Confirmation
The Diocese of Manchester has adopted the Restored Order of the Sacraments in 2017. Restored Order means that 2nd Graders have their First Penance. Then, in the 3rd Grade they receive Confirmation and their First Communion. During this transition time, moving from Teen Confirmation to Elementary Confirmation, we will still offer the opportunity to teens until 2022.
Children’s Confirmation
If you have a child in eighth grade or younger who is ready to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation (and First Communion), preparations will begin in late autumn. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jen Albee at jen@christthekingnh.org.
High School Confirmation
The year 2022 will be our final year of a formal high school confirmation preparation program, as it marks the end of transitioning all of our young people to third-grade confirmation. Questions? Contact the parish office at parish@christthekingnh.org or 603.224.2328.
Adult Confirmation
For adults (18+ years old) who were baptized Catholic and have received their First Communion, Confirmation is offered twice a year at the cathedral in Manchester by the bishop. Registration and preparation are done through the local parish. To learn more, please contact the parish office at parish@christthekingnh.org or 603.224.2328.
Why are you interested in receiving the sacraments? What are sacraments anyway?
1. The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. (CCC 1131) Saint Augustine described the sacraments as an “outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.”
2. In short, the word sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum. A sacramentum was a sacred oath of allegiance taken by a Roman soldier. Just as the soldier’s oath signified the beginning of a new life, the sacraments (especially Baptism and the Eucharist,) give us new life in Christ.
3. Sacraments are not starting or stopping points or boxes to check on our journey of faith. They are tangible gifts from an intangible world that help to nourish, strengthen and renew our lifelong relationship with Christ.
As part of Christ the King Parish’s mission to form missionary disciples, preparation for the sacraments may look very different from when you were a child. When your child is preparing for a sacrament, parents, and even the whole family, are invited and encouraged to be involved. Our faith is a whole family affair, not just relegated to the child receiving the sacraments. Our sacramental preparation is mostly home-based with support from parish staff and a few catechists. There will be in-person meetings once a month when you will come together with those other children and families in our parish community who are also preparing to receive the sacraments.
In keeping with our parish mission, in addition to this sacrament prep, participation in our parish-wide faith formation program, Emmaus, is required. Part of the purpose of preparation for the sacraments is to integrate our candidates into the life of the church. This is to expand a family’s knowledge and practice of the faith and give them more exposure to their parish family. For more information about our Emmaus program, please visit Emmaus.