But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you (John 14:26).

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability (Acts 2:1-4).

We receive the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit, completing the first sacrament we received: Baptism. Confirmation unites us more closely with the Church, makes us more like Jesus in our lives, and strengthens us so that we can live, defend, share and witness our faith as loyal disciples of Jesus.

The word “confirmation” means strengthening.  Confirmation strengthens the work of the Holy Spirit begun in us at Baptism so that we may be true Christians and loyal disciples of Jesus. The strength given in the sacrament of Confirmation is the strength to be a witness, by what we say and what we do, of the presence of God in our lives. It is the strength to combat false ideas and temptations that are in conflict with the faith. It is also the energy to work eagerly to build up the Body of Christ - the Church, depending on the way God has called us in our life to act as His loyal disciples.

Baptism makes us children of God and is necessary for our salvation. Confirmation leads us in the direction of the full energy of spiritual adulthood, giving us special gifts to help others know and love God, as Jesus said: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses...even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

At St. Aidan Parish, the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated two times a year. 

1. •The first is at the Paschal Vigil as participants in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) become members of the Catholic Church.  Click here for details on the RCIA.
   

2. •The second is in the month of October, when our faith formation students in their freshmen year of high-school receive the Sacrament from one of our visiting archdiocesan auxiliary bishops.  Click here for details on this Confirmation program.
   

3. •For those Catholic adults who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation, arrangements can be made to do so at the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Detroit on either the Feast of Pentecost or the Feast of Christ the King, following refresher sessions in Catholic beliefs and practices. For further information, call 734-425-5950 to speak with the Director of Faith Formation.