Confirmation

St. Mary’s Confirmation Preparation 2023-24 Calendar: Sundays 10:15am-11:15am in the School Cafeteria (AKA the Pasarelli Room)

NOVEMBER

19        Introduction/ Parent Meeting

26        NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Thanksgiving     

DECEMBER

3          Confirmation Class- Service Projects Explained

10        Confirmation Class

17        Confirmation Class

24        NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Merry Christmas

31        NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Merry Christmas

JANUARY

6          Confirmation Retreat ALL DAY ON CAMPUS- TBA

7          Confirmation Class

14        Confirmation Class

21        Confirmation Class

28        Confirmation Class

FEBRUARY

4          NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- MOUNT2000 Retreat!

11        Confirmation Class

18        Confirmation Class: Sponsor/Candidate Sheet DUE!

25        Confirmation Class- Saint Presentations

MARCH

3          Confirmation Class

10        Confirmation Class

SCHEDULE YOUR CONFIRMATION INTERVIEW THIS WEEK! You can schedule this with Jordan Tippet OR Fr. James Boric by emailing them! The email should come from the Confirmation Candidate and be sure to COPY a parent! Emails are as follows:

Jordan Tippett: jtippett@saintmarysonline.org

Fr. James Boric: jboric@saintmarysonline.org

17        Confirmation Class

24        Confirmation Class/ Bishop Letters Due

31        NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- HAPPY EASTER!

APRIL

7          Confirmation Class: ALL PAPERWORK IN!

14        LAST Confirmation Class

21        NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- First Holy Communion Weekend!

23 (Tue)7:00pm Confirmation Rehearsal (Sponsor MUST ATTEND!)

24 (Wed) 5:30pm CONFIRMATION CEREMONY with Bishop Parker. (Be there at 5pm in

Fatima Hall)

 

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!

Saint Presentations

You will present information about your Confirmation Saint in class. There are two parts to your presentation:  a poster highlighting your Saint’s life and a typed report about your saint. Below are the requirements for each component of your project.

Saint Poster

  • What to Include:
    • Saint name
    • A picture of your saint (if available)
    • Birth and death dates, as well as Feast day
    • What is your saint the patron of? (ex. St. Sebastian: Athletes)
    • What do you admire the most about your saint?
  • Your name on the back of the poster (this is really important)

Saint Report

  • What to Include
    • Saint’s name and where your saint is from
    • Birth and death dates, how he/she died (if available)
    • Patronage(s)
    • At least three facts about the life of the saint
    • What do you admire the most about your saint?  Why did you choose him/her?
    • How will you try to be more like your saint and follow his/her example?
    • What makes your saint unique?  Is there an interesting story about his/her life?
    • Why is he/she worthy of sainthood?  How does his/her life reflect a deep relationship with God?
  • Other Requirements
    • Your name should be at the top or your report
    • TYPED, 12 PT. FONT, DOUBLE SPACED, AT LEAST 250 WORDS!
    • At least 3 paragraphs, DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!