Confirmation brings the graces and blessings received at Baptism to their fulfillment. Through the laying on of hands and the anointing with sacred Chrism, Catholics are strengthened with the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit. This makes it possible to fulfill the mission Christ has shared with the baptized “to bring glad tidings to the poor...to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

We prepare for Confirmation in various ways. Children are prepared either through our Parish Religious Education program or through their attendance at Catholic school. If you would like to enroll your child in our Parish Religious Formation program, or if you are a high school student or an adult and would like to receive this Sacrament, please call our parish office at 717-272-4412.

For children, preparation to receive the Sacrament occurs as part of the regular course of studies at a Catholic school or by participating in our Parish Religious Education program.

Parent and guardians play a key role in this preparation by bringing their child to Mass every week, praying with them and for them each day, helping them with completion of their Confirmation booklet, and attending the various meetings held in the course of this preparation period.

**The Diocese of Harrisburg requires that a child participate in a Confirmation retreat in his or her 8th Grade year. This is arranged by either the Catholic school the child is attending and/or our Director for Parish Religious Education.

- Information courtesy of Saint Theresa Parish, New Cumberland