Parent’s Role

As parents, your support and active participation are essential in preparing your child for confirmation.  The Diocese encourages parents to take this opportunity to grow in faith with your child by reflecting on the workings of the Holy Spirit in your lives, refreshing your memory or learning something new.  Become closer to your child while drawing closer to God together.  Please talk to your child about what they are learning and help them see how these things can be part of their lives.  Your affirmation, reiteration, and daily practice of the faith are so very necessary to prepare your child for this sacrament. Parents are invited to attend class once a month on Parent’s day.   Please review the Confirmation Program Schedule for exact days.  These are wonderful way to share in his or her preparation.

Student’s Role

Students are expected to actively prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

• 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.
• Attend Mass weekly - Faithful attendance at Mass weekly is a MANDATORY requirement. Failure to attend Mass without a good reason will result in not being Confirmed. The full cooperation of every family is essential and will be greatly appreciated.
• Successfully complete class requirements which will be defined to the candidates in their classes by their teacher.
• Attendance at all classes - THREE ABSENCES will result in repeating the class and the Candidate not being Confirmed, unless there is a serious medical or family reason.
• If 10 minutes late or more Candidate will not be allowed admittance to the class and will count as an absence. Candidates coming in late are very disruptive to class and this cannot 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.
• 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 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.
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Attend the Confirmation Retreat – MANDATORY – If a Candidate fails to go on the retreat he/she will not be confirmed. You will be given plenty of notice for the date of this retreat so you can work all schedules around it.
• Attend the Confirmation Rehearsal – MANDATORY for Confirmandi – We would like to have the Sponsor there if possible and at least one parent.
• Must turn in Sponsor Certificate on or before March 6, 2005
• Must turn in Baptismal Certificate on or before March 6, 2005

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 confirmand.
• Participate in 1 community service activity with the confirmand.
• Attend 1 confirmation class with confirmand.
• Write a letter to the confirmand encouraging them in their faith.(Requirement)
• Attend Mass with confirmand 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.