CONFIRMATION 2024

PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION

WELCOME
We, the Confirmation team, are looking forward to sharing this journey of faith with you as you prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. We are very excited that you have chosen to receive this Sacrament and pray that this year will be a time of great spiritual growth.
As you will see, Confirmation preparation involves learning, sharing, serving, fellowship, spiritual growth, and some fun, too. During this journey, you will be given the opportunity to learn more about your Catholic faith and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus the Christ.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1309:
Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit . . . To this end, catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community.
Our goal is to be true to this statement of preparation for Confirmation, so that by the end of this process all youth have a good understanding of who God is and how the Catholic Church helps us to know, love, and serve God. It is our hope that by the end of the Confirmation program you will:
- Develop a more personal faith with the help of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Develop a deeper sense of belonging to the Catholic Church and our parish
- Develop a more active relationship with Christ through prayer
- Become a more active, visible sign of Christ’s love at home, school, and here at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish through the liturgical ministries, service ministries, social activities, and special annual events.
Receiving the sacrament of Confirmation is far from the end of your spiritual growth. It is a step along the path as you continue your life long process of becoming like Christ! The Confirmation Team is here for you if you need anything! God bless you in this coming process.

Prayerfully,
Your Confirmation Team

CHANGES TO CONFIRMATION PROGRAM Q&A

CHANGES TO CONFIRMATION PROGRAM Q &A

CHANGES TO CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

O CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

CONFIRMATION CONTRACT

CONFIRMATION CONTRACT

CONFIRMATION CONTRACT

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sacramental preparation takes place in the parish setting and lays the foundations of Christian life. Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, we receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE CANDIDATES
- The Candidate must be practicing their faith, or be willing to return to it, with a minimum of attending Mass every Sunday.
- Youth must have been participating in religious education/formation for the previous two (2) years.
- The Candidate attends all Sacramental Preparation sessions as scheduled in the Confirmation Preparation Calendar (3 make up sessions will be available over the course of the year)
- A qualified sponsor must be chosen* (see requirements in the sponsor section).
- Have already received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist;
- Family must be registered with the parish.
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS?
- To be the primary religious educators of their children. There will be parent meetings to help parents understand how to be the primary educators of the faith.
- As model members of the baptized, and primary educators of your children in worship of God, attend Mass each Sunday with them, especially since they most often cannot yet drive themselves.
- Attend the mandatory parent meetings, knowing that multiple options may be provided, and proactively communicating with Patsy when irreconcilable conflicts seem to occur.
- Patiently hear your children's questions and criticisms about Catholicism, seeking to give good answers which are faithful to Christ, and seeking help from good resources when needed. (Which we will provide)
- Help your child to retain the lessons of each session with follow up conversations that we will provide, and foster a desire in yourselves to grow in grace and Christian living through this process, giving your child examples of the grace of Confirmation for the reception of which they are presenting themselves.
- Help your children to navigate their busy schedules so as to help them to practice their Faith and to participate in Confirmation prep while also engaging in sports/work/activities - proactively communicating with Patsy when irreconcilable conflicts seem to occur.
- Stress the initiation aspect of the Sacrament by encouraging their children to continue learning more about their faith
- Help their child in understanding that the acts of service they perform should be a beginning to a life committed to Christian service.
- Pray with the family at home daily (we will provide materials of how to do that)
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF CANDIDATES?
- Participate in Sunday Mass and receiving the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation regularly, which opens our hearts to God’s Grace
- Practicing their faith and developing their prayer life
- Actively participate in the preparation process and sessions
- Have a sincere desire to receive the Sacrament;
- Participate in the retreat
- Awareness of the responsibilities associate with completing the Confirmation Program
- Choose an adult Confirmed Catholic whose faith you admire to be your sponsor who will help you as you prepare for Confirmation.
- Be aware of the initiation aspects of the sacrament of Confirmation and be committed to continuing the faithful practice and study of their religion
- Use personal gifts and talents to serve our community with at least 8 hours of community service at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish
- The Candidate completes the following assignments on time (see signature page for dates).
- Communicate with Patsy when scheduling conflicts or unforeseen issues arise as soon as possible.
Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor:
Imagine having the opportunity to choose your own coach in the sport or activity of your choice. You would choose someone who is familiar and knowledgeable about the sport or activity, and actively involved as a participant. Your coach would be someone who could help you become a better athlete or participant. Your coach is often a role model for you as well.
Living as a Catholic today is more than just showing up at Mass. It involves the conscious choice to live as a Catholic and to be “Catholic.” The individual you select as a sponsor will be a type of spiritual coach – someone who goes beyond just “looking Catholic” and is an individual who makes the internal choice to “be Catholic”. Your sponsor will be a role model and guide who will help you to grow in your faith, guide you in what steps you need to take to do that, and make suggestions to help you in the right direction for your life. Your sponsor also will be responsible for making sure you act as a true witness to Christ and that you have prepared for this Sacrament. As a candidate, you may wish to consider asking one of your Godparents to be your sponsor since there is an integral connection between Baptism and Confirmation.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE SPONSOR?
- Praying daily for the Confirmation candidate
- Supporting them to live a Christian life and to put away what is not of Christ
- Support your candidate through participation in service and prayer.
- Attend the Presentation Mass and Afternoon of Reflection which will be on a Sunday early in the fall
- Attend the Confirmation Rehearsal a day or two before Confirmation
- Attend Confirmation where they present the candidate to the Bishop
  - Typically during the Easter season and can be any day of the week as decided by the bishop’s schedule. As soon as we know the date of Confirmation, we will let you know.
Who May Be a Sponsor?
- Fully initiated (that is received all of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
- Participates at weekly Sunday Mass
- Free of any restrictions (if married, the marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church)
- May not be a parent of the person being confirmed
- Must be someone that the parents are comfortable with speaking to them and the candidate about living in union with Christ
- Must be at least 16 years of age or older
- ALL Confirmation sponsors must obtain a “Sponsor Certificate” or “Letter” from their registered parish stating that they are eligible to serve as a sponsor. If you are using a proxy sponsor, he or she must also meet the above criteria (Can. 892, 893, and 874).
Choose a Confirmation name and investigate that saint
The name of the saint you have chosen is the name that you will be confirmed under. For example, if you choose Saint Anthony, you will be confirmed: “Anthony, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Your Confirmation name should be that of a saint you admire or the saint’s name of someone you know and look up to as a Christian role model. We will work on this during one of the Confirmation sessions, but if you come to the session unprepared, you may not complete the assignment and will have to complete it at home in your own handwriting.

