Confirm .... O Lord, with your heavenly grace, that he/she may continue to be yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit until he/she comes to your everlasting Kingdom.

Confirmation is perceived as a significant event in the life of a Church of Ireland young person or Adult. Often, there are presents, parties and members of the wider family are invited to share with the confirmee in attending the confirmation service.

When a person becomes an adult member of their local church, they are a member of the whole church throughout the world. Anglicans recognize this by confirmation. In the Church of Ireland Confirmation is always performed by a Bishop, who represents the wider church and confirms people by laying hands on their head and praying for them. This may happen to Christians who were baptized when they were children when they are old enough to make promises about the way they will live for themselves. It may happen to Christians baptized as adults.

Before candidates are confirmed they will usually go to 'confirmation classes'. Here, they will be taught about the important beliefs of Christians. They will also be taught about the Holy Communion service and what it means. This is an important time to learn about the commitment that being a Christian involves.

In our Diocese there are also a number of Confirmation Retreats which are led by the Diocesan Youth Officer, Rev'd Philip Heak. Many pupils in Kilkenny College are confirmed and take classes at the College. These clasess incorporate a week end Retreat. For those being confirmed within their own parishes, there are also Diocesan Retreats, paralleled by One day events for Groups of Parishes. This complements the excellent teaching already being given on Parish level by Clergy and lay people.