Sacrament of Confirmation
In final preparation for your Confirmation, please double check the expectations for Year 2 and remember to complete 7 mass reflections, approximately 20 hours of stewardship projects and a confirmation retreat.
What is a Sacrament?
"The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1131).
In other words, sacraments are visible signs that make present an invisible reality; this invisible reality is the gift of grace. Whenever a sacrament is celebrated the visible part we see brings about the invisible reality that is taking place. Confirmation is one a sacrament of initiation.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
During preparation for Confirmation in the junior high or high school years, youth receive two years of religious formation and specialized sacramental preparation. This sacramental preparation takes the form of retreats, special assignments and content specific workshops. The content specific workshops are intended for youth and their parents. Events addended WITH parent or sponsor also count toward the "Explore Four" requirement.
CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS
Year 1
Any Year 2 teens who missed these sessions in Year 1 are asked to attend them in their Year 2.
- Catholic Skills: Scripture, Year overview given for guidance through the program. What is the Bible? How can we understand the story as the history of our faith? How can we use it to read and pray? (parents are expected to attend this engaging session with their teen)
- Catholic Skills: Prayer, Participate in and discuss a variety of different forms of prayer: adoration, music as prayer, the rosary, etc. (parents are expected to attend with teen)
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The 7th Grade Small Group Retreat (Small Groups Attend the Retreat All Together)
Year 2
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Teens are asked to attend three Confirmation Preparation Sessions with a parent or sponsor:
- Confirmation Prep #1: Choosing a confirmation name & sponsor, what confirmation means, and reasons to be confirmed. (Parents attend this first session; meet in the church)
- Confirmation Prep #2: How can Confirmation empower us to be present day disciples of Jesus? (Teens are expected to bring a sponsor or parent; meet in the church.)
- Confirmation Prep #3: What are the gifts, how we receive them, why we receive them, and how we use them. (Teens are expected to bring a sponsor or parent; meet in the church.)
- 8th Grade Teens are asked to choose and register for one of the 2022-2023 Confirmation retreats
- Confirmation Prep #1: Choosing a confirmation name & sponsor, what confirmation means, and reasons to be confirmed. (Parents attend this first session; meet in the church)
Requirements
- Choose a sponsor & turn in the Sponsor Commitment Form: Submit in January.. Click here for qualifications for sponsor and the Sponsor Commitment Form (the attachment includes both the qualifications AND the commitment form (due in January).
- Discuss the Confirmation Sponsor Guide with your sponsor (read the Scriptures and talk about the questions.)
- Choose a Saint & Write a Saint Report: DUE in February Click here for helpful hints on finding your Saint and Saint Report Guidelines
- Your "Confirmation Saint" is someone who will most likely embody the kind of person you'd like to become. Think of the things you are passionate about and/or interested in. Find which saint represents those ideas or ideals. Included in the guidelines are links on the web that can help you in your search for the PERFECT SAINT for you!
Saint Reports include the following:
• A summary of the life/lives of the saint(s) whose name you have chosen to take as your Confirmation name.
• Follow all the instructions included in the attached PDF under "When writing your Saint Report...
Consider the activities "In What Ways do you Relate to Saints?" and "What Saints can you Relate to?" as aides to help you construct and complete a robust report. The SIX saints included in the document are EXAMPLES of POSSIBLE saints. Your choice of saint name is not reserved to just those examples.
If you are still struggling to find a saint after following the activities:
IOS users might try using: Confirmation Names on the App Store on iTunes
Biggest and Best List of Confirmation Saints (for Guys and Girls) - LifeTeen.com for Catholic Youth
- Write a Letter Requesting Permission to be Confirmed to Fr. Robert Basler: Click here for Guidelines for the letter. DUE in March
- Confirmation Retreat: You must have attended a confirmation retreat.
- 7 Mass Reflections: DUE in APRIL
- Stewardship Log and Reflection (20 hours of service) DUE in APRIL Click here for Log and Reflection form