Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. 
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, 
grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, 
Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Our clergy and CCD coordinators are pleased to continue a county-wide collaboration for the
Sacrament of Confirmation that includes all Greene County programs. 

Confirmation Retreat ~ Saturday, April 5 from 10:00AM - 5:45PM at St. Hugh Church with SENT Ministries (this is mandatory for all candidates. Candidates and their families will be expected to attend the 6:00PM Mass at St. Hugh as part of the retreat).

Confirmation Rehearsal - Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00PM at St. Marcellus. Candidate and sponsor are required to attend. If a sponsor cannot attend due to travel, a parent must fill in.
 

Congratulations to the newly confirmed of St. Matthias Parish!
The Sacrament for Confirmation was celebrated in a mass on Monday, September 18th at 7:00PM in  St. Hugh Church with confirming Bishop David Zubik.

They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These seven gifts, part of sanctifying grace, complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make us docile in obeying divine inspirations without need for reflection but always with full consent.      

We are to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for these gifts. 

Isaiah told us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Is 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has official qualifications of confirmation sponsors as well as several guidelines and/or recommendations.

1. Be designated by the candidate, by the parents or guardians, or the pastor.
2. Have the qualifications and intention of performing the role of sponsor.
3. Be at least 16 years old.
4. Be a fully initiated Catholic (received baptism, confirmation and Eucharist).
5. Lead a life in harmony with the faith and role of a sponsor (i.e., be a member of a parish, attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, not be in an irregular marriage, etc.).
6. Not be bound by a canonical penalty.
7. Not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed.

Sponsors for the sacrament of confirmation must abide by the same qualifications as sponsors for the sacrament of baptism. In addition, the following guidelines and/or recommendations apply: 

1. There is normally one sponsor for the sacrament of confirmation.
2. It is recommended that a baptismal godparent exercise the role of confirmation sponsor.
3. A non-Catholic may not serve as a sponsor for the sacrament of confirmation. (It is discouraged that a spouse serve as confirmation sponsor).

Our diocese continues the practice of requiring proof of eligibility for sponsorship (in accord with the qualifications above) from the parish in which the sponsor is registered.