Confirmation - Junior High


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 and grace needs the cooperation of the recipient. Whenever a sacrament is celebrated the visible part we see brings about the invisible reality that is taking place. Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church.

 
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
During preparation for Confirmation in the junior high or high school years, youth are required by the Diocese of Joliet to receive two years of religious formation and specialized sacramental preparation.  This sacramental preparation takes the form of retreats, special assignments and content specific lessons and workshops.  The content specific workshops are intended for youth and their parents. Confirmation Preparation events or large gatherings must be attended WITH a parent or sponsor and would qualify for an "Explore Four" with a submitted reflection.
During each year of preparation, a minimum of 20 hours of service is required.  Year 1 and Year 2 teens are expected to participate in a minimum of 6 stewardship projects each year (that total 20 hours each year): at least two that serve family, two that serve St. Jude parish or another parish, and two that serve the community.  A Stewardship Log will be furnished at the start of the year and must be used to record the teen's volunteer hours.  A Reflection page will also be given and is required to be completed and turned in the first week of April.  
In final preparation for your Confirmation, please double check the expectations for Year 2 and remember to complete 7 Mass reflections, 4 Explore 4 reflections at least 20 hours of stewardship projects and a Year 2 Confirmation retreat.  

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)
  • The Year 1 Small Group Retreat (Small Groups Attend the Retreat All Together)
  • Year 1 students will choose their patron saint as their Confirmation name and will choose their sponsor who will both journey with them through their 2 years of preparation and beyond.  Guidelines for a saint report will be given at the start of Year 1 and it will be due the first week of April in Year 1 of preparation.  Sponsor forms will be required from their chosen sponsor by April of Year 1 of preparation as well.
Year 2

  • 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.)

    • Year 2 Teens are asked to choose and register for one of the 2023-2024 Confirmation retreats 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CONFIRMATION RETREATS

Requirements

·         Your "Confirmation Saint" is someone who will intercede for you at the throne of God throughout your life. Saints practiced heroic virtue, doing astounding things for others through the course of their lives. You may relate to them in different ways and they should 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 and ideals, or is the patron/patroness of your interests. Included in the guidelines are links on the web that can help you in your search for the PERFECT SAINT for you!  Be attentive, this saint may already be present in your life and may already be praying for you!  Look for the signs, they are not coincidences!!

·         Write a Saint Report: DUE first week of February for YEAR 2, DUE first week of April for YEAR 1:

              Click here for helpful hints on finding your Saint and Saint Report Guideline 

    • Outline a variety of details of the life of the saint whose name you have chosen to take as your Confirmation name.
    • Explain how you connect with and relate with this saint.
    • Explain why you chose this saint and how they may have revealed themselves to you or made themselves known to you.
    • Follow all the instructions included in the link above.  This PDF will be handed out at the beginning of our year.
      • On this PDF, 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 saints included in the document are EXAMPLES of POSSIBLE saints. Your choice of saint name is not reserved to just those examples.  There are MANY to choose from.
      • 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
      • Another resource to use:  Biggest and Best List of Confirmation Saints (for Guys and Girls) - LifeTeen.com for Catholic Youth

Requesting Permission to be Confirmed

  • A written letter will be required, prior to your Sacrament of Confirmation, asking permission from Fr. Ray, our pastor, to be confirmed.  Fr. Ray has to know that you are ready for this final initiation step and that you understand what is expected of you as a fully initiated Catholic. This letter is a minimum of 3 paragraphs and is DUE the first week in March.
  • The following link will give an outline of what is expected in this letter: Click here for Letter to Pastor Guidelines  

Remaining Requirements