One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. We all have heard that saying that life is a journey but what does this mean to you? You may also have heard that we are a pilgrim people and that our Church is a pilgrim Church. Again, what does this mean? Ultimately this means that we are all works in progress. We are not perfect. We still have much to learn and to unlearn. As Christians, we believe in the power and guidance of the Spirit who illumines us. God is always a companion on the journey even if we do not know it. God is our teacher, guide and guardian.
Living life as a journey does not necessarily mean that you have to go anywhere physically. Going about one’s daily life and being present to the people, places and things you naturally encounter is how most of us grow and learn. The key is to allow ourselves to be changed by those experiences. We need to be humble enough to admit that we do not know everything in order to be open to new possibilities.
The Confirmation Preparation Program here at St. Joseph Parish in Maplewood, New Jersey aims at leading the the young Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life.
Thank you for choosing to participate in the Confirmation Preparation Program at St. Joseph Parish. Your willingness to commit yourself to completing the program and receiving the sacrament of Confirmation convey to the entire faith community how much you value both your faith and your community. Your faith formation throughout the Confirmation preparation program will both assist you in identifying the gifts and talents you possess and challenge you to put these gifts and talents to use in our community. You will be invited to take responsibility for your own faith formation, as well as to assist others in that same endeavor.
This blog contains some information concerning the theology of Confirmation, an overview of the program, program expectations and requirements, as well as other sources of information intended to be both helpful and useful for you as a candidate for Confirmation.
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