Confirmation Overview
Confirmation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285
“Who’s Who?” in Confirmation - Explaining the Roles:
It takes the whole Church to raise a disciple. Each time a young person is confirmed, he or she takes his or her place in the wider community of faith - among those who have played a vital role in helping him or her to reach this sacramental milestone. This sacramental “support team” includes...
The Candidate:
It’s all about you (and your relationship with Christ and his Church). Much will be expected of you, but don’t worry, all of us are here to assist, support, and walk with you on your journey. Come with an open mind, an open heart, and enter fully into the preparation process which will help to form you for the rest of your life. Even if you don’t think you want to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, we invite you to explore the journey. If in the end you decide this is not the path you want to take then at least you will know what confirmation is about before you choose a different path. Take a look at the “Candidate Commitment” form which outlines our expectations which are only meant to assist you in the journey. All our expectations aside, you should expect great things from this process! We aren’t inviting you on this journey because of all the stuff we want to give you or show you, we are inviting you because you have so much to give the Church!
The Candidate’s Family:
Parents are not only the “primary educators” of their children, they are the “first heralds of the Gospel.” In a recent study conducted by the National Study on Youth and Religion (a survey of thousands of teens), the majority of teenagers named their parents as their number one spiritual influence. Parents provide a child’s first glimpse at the unconditional love that is at the heart of the Gospel. They are also the first to show their children, by example, what it means to be a disciple of the Lord. For better or worse, a teen’s faith tends to mimic that of mom and dad. We encourage parents to think about the example they are setting for their children. When a member of the family begins the confirmation journey, it can be a great time to start going back to Mass weekly, going to Confession monthly, praying more often together, etc… Be familiar with the “Candidate Commitment” form and reflect on the spiritual life and faith journey of your family. Remember it’s never too late, and now is the perfect time to strengthen yours and your family’s commitment to the faith.
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285
“Who’s Who?” in Confirmation - Explaining the Roles:
It takes the whole Church to raise a disciple. Each time a young person is confirmed, he or she takes his or her place in the wider community of faith - among those who have played a vital role in helping him or her to reach this sacramental milestone. This sacramental “support team” includes...
The Candidate:
It’s all about you (and your relationship with Christ and his Church). Much will be expected of you, but don’t worry, all of us are here to assist, support, and walk with you on your journey. Come with an open mind, an open heart, and enter fully into the preparation process which will help to form you for the rest of your life. Even if you don’t think you want to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, we invite you to explore the journey. If in the end you decide this is not the path you want to take then at least you will know what confirmation is about before you choose a different path. Take a look at the “Candidate Commitment” form which outlines our expectations which are only meant to assist you in the journey. All our expectations aside, you should expect great things from this process! We aren’t inviting you on this journey because of all the stuff we want to give you or show you, we are inviting you because you have so much to give the Church!
The Candidate’s Family:
Parents are not only the “primary educators” of their children, they are the “first heralds of the Gospel.” In a recent study conducted by the National Study on Youth and Religion (a survey of thousands of teens), the majority of teenagers named their parents as their number one spiritual influence. Parents provide a child’s first glimpse at the unconditional love that is at the heart of the Gospel. They are also the first to show their children, by example, what it means to be a disciple of the Lord. For better or worse, a teen’s faith tends to mimic that of mom and dad. We encourage parents to think about the example they are setting for their children. When a member of the family begins the confirmation journey, it can be a great time to start going back to Mass weekly, going to Confession monthly, praying more often together, etc… Be familiar with the “Candidate Commitment” form and reflect on the spiritual life and faith journey of your family. Remember it’s never too late, and now is the perfect time to strengthen yours and your family’s commitment to the faith.
The Sponsor: The confirmation sponsor’s job is to be an up-close-and-personal witness of the Christian life for the candidate. The sponsor’s task does not end when the teen is confirmed; rather, the sponsor is obligated to help the teen “grow in faith,” to help in his or her Christian walk throughout life, and to seek out the candidate if he or she ever goes astray. Sponsors, and parents too, should pray for their candidate daily.
Sponsor Information: Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor
A Confirmation sponsor’s job is to be an up-close-and-personal witness of the Christian Life for the candidate. The sponsor’s task does not end when the teen is confirmed; rather, the sponsor is obligated to help the teen “grow in faith,” to help his or her Christian walk throughout life and seek out the candidate if he or she goes astray. Sponsors are encouraged to commit to praying daily for their candidate and to reminding their teen that they are praying for them. This support will mean a great deal to the youth, especially as they grow into young adulthood. As you begin to think about who you would like to ask to be your sponsor, keep the above in mind along with the following:
What Qualifications does a sponsor need? (Reference Code of Canon Law 874)
● Must be a practicing Catholic who is at least sixteen years old.
● Must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
● Must be a person who leads “a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.” (a.k.a. they must live out what they believe)
● Must NOT be the parent of the candidate.
Once you have discerned who you would like to invite into your journey, either call them, write them a letter, or ask them in person. You and your sponsor will meet at least 4 times during your journey. Pick a place to meet where you feel comfortable: a coffee house, restaurant, go for a walk, etc… and give yourselves time to really have some meaningful conversations. Meet more than 4 times if you want! Try for once a month, or even every week if you can. Open yourselves up to how Christ wants to enter into your lives. Begin and end with a simple prayer. We like this one:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Share openly with your sponsor. Always remember none of us have all the answers; we need one another more than we think. Christ can only act in our lives if we invite him and allow ourselves to become vulnerable with one another.
