Confirmation, in combination with Baptism and Holy Eucharist, completes the three sacraments comprising the Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church.  To understand the unity, you can think about these three sacraments in terms of the Holy Trinity, three Divine Persons in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Each of the Sacraments of Initiation reveal one of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.  An individual must have already received the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist before Confirmation and this sacrament is received only once. Confirmation signifies the completion of Initiation and receiving the mark of God the Holy Spirit.  Specifically, Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation, conversion, and renewal by having a deeper encounter with the Living God. (Archdiocesan Policy, 7.1.5) 

Confirmation also includes receiving the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, briefly described below:

• Wisdom – helps us to see the world differently and to judge things from God's point of view. 

• Knowledge – helps us to know God, by seeing the world through his eyes, we can discover God's will in all things.

• Understanding – helps us to interpret and gain insight from what we know, to grasp the Word of God and the mysteries of our faith, and to see these in the everyday aspects of our lives.
• Counsel - helps us distinguish between right and wrong, and to be able to discern what to do, especially in difficult situations. 
• Fortitude - gives us the faith, courage, and perseverance to do what is righteous, good, and beautiful - no matter how hard it may be.
• Piety - helps us give proper reverence to God, to obey God out of love, and to love our neighbors as God does. 
• Fear of the Lord - reflects our having proper disdain for sin, constant remembrance of how must we depend on God for everything, and being in awe of God's goodness and love for all of us, to honor continuosly his Holy and Powerful Name. 

At St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and in accordance with Archdiocese of New Orleans policy (8/15/19), the Sacrament of Confirmation occurs within the context of 11th grade, after having already received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and Holy Eucharist.  

Prior to starting the Confirmation program, parents and students complete registration and received full details of both Archdiocesan and parish requirements and the schedule of preparation program activities during an orientation meeting.  These preparation documents and other information will posted to this webpage for easy access and reference.  Please check back, as needed. 

Preparation is a parish-based sacramental catechesis for students in Catholic and non-Catholic academic schools and targets specific topics within a program of 12-14 hours conducted over a 12-month period immediately preceding receipt of the Sacrament. Confirmation preparation occurs concurrently with ongoing faith formation activities, such regular attendance at mass, practice of daily prayer, and continued participation in the regular School of Religion curriculum/program activities. In addition, Archdiocesan policy also requires Confirmation candidates to satisfactorily complete a retreat (minimum 8 hours), a service program (4-6 apostolic hours), and an individual interview with a parish catechetical team member at least 30 days prior to the Sacrament. Click the link here to access the complete Archdiocesan policy on Confirmation. 

Our current Confirmands will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 12, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church (Hahnville), along with Confirmands from several other churches in our Archdiocesan Deanery.

For questions and assistance, please contact the contact persons listed below through the Parish Office (Telephone: 985-497-3412, Email: [email protected])

Contact Persons: 
Cindy Thomas, Director of Religious Education 
Betty Joseph and Corliss Williams, Confirmation Coordinators