Confirmation
If your child is at the age to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation (8th grade), please fill out this registration!
The preparation and reception of all Sacraments has always been the responsibility of the parish you attend Mass.
It has always been the policy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to have students who attend Catholic school, or a Catholic home school program, to ALSO participate in the sacramental preparation program of the parish during years when they are preparing for a sacrament. This is an entirely separate process from CCD and regular Faith formation.
Everyone also needs to be registered. Receiving sacraments is all about readiness, not just an age. So, if you feel your child is ready to receive, please contact the parish office.
Stephanie Lyons
Youth Director & School Campus Minister
St. Mary’s Confirmation Preparation 2024-25 Calendar
NOVEMBER
21 Lesson 11
28 No Class! Happy Thanksgiving!!
DECEMBER
5 Lesson 12
12 Lesson 13
19 Lesson 14
26 No Class! Christmas Break!!
JANUARY
9 Lesson 15
16 Lesson 16
23 Lesson 17
30 Lesson 18
FEBRUARY
6 No class, just attending retreat –
Mount 2000 Retreat from Feb. 7-9th* (please attend if you haven’t attended another retreat yet)
13 Lesson 20
20 Lesson 21
27 Lesson 22
MARCH
6 Lesson 23
13 Lesson 24
20 Pick Confirmation Saint! – Will go over Saints and stories in class
27 Writing a letter to Bishop – explanation and reflection of material included
APRIL
3 *ALL paperwork must be handed in by this date and no later!*
10 Overview of the Confirmation Sacramental graces
17 No Class! Holy Week!! Get involved in the liturgy!!
24 No Class! Easter Break!
MAY
8 Last Confirmation Class!!
22 Confirmation Practice
28 5:30 PM. Confirmation Mass! You must be here by 5:00 pm!
Take Note…
The process of Confirmation preparation is meant to be supplemental to what you are already doing at home, while seeking to introduce candidates to their Catholic peers. As a family, this is a great time to deepen your relationship with God as your son or daughter prepares to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
“Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators.” ~Pope Paul VI
From the Rite of Confirmation . . .
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. Through Christ our Lord.
The Effects of Confirmation
(CCC 1303)
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace by:
- Strengthening our identity as children of God
- Uniting us more firmly to Christ
- Increasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
- Giving us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith as true witnesses of Christ
By Confirmation, Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off the “aroma of Christ.” -CCC 1294
Requirements
These are not intended to be “hoops,” but they are mile-markers that indicate the progression of the Confirmation candidate. The candidates MUST:
- Have been Baptized (A Baptismal Certificate MUST be provided if your child was not Baptized at St. Mary’s)
- Have a sincere desire to be confirmed.
- Attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis.
- Have a basic understanding of the pillars of our faith.
- Attend class weekly and complete make-up work for any classes missed.
- Complete the candidate interview process with Fr. Cibelli
- Write a letter to Bishop Parker, who will be confirming you.
- Complete AT LEAST 4 DIRECT service hours
- Select a sponsor and complete the sponsor sessions (parents cannot be sponsors—please see sponsor guidelines).
- Select a saint name
- Attend A Retreat
Choosing a Sponsor
Sponsors act as spiritual role models and guides for the candidates while they prepare for Confirmation. They should also take care that the confirmed person behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations inherent in this sacrament (Code of Canon Law 892).
In order to be a sponsor a person must be (from Code of Canon Law 874-this means there are NO EXCEPTIONS):
- Baptized, received First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church.
- If married, married according to the laws and teachings of the Catholic Church.
- If single, not cohabitating with someone without the benefit of Marriage.
- Regularly attend Holy Mass ever Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation
- Receive the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year, as necessary.
When choosing a sponsor, your teen should begin with prayer, asking God for His guidance in making this important decision. A good starting place for your teen to start are:
- Baptismal godparents
- A relative
- A family friend
- Your candidate’s teacher
- An active parishioner she may admire.
Choosing a Saint
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. -Hebrews 12:1-2
Every candidate is asked to take the name of a recognized saint or blessed. This saint will serve as a model of holiness for the candidate to encourage them to “persevere in running the race” (Hebrews 12:1). Candidates do not have to take the name of a new saint if their first or middle name is that of a recognized saint, but they can if they want to. Saints can be chosen based on a particular devotion the candidate has and can be of the opposite sex. Candidates should make this decision with prayer and consider saints that they have a particular connection or devotion to. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!