Attendance Expectations:
Candidates are expected to attend all events listed on the Confirmation Schedule. Please plan to work on homework accordingly. Games, homework, etc… are not acceptable excuses for missing any part of the Confirmation preparation period. Any absence should be communicated to the catechist upon which there will be opportunities to “make-up” that which was missed. If a student misses more than 3 sessions in a year, the catechist will connect with you and Father.
Sponsor Information: Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor
A Confirmation sponsor’s job is to be an up-close-and-personal witness of the Christian Life for the candidate. The sponsor’s task does not end when the teen is confirmed; rather, the sponsor is obligated to help the teen “grow in faith,” to help his or her Christian walk throughout life and seek out the candidate if he or she goes astray. Sponsors are encouraged to commit to praying daily for their candidate and to reminding their teen that they are praying for them. This support will mean a great deal to the youth, especially as they grow into young adulthood. As you begin to think about who you would like to ask to be your sponsor, keep the above in mind along with the following:
What Qualifications does a sponsor need? (Reference Code of Canon Law 874)
● Must be a practicing Catholic who is at least sixteen years old.
● Must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
● Must be a person who leads “a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.” (a.k.a. they must live out what they believe)
● Must NOT be the parent of the candidate.
Once you have discerned who you would like to invite into your journey, either call them, write them a letter, or ask them in person. You and your sponsor will meet at least 4 times during your journey. Pick a place to meet where you feel comfortable: a coffee house, restaurant, go for a walk, etc… and give yourselves time to really have some meaningful conversations. Meet more than 4 times if you want! Try for once a month, or even every week if you can. Open yourselves up to how Christ wants to enter into your lives. Begin and end with a simple prayer. We like this one:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Share openly with your sponsor. Always remember none of us have all the answers; we need one another more than we think. Christ can only act in our lives if we invite him and allow ourselves to become vulnerable with one another.
Attendance Expectations:
Candidates are expected to attend all events listed on the Confirmation Schedule. Please plan to work on homework accordingly. Games, homework, etc… are not acceptable excuses for missing any part of the Confirmation preparation period. Any absence should be communicated to the catechist upon which there will be opportunities to “make-up” that which was missed. If a student misses more than 3 sessions in a year, the catechist will connect with you and Father.
Service Hours Ideas for Liturgical Ministries –
Altar Servers - assist the priest in performing minor duties within the Mass. Servers should be reverent, respectful, and set a good example for all to follow. Scheduling is very flexible, allowing you to serve at Mass when you know you are available.
Music ministry - Our Youth Choir meets to practice before church on Sunday mornings. They sing each Sunday.
Hospitality Ministers act as greeters as people are assembling in the church, they help people find seats, hand out bulletins, and assist with other duties when needed. Hospitality Ministers should be friendly, attentive, and have a smile to share. Hospitality Ministers are placed on teams and are responsible to minister certain weekends of the calendar year.
Church projects – we have many projects at our parish that benefit from youth service workers. Some include: our annual fall bazaar, assisting with parish liturgical design/set-up, helping with the children’s Christmas program, and various breakfasts/dinners.
Service is a vital part of living as a disciple in the world. To follow Christ’s example we must learn how to pour out our lives for others. All candidates are expected to give of their time and talents as part of the Confirmation journey so as to learn that acts of service are what the life of a disciple is all about. The Confirmation journey invites candidates to become involved in the faith community in a personal way. The parish offers opportunities for one to become involved. Take these as opportunities to share your gifts and talents with the parish, local community, and beyond. Candidates are expected to spend 24 hours in service during their Confirmation preparation. These hours should be divided so you spend hours in ministry service - within our parish, and mission service - those that are outside our parish but worthy projects helping others.
● A list of suggested parish ministries is included (above). Service is not limited to this list and can be done outside the parish.
● Candidates will track these hours using the service log.
● Hours must be completed between May 1st and April 1st of the following year.
● This form must be turned in by April 1st of the confirmation year.
Altar Servers - assist the priest in performing minor duties within the Mass. Servers should be reverent, respectful, and set a good example for all to follow. Scheduling is very flexible, allowing you to serve at Mass when you know you are available.
Music ministry - Our Youth Choir meets to practice before church on Sunday mornings. They sing each Sunday.
Hospitality Ministers act as greeters as people are assembling in the church, they help people find seats, hand out bulletins, and assist with other duties when needed. Hospitality Ministers should be friendly, attentive, and have a smile to share. Hospitality Ministers are placed on teams and are responsible to minister certain weekends of the calendar year.
Church projects – we have many projects at our parish that benefit from youth service workers. Some include: our annual fall bazaar, assisting with parish liturgical design/set-up, helping with the children’s Christmas program, and various breakfasts/dinners.
Service is a vital part of living as a disciple in the world. To follow Christ’s example we must learn how to pour out our lives for others. All candidates are expected to give of their time and talents as part of the Confirmation journey so as to learn that acts of service are what the life of a disciple is all about. The Confirmation journey invites candidates to become involved in the faith community in a personal way. The parish offers opportunities for one to become involved. Take these as opportunities to share your gifts and talents with the parish, local community, and beyond. Candidates are expected to spend 24 hours in service during their Confirmation preparation. These hours should be divided so you spend hours in ministry service - within our parish, and mission service - those that are outside our parish but worthy projects helping others.
● A list of suggested parish ministries is included (above). Service is not limited to this list and can be done outside the parish.
● Candidates will track these hours using the service log.
● Hours must be completed between May 1st and April 1st of the following year.
● This form must be turned in by April 1st of the confirmation year.
To Download the confirmation service log, choose from the below file types :.
Microsoft Word
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Acrobat - PDF
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JPEG Picture File
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