Confirmation Preparation Guide
Overview
“Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.” (CCC 1309)
Our hope is to help young people to understand the sacrament of Confirmation in the context of Initiation and full participation in the life of the Catholic Church. This process began at Baptism and has been supported throughout the years by catechesis. Our program is composed of four components including prayer, service, community, and catechesis that provide a comprehensive approach. Active parishioners will begin their immediate preparation for Confirmation in Freshmen year and will be responsible for fulfilling the following expectations.
Annual Checklist
Youth are expected to be actively involved in regular catechesis throughout junior high and high school. These sessions will continue in small groups throughout freshman and sophomore year. They will incorporate a general instruction in the Catholic tradition as well as sessions on sacramental theology. This is the core component of preparation for Confirmation and attendance is mandatory.
Service Learning
See the Service Learning Guide
Parent Retreat
Our Parish Staff is excited to offer a new program for parents of children who will be receiving their first Eucharist or Confirmation this year. The half-day retreat will delve into the traditions of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation and more fully explain the role you will play in preparing your child for these sacraments. The retreat will begin with prayer and an introduction, followed by lunch and a presentation. The presentation will challenge you to understand how the sacred is woven into your everyday lives as a family.
Attendance at a retreat is required for parents who have a child preparing for Eucharist or Confirmation this year. We are asking that at least one parent from each family attend a retreat. We would love to have both parents attend, but we understand that this is not always possible. If you attended the retreat last year, you are welcome to attend again but not required to.
Please register here for this retreat
Choosing a Sponsor
The Catechism suggests that confirmands should choose a spiritual mentor to help them prepare for Confirmation. It is most appropriate for that sponsor to be one of the baptismal godparents to emphasize Confirmation as part of sacraments of Initiation and connected to Baptism. If that is not possible, a sponsor may be chosen who is a confirmed, active Catholic over the age of 16 who is free from any impediment of law to fulfill their role as sponsor and not the parent of the candidate.
Christian Name
Our diocesan policy states:
Candidates whose given/baptism name is not Christian should choose a Confirmation name from the names of canonized saints. Other candidates may choose a Confirmation name. Whether they keep their baptism name or choose a confirmation name, the candidates should have a good knowledge of their patron saint (even if they have chosen the name to honor a relative or friend).
Rite of Calling/Sponsor Meeting
In this ritual, we will present the confirmands and sponsors to the Pastor and the community as we pray with them in their final preparations to be confirmed and fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Following the Mass, we will meet with the confirmands and sponsors for a short meeting.
Annual Retreat
Each year, our Peer Ministers facilitate retreats for the freshmen and sophomores. The retreat includes large group activities, small group discussions, prayer experiences, and meals. Please talk to all coaches, teachers, or activity leaders in advance to let them know you must attend this retreat.
The Freshmen Retreat will take place on November 9th from 6:30-11:00 PM and November 10th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is mandatory for all freshmen.
The Sophomore Retreat will take place on February 22nd from 6:00-11:00 PM and February 23rd from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is mandatory for all sophomores.
Letter to the Pastor
To demonstrate their preparedness to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, confirmands are expected to submit at least a one full page reflection explaining how they have been prepared and their reasons for wanting to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. This reflection is for the benefit of the confirmand and helps them to understand how they are responding to God’s call. It should be submitted to the Youth Ministry Office and addressed to Fr. Paul prior to the Confirmation Interviews. Here is an example from a previous confirmandi - Letter to the Pastor Guidelines
Service Learning Reflection
In order to help confirmandi integrate learning from their service work, they should incorporate theological reflection into the process. Each sophomore must submit a two page theological reflection paper based on a teaching of the Catholic tradition and their experience of service. You must use the process described on our website. All service hours and reflections will be turned into the Youth Ministry Office for review before interviews sophomore year.
Interviews
Confirmands will meet with the Director of Youth Ministry or Pastor to review their preparation to be confirmed in March or April. If you need to make other arrangements, please email us. Please prepare using this list of questions - Confirmation Interview Questions.
Rehearsal
All confirmands must attend the rehearsal for Confirmation on the Monday before Confirmation at 7 pm in the Parish Center. Exceptions will only be made in cases of serious emergency or illness and the Director of Youth Ministry must be contacted immediately.
Dress Code
Please have the boys wear dress slacks, shirt and tie. The girls should wear dresses, skirts or dress slacks. Please remind the girls to maintain modesty in regard to the length of their skirt and the neckline. Sponsors should be encouraged to follow a similar dress code. Please be sure that the name tag is clearly visible to the Bishop and not covered by hair or clothing.
Confirmation Mass
This year's confirmation is on Friday, May 10th with Fr. Paul presiding. Candidates and sponsors should arrive by 6:15 pm with the procession starting at 6:45 and Mass beginning at 7 pm. There will be a reception in the Parish Center after Mass.
“Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.” (CCC 1309)
Our hope is to help young people to understand the sacrament of Confirmation in the context of Initiation and full participation in the life of the Catholic Church. This process began at Baptism and has been supported throughout the years by catechesis. Our program is composed of four components including prayer, service, community, and catechesis that provide a comprehensive approach. Active parishioners will begin their immediate preparation for Confirmation in Freshmen year and will be responsible for fulfilling the following expectations.
