Confirmation
St. Mary’s Tentative Confirmation Preparation 2024 Calendar: Sundays 10:15am-11:15am in the School Cafeteria (AKA the Pasarelli Room)
December
| December 17th | Confirmation Class |
| December 24 | NO CONFIRMATION CLASS – Merry Christmas |
January
| January 1st | NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Mary, Mother of God & New Year |
| January 7th | Confirmation Class– MOVED TO DIFFERENT Classroom |
| January 14th | Confirmation Class |
| January 21st | Confirmation Class |
| January 27th | Confirmation Class: Retreat Prep Day |
February
| February 4th | NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- MOUNT2000 Retreat! |
| February 11th | Confirmation Class |
| February 18th | Confirmation Class: Sponsor/Candidate Sheet DUE! |
| February 27th | Confirmation Class- Saint Presentations Part 1 |
March
| March 3rd | Confirmation Class- Saint Presentations Part 2 |
| March 10th | Confirmation Class |
| March 17th | Confirmation Class |
| March 24th | Confirmation Class |
SCHEDULE YOUR CONFIRMATION INTERVIEW THIS WEEK (It will be for May 1st-May 10th)- Students need to schedule an appointment with Fr. Boric to answer the questions that are included in this packet!
Students need to go to: https://www.saintmarysonline.org/contact and click on “book now” and select a time for “Confirmation Interview”
April
| April 1st – 10th | Interview Week! (This should have been scheduled in March!) |
| April 5th | No Confirmation Classes: First Communion day for many families! |
| April 12th | No Confirmation Classes: Happy Mother’s Day! |
| April 14th-17th | Make Up Confirmation interviews (if you do not pass on the first try) |
| April 19th | LAST Confirmation Class- Confirmation Ceremony Walkthrough! |
| April 23rd | (Tue)7:00pm Confirmation Rehearsal (Sponsor MUST ATTEND!) |
| April 24th |
5:30pm CONFIRMATION CEREMONY with Bishop Adam Parker. (Be there at 5pm!) |
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 PLAIGERIZE!