Confirmation: Initiation or Graduation? Or Is It Both?

Confirmation: Initiation or Graduation?  Or Is It Both?

by Ian Mascarenhas

   In the early stages of helping with Youth Ministry I used to hear, “Confirmation is an initiation, not a graduation.  I understood what was meant by that, you don’t graduate out of Church participation.

   Yes, Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation, along with Baptism and Holy Communion.  But as I continued with Youth Ministry I realized more and more that it is both initiation and graduation.  What is a graduation?  It is a transition from one part of our life into another.  Our life beyond the graduation has responsibilities and challenges that increase.

   After Confirmation the involvement in catechesis classes that have been a necessary part of the preparation is changed.  As a confirmed Catholic the responsibility for living faithful lives, growing in faith and continuing to study God’s messages are ongoing — forever — for all of us.

   Jesus keeps inviting us to come celebrate, come spend time together, come build the relationship, come share the experiences of faith and come meet God the Father.  As Jesus told some disciples in John 2: 39, “Come and you will see.”  It’s the same for each of us, be open to having a closer relationship with God.

   Our openness is so important to deepen our faith and strengthen connections with God — The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  Be open to where God calls you, whether it be in continued learning opportunities at OMC, growing in faith through ministries or to any other options that God offers.  Welcome to your new beginning.  Share your faith!

from OMC's May 2015 Youth Ministry newsletter -- Up-Words