The Sacrament of Confirmation: A Call to Evangelization and Carrying out Christ’s Mission

“The best is yet to come.” These words are often heard in relation to some of life’s major milestones — the birth of a new baby, the first week of college or a couple’s wedding day. It may come as a surprise, however, that this forward-looking phrase also provides an apt description for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church. Indeed, far from signaling an “end” to a child’s formation in the faith, Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation encompassing the completion of baptismal promises, the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the beginning of one’s full life in the Church.

“Confirmation enriches what we receive at Baptism,” says Tayler Culbertson, St. Philip Neri Youth and Young Adult Coordinator. “When we’re baptized, our parents take baptismal vows and promises, and we are initiated into the Body of Christ. But with Confirmation, we are taking those promises and vows for ourselves. We’re completing those baptismal vows so that we can be better witnesses to Christ in word and deed.”

Here at St. Philip Neri, young parishioners begin their Confirmation journey in ninth grade. Following two years of discussion-based classes, retreats and volunteer opportunities, the youth receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the spring of their 10th grade year. Next month, about 100 teenagers will be confirmed right here in our parish!

To illustrate the reality of Confirmation as the beginning of a full life in the Church, Tayler uses the analogy of a social or service club.

“I always tell the teens that Confirmation is an initiation,” she says. “If there is a club or organization that you are interested in, what do you do? You check it out, learn more about it, and then you get initiated into that club. Once you’re in that organization, you contribute to it, you attend events, and you invite others to it. After the initiation, you are tasked with participating and contributing to it. With Confirmation, you’re a full member of the Church, so that involves evangelization, living as Christ, and making sure we carry out the mission of love and service.”

There are many opportunities at St. Philip Neri for teenagers who want to continue their spiritual growth and participate in parish life. In addition to faith formation offered by the high school youth group, Lifeteen, there are countless ministries open to teens interested in sharing their artistic talents or practicing Catholic social teaching.

No matter how the Confirmandi choose to live their faith moving forward, Tayler hopes they will all stay close to the Lord.

“My dream would be that they stay involved and evangelize and go to church,” she says. “My hope is that seeds are planted and come to fruition. That is all I ever hope for — whether it is next year and they become super involved in Youth Group, or if it’s a few years down the line when they’re in a low place — that they remember they have God and a community that is here to welcome them. That the Holy Spirit stays alive in them and that they are true witnesses to Christ’s love. I hope those seeds are planted.”

Traditionally, our Confirmandi choose a patron saint to help guide and inspire them on their faith journey. This ritual also signifies the young person’s identity as a Christian and their place in the communion of saints.

“Confirmation is an initiation into a family that we hope they will stay in,” Tayler says. “Practically, it connects us to a larger community. The Holy Spirit gives us different gifts and fruits. When we decide to receive this Holy Spirit in a fuller way, ideally the Spirit would move us to imitate Christ in a full way.”

Let us all rejoice in the Confirmation of so many of our parish youth next month! May the gifts of the Holy Spirit they receive in this sacrament inspire them to a deeper faith, a closer walk with Christ and a full life in the Church.

Are you interested in learning more about preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation or volunteering with our Confirmandi next year? Tayler Culbertson provides all volunteers with preparation, training and curriculum — no need to have anything other than a desire to walk alongside our teens on their faith journey! Please contact Tayler at youthandyoungadultcoordinator@saintphilipneri.org.