17 SFX 8th Graders enter the Catholic Church
Seventeen 8th Graders at St. Francis Xavier (SFX) Catholic School received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, thereby officially becoming members of the Catholic Church.
Bishop Robert Baker, who served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham before Bishop Steven Raica assumed the position in 2020, administered the sacrament at St. Francis Xavier Parish.
Bishop Baker confirmed the following 8th Graders:
Parker Brant
Heartlee Budd
Joseph Cannova
Will Driver
David Esparza
Simon Jabines
Angel Juarez
Cristian Martinez
Manuel Mateo
Delia Osbun
Eden Robinson
Alan Rodriguez
Andrew Smitherman
John Stransky
Maria Valdovinos
Allison Vidales Pina
Izzabelle Whaley
Lila Thompson had been previously confirmed and so received a blessing.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. While children in the Catholic Church are often baptized as infants and take their first Holy Communion around age eight, Catholic children usually receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at around age 13.
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is ’sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’ and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.”
As part of the school’s faith-based mission, SFX scholars participate in sacramental preparation and learn about the teachings of the Catholic Church throughout their time at the school.
Thus, Jesus Christ is at the center of every scholar’s experience at our school. Our students pray daily, attend Mass weekly, and learn about the story of Christ and His Church as told throughout human history.
"Congratulations to our 8th-grade students who are now fully confirmed Catholics!” said SFX School Principal Mary Paige Griffin.”May the Holy Spirit be their guide as they continue on their faith journey."
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is an accredited classical Catholic PreK-8 school in Birmingham’s Crestline neighborhood that uses the time-tested Catholic Intellectual Tradition to form students in virtue through the pursuit of academic excellence and service toward God and neighbor.
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