PLANNED RITUAL I will speak my word to them.

Year 6 Whom shall I send?

Sacramental Celebration: Confirmation
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
Welcome:
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
Commentator: Good evening. My name is Arielle Nunis and I am the
I will hold your people in my heart.
Year 6 teacher. On behalf of the leadership, staff and
candidates from our school and parish I warmly
welcome you all to this evening’s celebration. Greeting: Bishop

Welcome to our young people who will confirm their Penitential Act: Bishop
baptism in the sacrament of Confirmation in our
community this evening. Welcome to their families, Glory be to God: Bishop
their sponsors and their friends; welcome to the
members of our parish and school community who Opening prayer:
have assembled to pray.
Bishop: Let us pray.

INTRODUCTORY RITES Lord, send your Holy Spirit to make us witnesses before the
world to the good news proclaimed by Jesus, your Son.
Entrance Hymn: Sung
We ask this through Christ the Lord.
(All stand and sing the following hymn while the entrance procession is
taking place) All: Amen.

Here I Am Lord: LITURGY OF THE WORD

I the Lord of snow and rain, First reading:

I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them Student 1: A reading from the Acts of the Apostle’s (Acts 2:1-6, 14, 22-
They turn away. 23, 32-33):

I will break their hearts of stone, When the day of Pentecost came, the apostles were all
Give them hearts for love alone. together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of
 a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house Chorus:
where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be Lord send out your spirit
tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of And renew the face of the earth.
them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began Lord send out your spirit
to speak in tongues of foreign languages as the Spirit gave And renew the face of the earth.
them the gift of speech.
Verse 1:
Now there devout men living in Jerusalem from every Bless the Lord, oh my soul.
nation under heaven, and at that sound, a crowd came Oh Lord, my God, You are great indeed.
together in bewilderment, because each one heard their How manifold are Your works, oh Lord!
own language being spoken. The earth is full of your creatures.

Student 2: Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and Chorus
addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in
Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to Verse 2:
what I say. Jesus of Nazareth was a man commended to you If you take away their breath, oh Lord,
by God to you by the miracles, wonders and signs, which They die and return to their dust.
God worked though him when he was among you, as you all When You send forth Your Spirit they live.
know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate You renew the face of the earth.
plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked
men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Chorus

God raised this man, Jesus to life, and we are all Verse 3:
witnesses of it. Now raised to the heights by God’s right May the glory of the Lord
hand, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Endure forever, and may the Lord
Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” Be glad in His work.
Pleasing to Him be my theme,
The Word of the Lord. For I rejoice in the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God. Chorus

Responsorial Psalm: Sung Second Reading (Gospel Acclamation):

Psalm 104: Student 3: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (14:23-
26):
 Names of candidates are read.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone loves me he will keep The Bishop briefly addresses the students and then invites them to sit as he
my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to preaches the homily.
him and make our home with him. Those who do not love
me do not keep my words. And my word is not my own: it is Homily: Bishop
the word of the one who sent me. I have said these things
to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Profession of Faith: Bishop
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
everything and remind you of all I have said to you.’ Renewal of Baptismal Promises: Bishop

This is the Gospel of the Lord. The students come forward and stand before the bishop.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop: Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and empty
promises?
Student 3: John 11:25-26. Candidates: I do.

Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your Bishop: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of
faithful, And kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia! heaven and earth?
Candidates: I do.

Gospel: Bishop Bishop: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered death and was buried,
rose again from the dead
THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION
and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
Commentator: Bishop, these young people have asked to be Candidates: I do.
confirmed. During the past few months they have
journeyed together, reflecting on their faith and Bishop: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit,
growing in the knowledge and love of God through the Lord, the giver of life
numerous learning activities. who today through the Sacrament of Confirmation
I now present the candidates for Confirmation. is given to you in a special way
Students, as I call your name I invite you to stand in just as he was given to the Apostles on the day of
your place and remain standing until all the names Pentecost?
have been called. Candidates: I do.
Bishop: Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church, who brought these your servants to new birth
the communion of saints, by water and the Holy Spirit,
the forgiveness of sins, freeing them from sin:
the resurrection of the body, Send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete;
and life everlasting? give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
Candidates: I do. the spirit of counsel and fortitude,
the spirit of knowledge and piety;
Bishop: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord.
We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen. All: Amen.

Pause to allow time for the students to return to their seats.

