Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. 
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, 
grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, 
Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Congratulations to the 2022 St. Matthias Newly Confirmed!

The Sacrament of Confirmation for St. Matthias Parish’s Candidates was celebrated in a Mass on
Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 7:00 PM in St. Ann Church, with confirming Bishop Mark Eckman. 

Confirmation brings to completion the grace received through Baptism. By this sacrament the baptized are more perfectly bound to the church and are enriched by the strength of the Holy Spirit. This gift conforms believers more fully to Christ and strengthens them to bear witness to Christ for the building up of his body in faith and love. 

Our clergy and CCD coordinators are pleased to continue a county-wide collaboration for the Sacrament of Confirmation that includes all Greene County CCD programs. Dates for the Parent Meeting, Retreat, and Confirmation Celebration/Mass for the 2022-2023 Candidates TBA. 

NOTE: Confirmation candidates must be at least in the 8th grade in the Pittsburgh Diocese. "From the age of reason, children should be participating in the catechetical programs the local church provides" (Policies for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION, Chapter III, Confirmation, Readiness/Formation #101).

They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These seven gifts, part of sanctifying grace, complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make us docile in obeying divine inspirations without need for reflection but always with full consent.      

We are to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for these gifts. 

Isaiah told us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Is 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has official qualifications of confirmation sponsors as well as several guidelines and/or recommendations.

1. Be designated by the candidate, by the parents or guardians, or the pastor.
2. Have the qualifications and intention of performing the role of sponsor.
3. Be at least 16 years old.
4. Be a fully initiated Catholic (received baptism, confirmation and Eucharist).
5. Lead a life in harmony with the faith and role of a sponsor (i.e., be a member of a parish, attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, not be in an irregular marriage, etc.).
6. Not be bound by a canonical penalty.
7. Not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed.

Sponsors for the sacrament of confirmation must abide by the same qualifications as sponsors for the sacrament of baptism. In addition, the following guidelines and/or recommendations apply: 

1. There is normally one sponsor for the sacrament of confirmation.
2. It is recommended that a baptismal godparent exercise the role of confirmation sponsor.
3. A non-Catholic may not serve as a sponsor for the sacrament of confirmation. (It is discouraged that a spouse serve as confirmation sponsor).

Our diocese continues the practice of requiring proof of eligibility for sponsorship (in accord with the qualifications above) from the parish in which the sponsor is registered.

ALL SPONSORS must provide a “Letter of Eligibility” from his/her pastor by Jan. 30^th, 2022, to Candidate’s CCD teacher or mail to St. Matthias Parish, St.Hugh Office, Attn: Confirmation, 408 S Route 88, Carmichaels, PA 15320.  If Sponsor is a registered member of St. Matthias Parish, please contact Linette Kerr at [email protected] and Linette will prepare his/her “Letters of Eligibility” for Pastor to sign.