INTRODUCTORY RITE
Sign of the Cross, greeting and words of welcome.
Penitential Rite will have a form of a reflection led by the concelebrant.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Minister of the Word: A reading from Acts of the Apostles.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The Minister of the Word: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Celebrant: Please ask the congregation to stand for the Gospel
Gospel Acclamation
Singing: Spoken verse (read by Music Ministry Lead)
Gospel
The Congregation stands up to greet the Gospel.
The Gospel is proclaimed by a Concelebrant
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did.
He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it is written:
“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour”. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen’.
Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
Presentation of candidates
Depending on the ceremony it is done by a teacher/parent/ coordinator.
The teacher calls out names and candidates are invited to stand as their name is called out.
Celebrant: Are you prepared to be Confirmed?
Candidate: I am.
Celebrant: Do you understand that this means you need to keep space for God in your life?
Candidate: I do.
Celebrant: Do you intend to continue to find out what is expected of you as a young Christian adult?
Candidate: I do.
Celebrant: Do you see the link between being confirmed and bringing the love of Christ to others through example and action?
Candidate: I do.
Sponsors are invited to stand with the candidate
Celebrant: These young people have chosen you as their sponsor to support them in their faith. Do you promise to be an example to them in their faith and practice?
Sponsor: I do.
Teacher: We give thanks to God for the commitment of these young people, their sponsors and their parents and those who have cared for them. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide them to live life to the full. I ask Fr. ……… to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on you as you have expressed an openness to the ongoing action of the Spirit in your lives.
RITE OF CONFIRMATION
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
Celebrant: Do you reject what is evil in life?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: Do you reject the selfishness of sin that brings unhappiness?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: Do you promise to make a better world free of injustice and oppression?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe that God is Abba, Father who loves all that he creates?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe that God is Son who loves us even in our weakness?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe that God is Spirit of love, life and joy that empowers our hearts and pervades all creation?
Candidates: I do.
Celebrant: This is our faith. This is the faith of God’s people. We are happy to profess it and share it with our families.
Candidates: Amen.
Laying On of Hands
Celebrant: My dear friends, in baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life to his chosen sons and daughters. Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his sons and daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ, the Son of God.
The celebrant(s) stretch out their hands over the candidates and invite the sponsors to place their right hand on the right shoulder of the candidate:
All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
A MOMENT OF PRAYER ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME UPON THOSE WHO ARE TO BE CONFIRMED (Click for the song)
Anointing with Chrism
The sponsor introduces the candidate for Confirmation to the Celebrant by stating their name and the confirmation name.
As they come forward the sponsor places his/her right hand on the candidate’s right shoulder as a symbol of the Church’s support as they are confirmed.
The Confirmation Card is brought forward.
Celebrant: (Name), be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Candidate: Amen.
Celebrant: Peace be with you.
Candidate: And with your spirit.
As the gathered community it is important that we keep a prayerful and quiet space while all our young people are being confirmed.
Prayer of the Faithful
Read by Confirmation candidates, parent sponsor/member of the Parish
Response; Lord, graciously hear us.
Lords Prayer
All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Sign of peace
Final Blessing