Presentation to the Parish Community and Afternoon of Reflection
Candidates for Confirmation will be presented to the parish community. At this Sunday Mass in early fall, you will come up to the sanctuary and be introduced to the parish community. At that time, you will declare your intent to seek the sacrament of Confirmation with the parish community as witness. In return, the community agrees to support and pray for all of you involved in the journey of faith. This Mass will be followed by an Afternoon of Reflection with your sponsor.

Participate in the Confirmation Retreat
Retreats provide a unique opportunity for you to spend extended time in discernment and reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, your relationship with God, and your faith life. The spring retreat on a Saturday will include Reconciliation and conclude with Mass.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Throughout Scripture we are called to love our neighbor and to serve as Jesus did. A true spirit of service is not just about accumulating a certain number of service hours or completing a number of projects. It is, instead, about the desire to help others and a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.
Although donating food is a good thing, it is not a service project. Serving Mass or being a lector is a service project – it is being part of the ministry of the parish. Volunteering, however, at parish activities are valuable projects because they require a time commitment and an investment of yourself. It is our hope that as you participate in service projects, you will grow to incorporate service to others as an important part of your faith.
In the preparation for Confirmation, you are asked to make service projects a priority. Serving others is not something you do “just to get it over with.” Service is doing what Jesus did and making a commitment to use the gifts and talents God has given you to serve others. There are many opportunities in the parish where you can provide service. The Confirmation Team will work with you on finding openings for those activities. Sponsors and parents may also join you for service opportunities.

INTERVIEW PURPOSE
- Part of receiving a Sacrament is to explore its meaning and to respond to the grace that is given.
- To have an official chance to speak about concerns, hesitations, or questions the candidates may have.
- For the Confirmation team to ascertain a level of comprehension about candidates readiness and receptiveness towards the Sacrament.
- To encourage the Candidate to process and personalize their Confirmation experience.
CONFIRMATION AND INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?
1. Who has served as a spiritual role model for you? What about that person has rubbed off on you?
2. If someone asked you who Jesus is, what would you say?
3. How did you choose your sponsor? Why? Tell me what you hope to “copy” from your sponsor (in terms of behavior/service experience).
4. Where do you regularly attend mass? Are you committed to participate in the sacraments of Eucharist every Saturday/Sunday and Reconciliation regularly?
5. Prayer: What does it mean to you and how have you spent time praying to God the Holy Spirit?
6. How will you continue to practice your faith? How will you actively participate in the church?
7. Tell me what the Sacrament of Confirmation means to you and how it might affect your life.
8. What was the most encouraging/positive thing you did during your preparation?
9. As you are choosing to be a fully initiated Catholic, tell me what it means to you to be Catholic.
A Few Closing Words
The Sacraments of Initiation were instituted by Christ to open the way of salvation for us and to lead us in the life of grace. All of us need the grace of Confirmation to support us in carrying out our baptismal vocation not only to live the faith but also to witness to it. The guidelines that direct your Confirmation preparation are designed to help you make a deeper commitment to a relationship with the Lord that Confirmation encourages. Confirmation allows you to receive and use the gifts and grace that you receive in the sacrament of Confirmation to contribute to building up the Body of Christ and serving others in the parish of Mary, Queen of Martyrs.

CLOSING PRAYER
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your divine love.