Bierzmowanie
Sacrament of Comfirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the Church’s oldest and most cherished celebrations.
From the time of the Apostles, Christians received the laying on of hands and anointing with
holy oil so that the Holy Spirit might strengthen them in faith (Acts 8:14–17). Today the
Sacrament of Confirmation, is viewed as one that completes the grace of Baptism by enabling
young people to live their faith with maturity, courage and commitment.
Through Confirmation, your child receives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit namely: wisdom,
understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts help them
grow in virtue and give witness to Christ in their daily lives. This is a faith-filled year for your
family, and we look forward to supporting your children as they deepen their relationship with
God and with the Church.
We are pleased to announce that the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will take
place on. Wednesday, May 6th , 2026, at the 7:00 p.m. Mass.
If you would like your son or daughter to participate in our parish preparation programme and
receive Confirmation at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, please complete the attached
registration form and return it in person to the parish office during office hours before January
20th , 2026. A photocopy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate must be included.
A mandatory parent information meeting will be held on
Wednesday, January 21st , 2026, in the church, immediately following the 7:00 p.m. Mass.
Please note the dates for the Saturday morning classes, held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in
the parish hall:
• January 31st
• February 14th
• February 28th
• April 18th
• Retreat Day: May 2nd
These sessions are essential and should take priority in your child’s schedule.
The Rite of Enrolment will take place at all Sunday Masses on the January 25th. Candidates
will receive their Confirmation Cross at this time.
If your family is not yet registered with St. Thomas the Apostle Church, please do so when you
submit the registration form.
We look forward to walking with your child as they prepare to receive the fullness of the Holy
Spirit. Be assured of our prayers for your family during this special time. Sincerely,
Father Joseph Chandrakanthan
Pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish,
Markham
Kindly complete your registration by clicking on the link below. The link
will open the Google Forms registration page on your phone:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgWRpUmS03823yDJhDQkk70VDrAhETgUw1J5Kmo46Fu8CT2w/viewform?usp=header
Confirmation is an essential part of Christian Initiation. In Confirmation the bishop seals us, the baptized, with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This sacrament is intended to:
- root us more deeply as sons and daughters of God,
- incorporate us more firmly into Christ,
- strengthen our bond with the Church,
- associate us more closely with the mission of the Church, and
- strengthen us to bear witness to the Christian faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why must I take part in a parish-based program when I am attending a Catholic School?
The Catholic schools assist the parents and the parish with what is called "initial preparation" for the sacraments. Initial preparation deals primarily with content: What do we believe as Catholics?
"Immediate preparation," which takes place shortly before a sacrament is celebrated, is the responsibility of the parents and the parish. Immediate preparation leads the candidates to look at their relationship with God and with the Church.
2. What is a sponsor?
If possible the person to be confirmed is to have a sponsor. The sponsor is a model of faith for the candidate and must be a fully initiated, practising Catholic in good standing under church laws and normally at least 16 years of age. It is desirable that the sponsor selected be a godparent who undertook the role at Baptism.
3. Why must I submit a Baptism certificate?
Only someone who is baptized Roman Catholic or who has been received into the Roman Catholic Church may celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. The parish is responsible for verifying this by collecting Baptism Certificates or Certificates of Reception from those presenting themselves as candidates.
4. I was baptized in an Eastern Rite Church, so I was confirmed at the same time. Can I be confirmed again?
Confirmation may be celebrated only once. However, the Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop expects Grade 7 students who are already confirmed to take part in the preparation program at school and in the parish to deepen their understanding of their faith. During the Confirmation Mass, they will be called forward to receive a blessing. Any Grade 7 student who is already confirmed is encouraged to participate in the program.
5. What happens if I miss one of my sessions?
Enrolling in the Confirmation program means commitment to taking part in all aspects of the preparation: Rite of Enrolment, all sessions, retreat. If you are sick or have some other serious conflict, contact the coordinator of the program to arrange to make up the session. Candidates who fail to participate without a valid reason may be required to withdraw from the program and delay Confirmation till another time.
6. What do I do if I decide (during or after the preparation) not to be confirmed?
If you decide that this is not the time for you to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are asked to contact the coordinator. We will respect your decision, and encourage you to consider being confirmed when the time is right for you.
7. Why does the parish need the address of the church where I was baptized?
After you have been confirmed, we record the details in our parish Confirmation register. We are also required to send a notice to the parish in which you were baptized (no matter where in the world that parish is located) and they, too, enter your Confirmation in their records. We can only do this when you provide a complete mailing address for the church.
Resources
To learn more about Confirmation, these resources may help:
