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.

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. 
 

CONFIRMATION at St. Matthias Parish

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 at St. Ann, St. Hugh and St. Ignatius. Please save the date for the following county-wide events that are necessary components of your child’s continued sacramental preparation process.

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 Dec. 13^th 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 linettekerr@windstream.net and Linette will prepare his/her “Letters of Eligibility” for Pastor to sign.         

SACRAMENTAL SPONSORSHIP AND PARISH ENVELOPES

In order to provide a recommendation to serve as a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, one must demonstrate that he/she is actively registered and participating in the life of the Church. Anyone 21 years of age or older should be registered as a member of the parish independently from their parents.

If one has moved away from home, you have the responsibility as an adult to register at a parish in the town where you reside.

College Grads and Newly Weds — This means you!!!

One of the ways of the ways we keep records is by using parish envelopes. Offertory envelope packets for St. Matthias Parish are mailed directly to your home bimonthly. To register and request envelopes you can find the proper forms on our website: www.stmatthiasgreene.org/About Us/Join the Parish or you may call the St. Ann parish office at 724-627-7568 or the St. Hugh office at 724-966-7270.

The pastor of any parish cannot vouch for your participation as a Catholic in good standing if you are not a registered member of his parish.