Sacrament of Confirmation
What is Confirmation?
The sacrament of Confirmation is first and foremost an act of God’s initiative in giving the candidates the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps them to be more authentic disciples of Jesus by bestowing spiritual gifts. Confirmation is the completion of Christian Initiation, of the candidates’ sharing in Christ’s Paschal Mystery, which culminated in the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Confirmation, then, should be understood in the context of Christian initiation, and not as a method of marking the “coming of age” of a candidate, since the sacrament of confirmation is in fact administered to people from infancy through adulthood (Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, The Age of Confirmation: A Proposal)
Goals for Confirmation
1. To provide catechesis to the candidate that prepares them to receive that gift of the Holy Spirit who helps them to be more authentic disciples of Jesus through the sacrament. To strive to awaken in the candidate a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church, as well as the parish community.
2. To empower and support parents in their role as primary educators of the faith to:
a. Strive to increase a spirit of faith in their children;
b. Help their children to prepare to celebrate the sacrament fruitfully
c. Give expression to their own faith through active participation in and celebration of the sacraments.
3. To foster proper preparation for the sponsor to take care that the person to be confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations that come with the sacrament.
Two year Confirmation Program
Confirmation is a two year process and is broken down into year one and year two, also known as proximate and immediate preparation. Youth entering confirmation year one, proximate preparation, are required to attend and complete one year of Family Faith Formation classes. Once youth complete all the requirements for the first year of confirmation, they will be able to register for year two of the program. Year two, immediate preparation, specifically prepares youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
What do I need to do to start preparation?
~Requirements for Participation in Confirmation Sacramental Program~
1. The Candidate has been baptized and received the sacrament of Eucharist.
(A copy of Birth Certificate and a recent Baptismal Certificate are only required for year 2 registration)
2. Be between 6th grade-11th grade or age equivalent
3. Family must be active members of the parish
Requirements for Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation:
Before being admitted to the Sacrament of Confirmation, the candidate should complete all of the following elements:
1. The life of the candidate and practice of the faith (including weekly attendance at Mass and
reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist)
2. Participation in any parish rites in preparation for Confirmation.
3. Attendance and successful completion of year one and year two preparation for Confirmation.
4. Attendance at a Confirmation retreat
Confirmation year one (Proximate Preparation)
The first year of the confirmation program is designed to strengthen the youths Catholic Foundation and Knowledge before they enter year two. Catechetical Formation for the first year of Confirmation is accomplished by attending Family Faith Formation classes on Sundays, and confirmation parish meaningful hours. Please note that we are here to support you and have resources available for you to fulfill the proximate preparation requirements. It is important to have a clear understanding of the stages of catechetical preparation. The chart below provides a breakdown of Remote and Proximate Preparation.
Remote Preparation for Confirmation
(Birth to 3rd Grade)
Celebration of the sacraments of:
Catechetical Formation:
(3rd Grade to 6th Grade)
Catechetical Formation
(3rd Grade to 6th Grade)
Catechetical Formation
Parish Community and Family
Engagement in parish life is an element of proximate preparation therefore Candidates are encouraged to join a meaningful ministry in our parish, this can be done by joining ministries such as VBS Planning Team, Choir (English and Spanish), Art and Environment, Hospitality Ministry, United Youth Group, etc.
Confirmation year two (Immediate Preparation)
Catechetical Formation for Confirmation includes the 11 topics listed below, a confirmation retreat, meaningful hours/ ministry, Saint report and name, and a Confirmation project.
Catechetical Formation (7th Grade to Adult)
Parish Community and Family
The sacrament of Confirmation is first and foremost an act of God’s initiative in giving the candidates the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps them to be more authentic disciples of Jesus by bestowing spiritual gifts. Confirmation is the completion of Christian Initiation, of the candidates’ sharing in Christ’s Paschal Mystery, which culminated in the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Confirmation, then, should be understood in the context of Christian initiation, and not as a method of marking the “coming of age” of a candidate, since the sacrament of confirmation is in fact administered to people from infancy through adulthood (Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, The Age of Confirmation: A Proposal)
Goals for Confirmation
1. To provide catechesis to the candidate that prepares them to receive that gift of the Holy Spirit who helps them to be more authentic disciples of Jesus through the sacrament. To strive to awaken in the candidate a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church, as well as the parish community.
