Confirmation

 

Confirmation takes place annually in Balyna Parish. In terms of the administration of the Sacrament, there is an alternating system between the Bishop and the Parish Priest.  When the Bishop administers the Sacrament, he always chooses the date. When Fr. Seán Maher administers the Sacrament, the date is set by him.

The dates for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2024 are as follows:

11th May 2004

12:15pm Clocha Rince Confirmation

3:30pm Cadamstown Confirmation

18th May 2024

12:15pm Johnstownbridge Confirmation

3:30pm Broadford Confirmation

Balyna Parish Confirmation Request Form 2024

Who Can Receive?

Any baptised Catholic can receive Confirmation. For young people in Ireland, this is usually part of the 5th/6th class primary school programme.

For adults who were not confirmed as children, it means taking part in the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.)

Sponsor

A sponsor stands behind the candidate for Confirmation at the Confirmation ceremony and places their hand on the shoulder of the candidate as a sign that they will support them in living out their baptismal promises. However, the role of the sponsor is not just for one day. The sponsor undertakes to assist the confirmed person in growing in the fullness of their faith and in their membership of the Catholic Church.

A person qualifies as a sponsor by being a reasonably mature adult, who is at least 16 years old, and has already received the Sacraments of Initiation, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) themselves. The Confirmation sponsor may be one of the people who was a sponsor at Baptism (subject to the notes here).

Choosing a Sponsor

(Ref. Code of Canon Law §874) To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

  • be appointed by the candidate, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;
  • be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;
  • be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;
  • not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;
  • not be either the father or the mother of the candidate.

Name

The tradition of taking a new name at Confirmation emphasises the new identity of a Christian being called to witness to their faith. People are encouraged to take the name of a saint or a person from the Bible who inspires them in some way.