Confirmation

About

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, the grace of Baptism is sealed and we are strengthened to be Jesus’ witnesses to the world and called to proclaim the Gospel.

A person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church by the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. In Baptism, the graces conferred are focused inward. In Confirmation, grace infuses the recipient to a deeper faith that can now be shared outward with others. Confirmation seals Baptismal grace.

With desire and preparation, we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation by an anointing with sacred chrism on our forehead, reminiscent of the anointing of kings and athletes for strength in ancient times. Confirmation is often separated from Baptism by a number of years though the two Sacraments are closely related.

Youth Confirmation Registration

Confirmation Preparation

In the Diocese of Arlington and at The Basilica of Saint Mary, we prepare baptized and desiring children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during 8th grade (school)/year 8 (CCD), generally. The preparation process includes all of one’s religious education and formation for many years prior to 8th grade/year 8, however, in a more intentional and formal way, we begin the process in September of 8th grade/year 8, provided the student attended grade 7/year 7.

Our program uses materials and resources from Chosen and the Faith and Life series to prepare desiring youth for Confirmation.  We aim to offer an exciting, thoughtful, catechetical, and challenging program to match the demands of modern culture.  We also have available other resources and materials, which our catechists use as well. We require that children complete this preparation by attending our parish school, our Catechism/CCD sessions, or another approved home school or Catholic school program for a minimum of two consecutive years beginning in their 7th grade/year 7. For children in public or private non-Catholic schools, we encourage in-person attendance in our faith formation/CCD program.

Please contact the Director of Religious Education to make arrangements for a high school junior or senior student or adult to prepare to receive this sacrament.

Contact Religious Education

Important Confirmation Dates

Dates for the 2023-2024 Student Confirmation Program

  • September 21, 2023 at 7pm – Fr. Hathaway meets with parents of Confirmation students in The Basilica of Saint Mary, 310 S. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA.
  • October 14 (boys) or October 21 (girls) – student Confirmation retreats are scheduled for Saturday, October 14 (boys) and October 21 (girls), 2023 all day, ~8:30 a.m. – after the 5pm Mass, held on the campus of The Basilica of Saint Mary. (Permission Form to attend the Retreat is a separate form). Students desiring to be Confirmed in Spring 2024 must attend a Confirmation Retreat by February 2024.
  • Interviews with priest – dates and times TBA
  • April 24, 2024 early evening – Holy Hour for Confirmation families in The Basilica of Saint Mary
  • April 26, 2024 at 5pm or 7pm – Confirmation rehearsal with students and sponsors in The Basilica of Saint Mary
  • April 27, 2024 at 10:30am and 1:00pm – Holy Mass with the Rite of Confirmation with Archbishop Broglio (please stay tuned for more details) 

More detailed information about the Sacrament of Confirmation for students can be found in the Confirmation Handbook 2023-2024

Below are the due dates for Confirmation projects:

BSSM students will be given guidance by Mrs. St. Pierre on how to submit documents/projects. BSSM students need to register for the Sacrament of Confirmation: https://stmaryoldtown.org/confirmation

CCD In-person student will be given guidance by Mrs. Staron on how to submit documents/projects.

Homeschool and other Catholic School students are to submit documents/projects to the Director of Religious Education, Susan Gray at [email protected] or mailed/brought to the parish office, 313 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA.

Students in CCD, homeschool, or those attending another Catholic School have already been registered for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Please contact the Director of Religious Education with any questions.

Contact Religious Education

Adult Confirmation

Adults (ages 18 and older) who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation/Confession, and First Holy Communion but have never received the Sacrament of Confirmation are welcome to register for our Adult Confirmation Crash Course. Classes meet April-May. Your Catholic baptismal certificate, with notations and dated and signed in the last 6 months, is required.

The Adult Confirmation program is for practicing Catholics (attend Sunday Mass and on holy days of obligation, frequent the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, and live the Precepts of the Church. If you need to bring your marriage into the Church, please contact our office no less than 6 months before April so that our priest can assist you. Generally, the Bishop of the Arlington Diocese celebrates a Mass with the Confirmation Rite on Pentecost or another time.

Adult Confirmation Registration

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

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