The Laying On of Hands: Bishop

The Bishop (with those assisting him by his side) stands and faces the The Anointing with Chrism: Bishop
people and with hands joined says:
The sacred Chrism is brought by the Deacon to the Archbishop. Each of
Bishop: Dearly beloved, those to be confirmed goes to him. The sponsor/s who presents the person
Let us pray to God the almighty Father to be confirmed places their right hand on the right shoulder of the
for these, his adopted sons and daughters, candidate. The minister standing next to the Archbishop receives the
already born again to eternal life in Baptism, confirmation card from the sponsor and gives the name to the Archbishop.
that he will graciously pour out the Holy Spirit upon
them
Bishop: (Candidate’s confirmation name) be sealed with the
to confirm them with his abundant gifts,
gift of the Holy Spirit.
and through his anointing
conform them more fully to Christ, the Son of God. Candidate: Amen.
Bishop: Peace be with you.
All pray in silence. Candidate: And with your spirit.
The Bishop lays hands over all those to be confirmed and says:

Bishop: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Music commences while the other candidates are being confirmed: ‘Come
Holy Spirit.’
Universal prayer: Prayers of the Faithful Student 5: For our candidates confirmed this day: may they
continue to grow in faith and in wisdom. Lord hear
Commentator: I invite those leading us in the Prayers of the Faithful us.
to come forward.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Bishop: In confidence and trust, let us place our prayers
before our loving and faithful God. Bishop: Loving God, you have gifted us with the Spirit of
Jesus. Listen to all our prayers and needs that we
Student 1: As we confirm our faith and become full members of place before you, through Christ our Lord.
the Church community through the sacrament of All: Amen.
Confirmation, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Let us give thanks to God for these gifts. Lord hear
us. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
All: Lord, hear our prayer. Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar (Offertory):
Student 2: As we are filled with the Holy Spirit may our souls be The gifts of bread and wine and collections will be taken up by students.
strengthened to behave like God. May we show
heroic spiritual strength as Jesus did. May we Hymn or Music: ‘I Surrender All’
continue to do good and live graciously as God
intended. Lord hear us. Bishop: Pray, brothers and sisters,
that my sacrifice and yours
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
may be acceptable to God,
Student 3: We pray for the Holy Catholic Church: may we the almighty Father.
continue to be formed into a community of love.
Lord hear us. All: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
All: Lord, hear our prayer. for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.
Student 4: May we always remember and value those who
support us, care for us, and nurture us – our parents,
guardians, families, friends and teachers. Lord hear Prayer over the offerings: Bishop
us.
Bishop: Receive in your mercy, O Lord,
All: Lord, hear our prayer. the prayers of your servants
 and grant that, being conformed more perfectly to your son, Holy,holy,holy:
they may grow steadily in bearing witness to him,
as they share in the memorial of his redemption Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Through Christ our Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
All: Amen. Hosanna in the highest.

Eucharistic Prayer: Mystery of faith: Bishop

Eucharist Prayer II:

Bishop: The Lord be with you Communion Rite

All: And with your Spirit
The Lord’s Prayer: Bishop
Bishop: Lift up your hearts
Sign of Peace: Bishop
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Bishop: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Breaking of the Bread: (Lamb of God to be sung)
All: It is right and just.
Communion:
The young people who are to receive their first Holy Communion come
Preface: Bishop forward in the usual procession with their families following.
When the children and their families have received communion another
Bishop: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always
minister of the Body of Christ joins the Archbishop to give communion to
and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy,
the congregation.
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, your Word through
whom you made all things, whom you sent as our Saviour
and Redeemer, incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Communion Hymns: ‘One Bread One Body’, ‘We Remember’, and ‘You Are
Virgin. Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people, Mine.’
he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, so as
Prayer after Communion: Bishop
to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.
And so, with the Angels and all the Saints we declare your Bishop: Let us pray.
glory, as with one voice we acclaim: Accompany with your blessing
from this day forward,
 those who have been anointed with the Holy Spirit Bishop: Go in peace,
and nourished by the Sacrament of your Son, glorifying the Lord by your lives.
so that, with all trials overcome,
they may gladden your church by their holiness All: Thanks be to God.
that, through their works and their charity,
foster her growth in the world.
Dismissal: Bishop
Through Christ our Lord.
Recessional Hymn:
All: Amen.
Spirit of the Lord

CONCLUDING RITES The Spirit of the Lord Is now among us.

Optional announcements: Bishop/Teachers
To heal the broken hearts and set the captives free.
Greeting and blessing: Bishop
To open prison doors and let the blind to see.
Prayer over the people:
The Spirit of the Lord is now on me.
Bishop: Confirm, O God,
what you have brought about in us,
and preserve in the hearts of your faithful
the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
may they never be ashamed
to confess Christ crucified before the world
and by devoted charity
may they ever fulfil his commands.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All: Amen
Bishop: And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you forever.

All: Amen.