Sacramental Preparation

Youth Confirmation Preparation

Since Sacramental Celebration is a Faith community event and since the family is the core of the Faith community, sacramental preparation needs to take place in both settings.  Parents are primary educators of their children in developing their image of who God is, in developing their relationship with God and in seeing the place God has in their everyday lives.  The Church, the larger Faith community is responsible for supporting parents in nurturing their child’s Faith in providing ongoing catechesis in doctrine developed through Scripture and Tradition.  It is an awesomely wonderful venture of relationship!

General Requirements for Sacramental Preparation

for Confirmation

• Young people age fifteen or older
• Attendance weekly at Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation
• Participation in Religious Education classes or Catholic school for at least the
• prior year before beginning immediate preparation
• Participation in Religious Education classes during the year of immediate
• preparation
• Parent participation in one parent session for immediate preparation
• Parent, candidate and sponsor (if possible) participation in one session for
• immediate preparation

Process of Preparation for Confirmation…

• Young people continue to attend regular Religious Education classes or Catholic School, where they continue to learn Catholic teaching.  Confirmation is studied every year according to the child’s ability to comprehend the connection between the Sacraments of Initiation, the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, and the Fruits or Works of the Spirit.

• Parents attend a session on Confirmation:

• To focus on our adult understanding of this sacrament,
• How to relate everyday family life to the meaning of Confirmation

• Parents, young people and sponsors (if possible) participate in one session:

• to focus on the meaning of Confirmation;
• to learn about additional sessions offered to assist them understanding the

o       sacraments of Initiation, the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit, Fruits or Works

o       of the Spirit, Stewardship, and the Triduum;

• and to obtain a booklet for the young person to complete with their parents and/or sponsor during the year of immediate preparation

• Candidates need to participate in at least one parish youth activity, such as: Faith Factor, social events for youth, retreats for youth, service projects with youth

• In addition, candidates and their sponsors and/or parents need to:

• complete a booklet for Immediate Preparation reflecting on the Sacraments of Initiation, the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, the

o       Fruits or Works of the Spirit, Stewardship and the Triduum

• participate in an initial interview and a final interview with the

o       Coordinator for Confirmation

• Participate in the Triduum
• Participate in rehearsal for celebration

§         Candidates and their sponsor and/or parent are also encouraged to attend monthly sessions reviewing Church teaching on the Sacraments of Initiation, the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, the Fruits or Works of the Spirit, Stewardship and the Triduum

Readiness Signs for Confirmation…

·  Young people are expressing a desire to celebrate the sacrament of

·  Confirmation.

·  Young people are willing to discern their readiness for celebrating this

·  sacrament

·  Young people have a basic understanding of the main tenets of our Faith, appropriate for their age.

This preparation process is for adults:

• who are 21 years of age and older,
• who have celebrated Baptism and Eucharist (First Communion),
• who have participated in religious education classes (in the parish or in Catholic school), who attend Mass regularly,
• and who are interested in celebrating this sacrament.
• Please call Debbie Vasicek at the parish office for further information and to register.