In the Philippines (and probably in every predominantly Catholic country), children receive the sacrament of confirmation before they enter their teens. Although I know of a couple of persons who got their confirmation rites in their adult years, mainly because they could not remember if they have received this rite before. Anyhow, the sacrament of confirmation is ideally given to a person in his young age; sometimes, a few years after receiving his first Holy Communion.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is done when a person is old enough to decide for himself to fully accept the Catholic faith. You stand or kneel before a priest or bishop while your godfather or godmother lays a hand on your shoulder and speaks your confirmation name. You are then anointed by the bishop with oil and makes the sign of the cross on your forehead while saying your confirmation name.
If your child is scheduled to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, you may want to start preparing the documents often required by parishes. See the list below:
- Baptismal Certificate – present your Baptismal Certificate to your Parish office. You may obtain a copy of this from the church where you were baptized. Fees vary.
- PSA birth certificate – you may request for a copy of your child’s PSA birth certificate online at PSAHelpline.ph. They will deliver your PSA certificate to your doorstep.
- Duly accomplished Confirmation Form – this will be provided to you by the Parish where you will receive the sacrament of confirmation.
- A pair of witnesses (ninong and ninang) – just like when you were baptized, you need to have at least one pair of godfather and godmother to stand as witness to your confirmation.
If you want to learn more about the Sacrament of Confirmation, click this link.
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