Annual Checklist
- Register with our Office
- Attend Chosen Formation Sessions and makeup any absences
- Submit at least 20 hours of service experiences each year on our website
- Attend annual retreat
- Participate in small group community, spiritual, or service activities
- At least one parent should attend the Parent Sacrament Retreat
- Choose Confirmation Name and Sponsor and submit online by 9/30/2018
- Attend Rite of Calling/Sponsor Meeting on 10/14/2018 with sponsors if possible
- Submit service hours, letter to the pastor, and service learning reflection by 03/01/2019 to the Youth Ministry Office
- Schedule Confirmation Interview and complete by 04/28/2019
- Attend Confirmation Rehearsal with sponsor at 7 pm on Monday prior to Confirmation in the Parish Center
Youth are expected to be actively involved in regular catechesis throughout junior high and high school. These sessions will continue in small groups throughout freshman and sophomore year. They will incorporate a general instruction in the Catholic tradition as well as sessions on sacramental theology. This is the core component of preparation for Confirmation and attendance is mandatory.
Service Learning
See the Service Learning Guide
Parent Retreat
Our Parish Staff is excited to offer a new program for parents of children who will be receiving their first Eucharist or Confirmation this year. The half-day retreat will delve into the traditions of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation and more fully explain the role you will play in preparing your child for these sacraments. The retreat will begin with prayer and an introduction, followed by lunch and a presentation. The presentation will challenge you to understand how the sacred is woven into your everyday lives as a family.
Attendance at a retreat is required for parents who have a child preparing for Eucharist or Confirmation this year. We are asking that at least one parent from each family attend a retreat. We would love to have both parents attend, but we understand that this is not always possible. If you attended the retreat last year, you are welcome to attend again but not required to.
Please register here for this retreat
Choosing a Sponsor
The Catechism suggests that confirmands should choose a spiritual mentor to help them prepare for Confirmation. It is most appropriate for that sponsor to be one of the baptismal godparents to emphasize Confirmation as part of sacraments of Initiation and connected to Baptism. If that is not possible, a sponsor may be chosen who is a confirmed, active Catholic over the age of 16 who is free from any impediment of law to fulfill their role as sponsor and not the parent of the candidate.
Christian Name
Our diocesan policy states:
Candidates whose given/baptism name is not Christian should choose a Confirmation name from the names of canonized saints. Other candidates may choose a Confirmation name. Whether they keep their baptism name or choose a confirmation name, the candidates should have a good knowledge of their patron saint (even if they have chosen the name to honor a relative or friend).
Rite of Calling/Sponsor Meeting
In this ritual, we will present the confirmands and sponsors to the Pastor and the community as we pray with them in their final preparations to be confirmed and fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Following the Mass, we will meet with the confirmands and sponsors for a short meeting.
Annual Retreat
Each year, our Peer Ministers facilitate retreats for the freshmen and sophomores. The retreat includes large group activities, small group discussions, prayer experiences, and meals. Please talk to all coaches, teachers, or activity leaders in advance to let them know you must attend this retreat.
The Freshmen Retreat will take place on November 9th from 6:30-11:00 PM and November 10th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is mandatory for all freshmen.
The Sophomore Retreat will take place on February 22nd from 6:00-11:00 PM and February 23rd from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is mandatory for all sophomores.
Letter to the Pastor
To demonstrate their preparedness to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, confirmands are expected to submit at least a one full page reflection explaining how they have been prepared and their reasons for wanting to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. This reflection is for the benefit of the confirmand and helps them to understand how they are responding to God’s call. It should be submitted to the Youth Ministry Office and addressed to Fr. Paul prior to the Confirmation Interviews. Here is an example from a previous confirmandi - Letter to the Pastor Guidelines
Service Learning Reflection
In order to help confirmandi integrate learning from their service work, they should incorporate theological reflection into the process. Each sophomore must submit a two page theological reflection paper based on a teaching of the Catholic tradition and their experience of service. You must use the process described on our website. All service hours and reflections will be turned into the Youth Ministry Office for review before interviews sophomore year.
Interviews
Confirmands will meet with the Director of Youth Ministry or Pastor to review their preparation to be confirmed in March or April. If you need to make other arrangements, please email us. Please prepare using this list of questions - Confirmation Interview Questions.
Rehearsal
All confirmands must attend the rehearsal for Confirmation on the Monday before Confirmation at 7 pm in the Parish Center. Exceptions will only be made in cases of serious emergency or illness and the Director of Youth Ministry must be contacted immediately.
Dress Code
Please have the boys wear dress slacks, shirt and tie. The girls should wear dresses, skirts or dress slacks. Please remind the girls to maintain modesty in regard to the length of their skirt and the neckline. Sponsors should be encouraged to follow a similar dress code. Please be sure that the name tag is clearly visible to the Bishop and not covered by hair or clothing.
Confirmation Mass
This year's confirmation is on Friday, May 10th with Fr. Paul presiding. Candidates and sponsors should arrive by 6:15 pm with the procession starting at 6:45 and Mass beginning at 7 pm. There will be a reception in the Parish Center after Mass.