News and Announcements

The Confirmation Initiation Mass will be held this Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 5 PM. All students and their families are invited and strongly encouraged to attend this Mass together. The Confirmation Initiation Mass is a special way for the entire Confirmation class to come together and share in the Eucharist.

Adopt-a- Confirmandi Program: This Sunday, January 8 th the Confirmation Candidates begin their preparation for the sacrament. This year we will have the Adopt- a- Confirmandi program where parishioners select the name of a student and pray for them during their 3 month preparation period. Please stop by the table in the Hall Foyer and select a student to pray for. Let’s support our Confirmation students as a Parish in prayer over the next 3 months.

Other Confirmation Announcements/Reminders:

Class Attendance/Mass Attendance: Both class and Mass attendance are crucial to the success of your child’s preparation. Weekly Mass attendance is mandatory.Please also remember to come to class each week ANDon time; 8AM or 9:30AM, depending on your child’s class time. For more information please see the Confirmation program overview located here http://www.stchristopherski.org/PDF/Confirmation_Program_Guide.pdf

To find the most up to date information regarding Community Service opportunities click on the tab located above “Community Service” or check out the designated board in the Hall.

Mission

To provide catechistic education of Catholic faith and morals and to help students cultivate a personal relationship with God through prayers, sacraments, and reflection. We will encourage adherence to God’s commandments of love and promote awareness and opportunities for serving God through the community and daily good acts. The goal of preparation is to deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God, the Church and the community we serve. We focus on the power of the Holy Spirit, a solid understanding of Catholicism, and fruitful action accomplish this.

Pre-requisites

Students may enter the Confirmation Program starting in 8th grade. They must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and First Communion. Students must complete 6th, 7th and 8th grade religious education before entering our preparation program. Student who have not completed these classes as St. Christopher's Church should provide record of attending these classes and take a Student Survey to demonstrate proficient knowledge of their faith. Because a firm understanding of the Catholic faith is essential to making the Confirmation commitment, we highly recommend 7 years of religious education. Students must know basic prayers, the 7 sacraments, the 10 commandments, the precepts of the church, and must attend mass regularly. If several years of religious education have been missed, students are required to take a survey to determine if knowledge of their faith is sufficient to begin Confirmation Preparation. The RCIA/Catch-up class may be appropriate before beginning preparation

The Program

Complete Program Guide

Confirmation Requirements

• Attend Mass weekly - Faithful attendance at Mass weekly is a MANDA TO RY requiremen t . Attending Mass at the completion of class (9:30 or 11:30 AM) does NOT satisfy this requirement. The first Sunday of every month the students will attend Mass (9:00 or 11:00 AM) as a class.

• Each Candidate must clearly understand that the Sacrament of Confirmation is the completion of the Sacrament of Baptism; that they are confirming the vows taken by their parents and godparents at Baptism .

• Successfully complete class requirements which will be defined to the candidates in their classes by their teacher .

• Attendance at all class es - THREE ABSENCES (January 8 th- April 15 th) may result in repeating the class and the Candidate not being Confirmed, unless there is a serious medical or family reason .
- Come to class on time! Candidates coming in late are very disruptive to class and this will not be tolerated.
• Write a letter to Fr . Jennings requesting to be Confirmed - the letter should explain why the Candidate wants to be confirmed, should demonstrate an understanding of the Sacrament and should include how Confirmation will effect their lives . (Check calendar for when this letter is due).

• Interview with Fr . Jennings - the Candidates will be asked questions that will demonstrate their readiness for Confirmation and their willingness and ability to spread and defend their faith as confirmed Catholics .

• Complete 3 Community Service Projects – One m ust be ou tside th e Par ish , exa mpl es: He lp ing a t area Nursing Homes, Senior Homes, Participating in the March for Life, working at a food ba nk o r food kitchen, assisting at a homeless shelter . You could even run your own coat drive or food drive for the homeless or needy . One Project must be for the Parish and the Third can be fo r eithe r . All outside the Parish Service Projects must be approved ahead of time by your teacher . Your teacher will also be consulting with the coordinator of whatever Parish activity y ou ch oos e, to be sure you were an active participant .

• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation: All candidates must receive this sacrament within 1 month of their Confirmation. Consult the bulletin for times.

• Attend the Confirmation Retreat on Saturday, February 25, 2012 – MANDATORY – If a Candidate fails to go on the retreat he/she may not be confirmed . You have advanced notice for the date of this retreat so please work all schedules around it . If, for serious reasons beyond your control, you miss the retreat, contact the RE Office as soon as possible.

• Attend the Confirmation Rehearsal – MAN DA TO RY for Confi r mand i – We would like to have the Sponsor there if possible and at least one parent.

• Must turn in Sponsor Certificate on or before March 11, 2012.

• Must turn in Baptismal Certificate on or before December 18, 2011, if not baptized here at St. Christopher’s.

The Sponsor's Role

A Sponsor should play an important role in preparing the candidate for confirmation, is required to participate in the Confirmation ceremony, and should serve as a guide and roll model afterward in the life long journey toward Christ. Specifically, sponsors should:

Commit the time to help prepare the confirmandi.
Participate in 1 community service activity with the confirmandi.
Attend 1 confirmation class with confirmandi.
Write a letter to the confirmandi encouraging them in their faith.(Requirement)
Attend Mass with confirmandi when possible.
Attend Confirmation practice and the ceremony (Requirement)
Make themselves available to guide the confirmed after Confirmation.
Encourage the confirmed to practice their faith by frequenting the sacraments, serving as good examples to society, and living up to their commitment to spread and defend the faith.

Selecting a Sponsor

A Sponsor is required for the person being confirmed. Any Catholic 16 years of age or older who has received the sacrament of confirmation and the Eucharist and is practicing the faith is eligible. The baptismal sponsor can also be the sponsor for confirmation. Parents cannot be sponsors of their children.

A Sponsor should be prepared to assist the person being confirmed in their preparation, during the ceremony, and afterward in the life long journey toward Christ.

Selecting a Confirmation Name

We are encouraging students to select a confirmation name. While confirmation names are not required, they are consistent with the Church's tradition of assigning new names to the faithful when they accept a new ministry (i.e. religious, St. Peter, St. Paul) and afford students the opportunity to reflect on the life of a saint they wish to emulate. There are many good books on the lives of the saints. For online information on saints, you can browse http://saints.catholic.org/index.shtml.

Confirmation Letters

Confirmation Letter to Fr. Jennings

Each candidate for confirmation is required to write a letter to Fr. Jennings explaining why he of she wishes to receive this sacrament. The letter should demonstrate that candidate’s understanding of the sacrament, his/her desire to receive the sacrament, and how this will change his/her life.

Community Service

Community service is a natural outflow of Catholic living. “Faith without works is dead” James 2:14-26. The act of serving others changes our hearts, broadens our perspective, and draws us closer to God and each other. Both St. Christopher's Parish and our local community provide a wide variety of service opportunities.

Each Candidate must complete three mandatory community service project. One must be outside the Parish, examples: Helping at area Nursing Homes, Senior Homes, Participating in the March for Life, working at a food bank or food kitchen, assisting at a homeless shelter. You could even run your own coat drive or food drive for the homeless or needy. One Project must be for the Parish and the Third can be for either. All outside the Parish Service Projects must be approved ahead of time by your teacher. Your teacher will also be consulting with the coordinator of whatever Parish activity you choose, to be sure you were an active participant. Students are responsible for tracking their service projects, discussing scheduling with their parents, and turning in their tracking sheet.