The minimum age for participation in this rite in the diocese is a student enrolled in the tenth grade at the time of Confirmation. Pastoral considerations may be made for young people in special schools or with special needs that a "grade level" does not accommodate. Please consult with your Rector or the Bishop's Office for further information.
2008 Confirmations
Note: Locations for the following Confirmation Dates have not yet been determined.
Please call
Ty Creason, 274-4500 ext. 242 for more information.
April 5th:
10:00 a.m. - Blackstone Deanery
2:00 p.m. - Central Deanery
April 12th:
10:00 a.m. - Aquidneck Deanery
2:00 P.M. - West Bay Deanery
April 26th:
10:00 a.m. - Narragansett Deanery
2:00 p.m. - East Bay Deanery
Advent Confirmations will be held on December 6th at 10:00 a.m.at the Cathedral of St. John, Providence.
From
Bishop Wolf:
The Book of
Common Prayer reminds us, "In the course of their Christian development,
those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been
duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith...Those
baptized as adults, unless baptized with the laying on of hands by a bishop,
are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to
the responsibilities of their baptism..." (p. 412)
Making a
public affirmation of faith assumes that you have experienced an inner
conversion of spirit whereby you are ready to devote your life to the life of
Jesus Christ. At your confirmation, you make a very important decision. You
will stand before the Bishop, and in front of the whole assembly and the
communion of saints, and you will promise to give the whole of your life to
God: in prayer, service, sacrifice, intention, worship, praise, devotion, love.
Confirmation
follows exploration. Exploration gives you an opportunity to ask important
questions. You may wonder about other religious faiths. You may question the
need to go to Church, or the value of living by God's Holy Word. On Sunday mornings
you may have fussed about having to go to Church, or why Christmas is first and
foremost a religious holiday. You may desire to play soccer on Sunday mornings,
or to stay out late on Saturday night and sleep in the next day. Before
Confirmation, you must explore your desires and lifestyle. At Confirmation you
will be saying, "I have discovered many of my dreams and hopes, the
expectations of my culture, and the desires of my family, and I have decided to
be a follower of Jesus. I have chosen the teachings of Jesus as revealed in
Holy Scripture and the life and sacraments of the Church, as the right path for
me."
When the
Bishop says, "Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?" you will
respond, "I do, and with God's grace I will follow him as my Savior and
Lord."
Being a
Christian is a mixture of obedience and delight. To follow Jesus is to walk in
long, dry, and barren seasons, and to experience an overflowing sense of deep
refreshment and joy. Your journey in faith will challenge you to continually
stand in the presence of Christ, and undergo an ever-expansive process of
transformation. You will be challenged to ask for forgiveness, and to be
forgiving.
Confirmation
is not to be taken lightly. It is an expression of absolute intentionality, a
"yes" to the call of Jesus. It is a commitment to a life of
simplicity, of respect for the poor and stranger, of welcome to those who are
different from you, of weekly reception of the Body and Blood of Christ in the
Eucharistic Meal, of giving one-tenth of your income to the glory of God, of
holding fast the gifts of hope, faith, and love. And it takes a whole lifetime
to live into your intentions: your greatest hopes for yourself in relationship
to God and others.
One day,
God shall hold each of us accountable for the integrity by which we followed
our baptismal promises and vows. We are not expected to be perfect, but to be
lifelong seekers after Christ.
As we begin
this new way of celebrating the Rite of Confirmation in our diocese, pray that
we may do the best we can in honoring and encouraging those who desire to
affirm the faith we hold so dear.