2. To empower and support parents in their role as primary educators of the faith to:
a. Strive to increase a spirit of faith in their children;
b. Help their children to prepare to celebrate the sacrament fruitfully
c. Give expression to their own faith through active participation in and celebration of the sacraments.
3. To foster proper preparation for the sponsor to take care that the person to be confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations that come with the sacrament.
Two year Confirmation Program
Confirmation is a two year process and is broken down into year one and year two, also known as proximate and immediate preparation. Youth entering confirmation year one, proximate preparation, are required to attend and complete one year of Family Faith Formation classes. Once youth complete all the requirements for the first year of confirmation, they will be able to register for year two of the program. Year two, immediate preparation, specifically prepares youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
What do I need to do to start preparation?
~Requirements for Participation in Confirmation Sacramental Program~
1. The Candidate has been baptized and received the sacrament of Eucharist.
(A copy of Birth Certificate and a recent Baptismal Certificate are only required for year 2 registration)
2. Be between 6th grade-11th grade or age equivalent
3. Family must be active members of the parish
Requirements for Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation:
Before being admitted to the Sacrament of Confirmation, the candidate should complete all of the following elements:
1. The life of the candidate and practice of the faith (including weekly attendance at Mass and
reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist)
2. Participation in any parish rites in preparation for Confirmation.
3. Attendance and successful completion of year one and year two preparation for Confirmation.
4. Attendance at a Confirmation retreat
Confirmation year one (Proximate Preparation)
The first year of the confirmation program is designed to strengthen the youths Catholic Foundation and Knowledge before they enter year two. Catechetical Formation for the first year of Confirmation is accomplished by attending Family Faith Formation classes on Sundays, and confirmation parish meaningful hours. Please note that we are here to support you and have resources available for you to fulfill the proximate preparation requirements. It is important to have a clear understanding of the stages of catechetical preparation. The chart below provides a breakdown of Remote and Proximate Preparation.
Remote Preparation for Confirmation
(Birth to 3rd Grade)
Celebration of the sacraments of:
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / Reconciliation
Catechetical Formation:
- Creation
- First Eucharist / Reconciliation Sacramental Preparation
- Creed
- Participation in the Sacraments
- Cultivation of life of prayer
- Engagement in parish life
(3rd Grade to 6th Grade)
Catechetical Formation
- Creed
- Morality
- Sacraments
- Prayer
(3rd Grade to 6th Grade)
Catechetical Formation
- Creed
- Morality
- Sacraments
- Prayer
Parish Community and Family
- Participation in the Sacraments
- Cultivation of life of prayer
- Engagement in parish life
Engagement in parish life is an element of proximate preparation therefore Candidates are encouraged to join a meaningful ministry in our parish, this can be done by joining ministries such as VBS Planning Team, Choir (English and Spanish), Art and Environment, Hospitality Ministry, United Youth Group, etc.
Confirmation year two (Immediate Preparation)
Catechetical Formation for Confirmation includes the 11 topics listed below, a confirmation retreat, meaningful hours/ ministry, Saint report and name, and a Confirmation project.
Catechetical Formation (7th Grade to Adult)
- The Creed
- The Sacraments of Initiation
- The Holy Spirit (The Trinity and Pentecost)
- The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
- The History of Confirmation (Scripture and Tradition)
- The Signs, Rite and the Minister of Confirmation
- The effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation
- The Confirmation Sponsor
- The call to holiness and being sent forth to disciple as exemplified in the lives of the saints
- The meaning of Christian vocation (marriage, priesthood and consecrated life)
- Learning to pray with the Holy Spirit
Parish Community and Family
- Participation in the Sacraments
- Cultivation of life of prayer (retreat)
- Engagement in parish life ( meaningful pastoral ministry)
