Adult Confirmation

For on him the Father, God, has set his seal. (John 6:27)

Based on guidelines from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Santa Maria de la Paz conducts its Adult Confirmation preparation class sessions during the fall of each year. Classes generally begin in late August and continue until the date of Confirmation in late October or early November based on the Archdiocesan schedule. Any candidates for Adult Confirmation must be 18 and have completed high school, be required to show proof of Baptism and First Communion reception and must have a qualified sponsor who will also attend all classes with the candidate. There is a $35.00 fee and a requirement of ten hours of community service. Please call Bernadette at (505) 629-4211 during the month of July or early August in order to set up an appointment for completion of the application and an interview.

At Confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm our baptismal promises. Greater awareness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred through the anointing of chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop.

Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. (CCC 1316)

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:

Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. (no. 11)

Scriptural Foundation for Confirmation

In the Acts of the Apostles we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, Confirmation gives strength to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas Confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to our active messianic mission of Christ in the world.

After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing Confirmation to be an individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6). Also the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms. Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).

Classes in the Adult Confirmation process focus on the four Pillars of Faith: Prayer, Creeds, Sacraments and Commandments. The process includes reading and writing assignments, discussion and activities.

For those considering the Adult Confirmation Formation process, the candidate must:

Be at least 18 years of age and have completed high school.
Be able to provide proof of Catholic Church Baptism and First Holy Communion.
Be willing to commit to and embrace the Roman Catholic lifestyle.
Be willing to attend and participate in ten class sessions and a retreat.
Complete a mere 10 hours of Community Service.
Have a sponsor who meets all sponsor requirements.

For more information regarding Adult Confirmation, contact Bernadette Bach:

Email (505) 629-4211

Requirements for Sponsors:

Be at at least 16 years of age.
Has received all pertinent sacraments.
Be a regularly practicing Catholic.
Not have any impediments preventing them from being a sponsor (i.e, if married, must be married in the Catholic church; if not married, cannot be co-habitating with a sexual partner)