Coordinators: Mr. Peter de Verteuil, Mr. Gordon Lewis
Commitee: Aaron Ameerali, Sharon J. de Souza, Wendy Jones, Hesper Peters, Debra Ann Scott, Carole Smart, and Kenny Young

Holy Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation, and Confirmation is the second. By Confirmation, the baptised are more perfectly bound to the Lord Jesus and His Church, and they are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses (or martyrs) of Christ and the truth of His Gospel.

On several occasions in His preaching, the Lord Jesus promised an outpouring of God the Holy Spirit on His disciples, and this promise was fulfilled first on the Day of Resurrection and then more strikingly at Pentecost. St. Peter declared this outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. From that time on and in fulfillment of Christ's command, the Apostles imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Holy Spirit to complete the grace of Baptism.

The imposition of hands, therefore, is the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation which perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church. Very early in the Church's life this apostolic laying on of hands was accompanied by an anointing with perfumed oil called sacred chrism, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit Who anointed the Lord Jesus at His own Baptism. This anointing highlights the name Christian, which derives from the sacred title of Messiah (or Christ from the Greek translation), meaning "the Anointed One."

For adult converts who have never been baptised, the unity of these two sacraments is now restored when they are given together at the Easter Vigil. All Catholic Christians should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation to complete their communion with Christ, and be marked by the perfection of the baptismal priesthood of the faithful, in order to proclaim more boldly and publicly that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Any baptised adult Catholic who has not yet been confirmed should participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Easter.

The St. Finbar’s Confirmation Programme is open to young persons who will be 14 years old by December 31^st and are members of the Parish Community, that is persons who:

• live in the Parish (from Glencoe to Cocorite and from Westmoorings by-the-Sea to Crystal Stream)
• live outside of the Parish and have adopted St. Finbar’s as their place of Worship

Parishioners who satisfy the above-mentioned requirements are invited to participate in the Confirmation Programme. Announcements are made at Sunday Masses at the appropriate time, usually in the month of July. Parents/Guardians are required to apply to register their children, by completing prescribed Forms that are available at the Church on Sundays or the Parish Office during the week, and attending an interview with the Applicant(s) at the Church on prescribed dates, usually on three (3) Saturdays in August. Completed Forms must be brought to the interview along with a copy of the Applicant’s BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE.

Any non-Catholic who may be interested in joining the Programme would be required to see the Parish Priest.

The Programme follows that of the prescribed Text book “Growing in Discipleship in a Catholic Community” produced by the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office and seeks to inculcate in the candidates:

• an intimate union with Jesus Christ;
• getting to know the Holy Spirit;
• a sense of belonging to the Catholic Church;
• a capacity for intense prayer.

This is an intensive Programme that covers the thirty-one (31) Topics identified in the Textbook leading up to the Rite of Confirmation, while exposing Candidates to the significant practices of the catholic religion which assist in spiritual development and faith formation, namely:

• keeping the Sabbath holy by going to Holy Mass and engaging in practices throughout the day; that affirm a close relationship with God;
• daily prayer, reflection, spiritual reading;
• frequent reception of the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation;
• indulging/performing simple acts of mortification, self-denial, fasting;
• carrying out simple acts of charity, community service, other good works;
• the daily recitation of the Rosary.

Weekly Sessions cover the topics set out in the Textbook and lessons are structured around the material provided. This however is strengthened by the introductory talk on the Topic delivered by the Parish Priest at the start of each Session. In addition, at each Session time is allocated to exposing the Candidates to the importance of engaging in religious practices as outlined above and the benefits to be derived from so doing.

Serious attention is given to praise and worship through song. Sessions therefore include the development of an appreciation for participating in the singing of hymns.

Interested persons give of their time and talent to serve as Catechists in the Confirmation Programme. Present and proposed Catechists are interviewed by Fr. Thomas Lawson, O.P. before the start of a new Programme.

Note: At the moment there are thirty (30) Catechists and Assistants administering to 182 Candidates.

In recognising the importance of Parents/Guardians being involved in this very significant period of spiritual and faith formation in the life of their child, the Parish Priest has identified various ways in which they can participate in the Programme. During interviews each Parent/Guardian is invited to indicate in which of the ways identified he/she would be able to serve the Programme. This indication of interest would be a basis for the meaningful incorporation of the Parent/Guardian in Programme activities and projects.

On the first day of the Programme an Introductory Meeting is held with all parties concerned

• to set the stage for establishing a personal relationship between Parents/Guardians, Candidates and Catechists;
• to provide general information on what is required of each party in the relationship, throughout the life of the Programme;
• to obtain from each party a commitment to the success of the Confirmation Programme.

One compulsory requirement of the Parent/Guardians is attendance at talks on special topics delivered by Guest Speakers, on the first Friday of each month. These talks are aimed at the spiritual growth and development of Parent/Guardian and Candidate alike.

The Programme runs for ten (10) months from September to June, with breaks from formal classes during the Christmas and Easter vacations. It is planned however that the Programme would continue during the vacation periods with organised community projects which would assist in reinforcing in Candidates their responsibility as members of the church community.

Sessions are of two (2) hours duration and for the Confirmation Year 2006-2007, Sessions are being held on Fridays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Candidates are required to attend all sessions in order to be adequately prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the event of an unavoidable absence, a written excuse must be presented to the Catechist at the next session attended by the Candidate.

Under normal circumstances, Candidates who are absent for more than three (3) sessions without a reasonable explanation from their parents, would be considered to be unsuitably prepared to receive the Sacrament.

At the end of the Programme, the Sacrament of Confirmation would be administered by His Grace the Archbishop of Port Of Spain, or an appointed priest, on a date chosen.