February 5, 2007VOL. 45, NO. 3Oakland, CA

The sacrament of Confirmation --
anointing in the Spirit

By Voice staff

Holy oil (chrism) is used in Confirmation as a sign of consecration.

Bishop Allen Vigneron anoints the forehead of a confirmand with sacred chrism in the essential rite of Confirmation.

One hundred forty adult Catholics from 19 parishes in the Oakland Diocese received the sacrament of Confirmation, Jan. 28, at St. Augustine Church in Oakland. It is the only diocesan-wide Confirmation of already baptized adults planned for this year.

Bishop Allen Vigneron conferred the sacrament, invoking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on each of those to be confirmed. The sacrament enables the recipients to share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of Spirit. It gives them a special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action.

Like Baptism, Confirmation is given only once to each Catholic. The age for receiving Confirmation varies within the Church, but is usually conferred before age 18. The adults receiving the sacrament in Oakland participated in sacramental preparation in their parishes before presenting themselves to the bishop.

The liturgy began with the renewal of baptismal promises and the profession of faith by the confirmands.

The Confirmation liturgy included the laying on of hands by the bishop and anointing with chrism. The anointing highlights the name "Christian" which means "anointed."

A sponsor walks back to a pew with a newly confirmed man as Bishop Vigneron continues the anointing of the confirmands.
Bishop Vigneron greets one of those being confirmed at St. Augustine Church.	Deacon Rex Ehling holds the sacred chrism which Bishop Vigneron uses to anoint each person, saying, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Jim Gilman, director of music ministries at St. Augustine Parish, leads a massed choir of diocesan parishioners during the Confirmation liturgy.
GREG TARCZYNSKI PHOTOS

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