take place?

• When did it happen?

• What was reported?

• What investigation took place?

• What does the Church say about the event?

Explain that Eucharistic miracles can encourage faith, but belief in individual Eucharistic miracles is not required for Catholics. Our faith in the Real Presence is based on Christ's teaching and the Church's faith, not on extraordinary events.

Catechist testimony

Invite catechists to share briefly:

"The Holy Mass is important to my faith and life because..."

Personal testimony is particularly valuable in this session.

Key takeaway

The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, truly present among us. It is the source and summit of our Catholic faith and the heart of the Church's life.

Purpose

Candidates should understand how God continues to work in our lives through the sacraments of healing and the sacraments at the service of communion.

Help them recognise that God accompanies us through illness, sin, vocation, relationships and the challenges of life.

PART ONE: THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING

1. Penance and Reconciliation

Explain that this sacrament is also known as:

• Confession.

• Penance.

• Reconciliation.

• The Sacrament of Forgiveness.

Jesus instituted the sacrament when He gave His apostles the authority to forgive sins.

Refer to John 20:21–23.

Who can forgive sins?

God alone is the ultimate source of forgiveness.

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to His apostles and their successors.

Priests forgive sins sacramentally in the name of Christ through the authority entrusted to the Church.

What happens in Confession?

Explain the essential elements:

1. Examination of conscience – Reflecting honestly on our actions.

2. Contrition – Being genuinely sorry for our sins.

3. Purpose of amendment – Having the intention to avoid sin and change our behaviour.

4. Confession – Honestly confessing our sins to the priest.

5. Penance – Completing the prayer or action assigned by the priest.

The priest then gives absolution, through which God forgives the penitent's sins.

What should candidates understand?

Confession is not intended to humiliate or embarrass us.

It is an encounter with God's mercy.

Encourage candidates to approach the sacrament with honesty, humility and trust.

Reassure them that the priest is there to help them return to God, not to judge or shame them.

Refer to CCC 1450–1460 and 1490–1494.

2. Anointing of the Sick

Explain that this sacrament is intended for those who are seriously ill, elderly and weakened by age, or facing serious surgery because of illness.

Refer to James 5:14–15.

The sacrament brings:

• Spiritual strength and comfort.

• Union with Christ in suffering.

• Forgiveness of sins when necessary.

• Sometimes physical healing, if God wills it.

What is Viaticum?

Viaticum is the Eucharist given to a person approaching death.

It is spiritual nourishment for the final journey from earthly life to eternal life.

Explain that the Church wishes to accompany people at the end of their lives with prayer, the sacraments and the hope of eternal life.

PART TWO: THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION AND MISSION

3. Holy Orders

Explain that Jesus called and appointed the apostles to continue His mission.

Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, men are ordained as bishops, priests or deacons.

Three degrees of Holy Orders:

• Bishop – Receives the fullness of Holy Orders and leads a particular Church in communion with the Pope.

• Priest – Assists the bishop, celebrates the sacraments and serves the people of God.

• Deacon – Is ordained for service in the ministry of the Word, the liturgy and charity.

Explain that ordained ministry is not about status or privilege. It is a calling to serve.

Refer to Matthew 20:28.

4. Matrimony

Explain that Christian marriage is a covenant between a baptised man and woman, established by God and raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament.

The couple freely give themselves to one another in a lifelong commitment of love and fidelity.

The essential characteristics include:

• Unity.

• Indissolubility.

• Faithfulness.

• Openness to children.

• Mutual love and support.

Explain that marriage is not simply a legal agreement or a romantic relationship. It is a vocation through which husband and wife are called to help one another grow in holiness.

Catechist discussion

Encourage candidates to consider how these four sacraments demonstrate God's presence at different stages and circumstances of human life.

Help them understand that every Christian is called to holiness, although people respond to God's calling in different ways.

Key takeaway

God accompanies us throughout our lives. He offers healing when we fall, strength when we suffer and a vocation through which we can serve Him and others.

Purpose

This session brings together the themes explored throughout the programme.

Candidates should understand what will happen during Confirmation, why the sacrament matters and what is expected of them afterwards.

The focus should be on moving from learning about the faith to actively living it.

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation.

Refer to CCC 1285 and 1303.

Through Confirmation, the baptised are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and more firmly united with Christ and His Church.

It is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, similar to the grace experienced by the apostles at Pentecost.

What happens during the celebration of Confirmation?

Explain the principal parts of the rite.

1. Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Candidates renew their rejection of Satan and profess their faith in God.

Explain that this is an opportunity to personally affirm the faith into which they were baptised.

2. Laying on of Hands

The bishop extends his hands over the candidates and invokes the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Explain that the laying on of hands is an ancient biblical sign of the giving of the Holy Spirit.

3. Anointing with Sacred Chrism

The bishop anoints the candidate's forehead with Sacred Chrism and says:

"Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."

This is the central sacramental sign of Confirmation.

Explain that the anointing signifies the strengthening and sealing of the candidate by the Holy Spirit.

4. The Sign of Peace

The bishop offers the newly confirmed the sign of peace.

Explain that this expresses communion with the bishop and the wider Church.

The role of the bishop

Explain that Confirmation is ordinarily administered by a bishop, as a visible sign of the apostolic connection of the sacrament and the candidate's communion with the wider Church.

Priests can also administer Confirmation in circumstances permitted by the Church.

Living out our faith

Refer to Pope Francis:

"Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you."

Explain that receiving Confirmation is not the end of the journey.

Candidates are called to use their gifts and talents to serve God and others.

How can I serve the Church?

Encourage candidates to consider practical ways of becoming involved.

Examples include:

• Becoming altar servers.

• Joining the youth ministry.

• Participating in the choir.

• Supporting parish events.

• Becoming involved in charitable activities.

• Helping with children's liturgies, where appropriate.

• Supporting those who are lonely or vulnerable.

• Participating in prayer groups and Eucharistic Adoration.

• Sharing their faith through their actions.

Why should we serve?

Explain that Christian service is a response to God's love.

We do not serve simply to receive recognition or praise.

We serve because Christ first loved us and calls us to love others.

Refer to Matthew 25:35–40.

Confirmation is a beginning, not an ending

This is one of the most important messages catechists should reinforce.

Candidates should not view Confirmation as the point at which they can stop attending Mass, praying or participating in Church life.

Instead, it is an invitation to take greater responsibility for their faith.

Encourage them to consider:

• How will I continue praying after Confirmation?

• How will I remain connected to my parish?

• How will I use the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

• How will I witness to Christ at school, at home and among my friends?

• What kind of Catholic do I want to become?

Key takeaway

Confirmation strengthens us to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. We receive the Holy Spirit not simply for ourselves, but so that we can serve the Church and bring Christ's love to the world.