Confirmation is celebrated each year in the parish. Through this sacrament, the candidate is strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit, made a true witness of Christ in word and deed, and invited more deeply into the life of the Church. Confirmation is part of mentoring a future generation of Christians, of nurturing their idealism, affirming the promise of their lives, and immersing them in the Christian vision of building a community of love and justice in the world. These candidates are the future and the promise of our Church. It is our responsibility to call these young men and women into the future with us.
Adults interested in receiving this sacrament should contact Gregory Callaghan at 724-625-1665 x2134 or email at gcallaghan@saintkilian.org for more information.
At Holy Sepulcher and Saint Kilian Parishes, the Sacrament of Confirmation occurs for 8th grade students in the spring, who have completed both 7th and 8th grade Confirmation preparation. The date of Confirmation is usually announced in December or January by the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Parents are emailed once we receive that date. The Rite of Confirmation does not include a Mass and usually lasts 90 minutes or less. Confirmation preparation each year for all students includes elements of service, Catholic encounters, participation in the SKY youth group, and Catholic Vision of Love (CVOL) lessons.
Confirmation preparation takes place over the course of 2 years of programming in catholic school or religious education classes, both 7th and 8th grade needs to be completed before being confirmed. Religious education classes for both year groups will be instructed online during the 2020-2021 Faith Formation Year due to Covid-19. Both 7th and 8th grade Confirmation students in religious education will use the same program, Chosen, from Ascension Press, in combination with supplemental videos, presentations, and assignments. The Ascension curriculum is divided between the two years. Students are encouraged to explore and engage in their faith to a greater degree through this faith formation program. Students are cautioned that although they may work at their own pace on some things, they should stay caught up with their work as best as possible. Students must complete 7th grade before enrolling for 8th grade, regardless of grade level. Parent participation is always welcome and strongly encouraged! Engage your student in conversation about the various topics, watch the videos with them, and work through their challenges for each lesson together.
All questions about confirmation at Holy Sepulcher or Saint Kilian may be directed to Gregory Callaghan by calling (724) 625-1665 x2134 or emailing gcallaghan@saintkilian.org.
Service activities are directed toward performing Corporal Works of Mercy, in fellowship with other volunteers. These works include; feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, burying the dead, giving alms to the poor.
A service element should be a part of Confirmation preparation for students. Students are strongly encouraged to do service! The idea is to 'go out' into the community to serve in some way, alongside other volunteers.
There are many options available to you in which you could perform some sort of service. Look carefully at the various service activities planned through SKY. SKY offers both service and social events.
Additionally, there are many other ways that you can volunteer and perform service. Here are some examples of service:
Catholic Encounters are events or devotions that bring you into the life of the Church. As you approach your Confirmation, it is important to become a member of your Catholic community and contribute in some way to the Body of Christ. The purpose of this element of Confirmation preparation is to bring you into contact with the various ways that we express our Faith as Catholics, through traditions, devotions, sacramentals, and community interaction. Opportunities for Catholic Encounters are numerous and are not limited to what happens here at the parish level.
7th & 8th grade Confirmation students are encouraged to experience Catholic Encounters.
The following are some examples of Catholic Encounters:
Due to the large number of candidates, Holy Sepulcher and Saint Kilian normally have two celebrations for the Sacrament of Confirmation (no Mass) at 10:00am and 1:00pm (date TBD). Families of candidates will have the opportunity to select which time they prefer to attend. Please note that there is a limit for each time slot. If one celebration reaches capacity, the other must be selected. You may submit the appropriate form based on your preference: