Religious Education  

This term students will be preparing themselves for the sacrament of Confirmation. Throughout the term we will be looking at the importance of confirmation within the Catholic Church. We will be weaving together historical foundations, the scriptural presence of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the saints.

Students will explore how Confirmation deepens baptismal grace and equips individuals for Christian maturity and mission. They analyse how early full initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist celebrated together) split after 313 AD due to the rapid growth of the Church, establishing Confirmation as a separate sacrament. 

Students will  look at the connections made between the seven inner gifts of the Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, awe/wonder) with St. Paul’s nine practical fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Students will also learn that gifts are inner abilities that grow with practice, while fruits are the virtues visible in daily actions. 

By studying a diverse "cloud of witnesses" - including St. Mary MacKillop (love), St. Philip Neri (joy), St. Francis of Assisi (peace), St. Kateri Tekakwitha (patience), St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (kindness), St. Carlo Acutis (generosity), St. Peter To Rot (faithfulness), St. Veronica (gentleness), and St. Thérèse of Lisieux (self-control)

Our Students select a Confirmation saint to inspire their own Christian journey based on the knowledge and scriptures learnt through the year.