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Confirmation at Saint Patrick
"Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" Acts 8:17
Saint Patrick Youth
Confirmation Preparation
Confirmation Pathway
Confirmation Coordinator: Marlene Lopez
ym@stpatrickhutto.org or confirmation@stpatrickhutto.org
Confirmation Registration Process Explained
We begin the Faith Formation Registration Process for the '24-'25 year on
July 20th - with our first Kerygma Retreat!
ALL families- K-12th, registering for Faith Formation
(including SPY Ministry & Confirmation) need to follow these steps.
Important Upcoming Dates:
● Confirmation Retreat Non-Refundable Deposit Due: 11/1
● Year 1 Prep: November 5, 6:30-8:30pm
● Year 2 Prep: November 12, 6:30-8:30pm
● Confirmation Retreat Remainder Fee Due: 11/24
● Confirmation Retreat: Dec. 7-8, 2024
Want short updates/ reminders sent to your phone?
Text 81010
Confirmation Year 1: @SPYConf1
Confirmation Year 2: @SPYConf2
For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
Attend a Kerygma Retreat- see dates below.
All Families registering for SPY and/or Confirmation classes are required to attend this free day retreat each year before registering for our programs.
(Yes, even if you went last year, this is another chance to grow deeper in relationship with our God! Take another SPA Day for your soul.)
Faith Journey Interview & Small Groups
For New-to-SPY Families & all Families with Youth Needing Sacraments:
- One of our Team Members will talk with you and your teen about your family's faith journey and how we can support you.
- After our Interview, we will set up a pathway for your family and make sure you are scheduled for the correct Faith Formation Classes (SPY- for all 6th-12th, OCIA- for those teens needing Baptism and/or 1st Communion, or Confirmation)
- Parents/Guardians will need to actively attend an Adult Small Group with other parents at the same time teens attend small groups with their peers. *
*SPY Ministry Parents/ Guardians with multiple aged children in both Wednesday night FF & Sunday night SPY programming will be able to select which of those 2 days works better for attending their Adult Small Group.
Step 3 - Now you can officially register!
The link will be provided to you after your Kerygma Konnection Retreat!
ATTENDANCE POLICIES:
Attendance Requirements-
Year 1-in Preparation Classes:
Teen Confirmand:
- Must attend 1st Tuesday class each month; A max of (3) classes may be missed: a make-up session will be required with a take-home lesson & homework for each class missed
- Must attend all SPY Nights; A max of (5) SPY Nights may be missed, per year
Parent/ Guardian:
- Parent/ Guardian must attend Kerygma Retreat, prior to registration
- Parent/ Guardian must actively participate in their weekly Adult Small Group
Confirmand Retreat Requirements- select (2), per year:
(Costs are in addition to registration; costs will vary)
- Confirmation Retreat: December 7-8
- 24HRS Homeless Lock-In: January 17-18
- DCYC: January 31- February 2
- Mission Trip: Spring Break
- Fishers of Men Retreat: May 16-18
- Steubenville: June 20-22
Confirmand Service Hours- (15) hours minimum, per year. May be earned by:
- Participating in a Ministry at St Patrick,
- Service Projects provided by SPY, and/or
- Specific Projects provided by Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator
Year 1-Post- Preparation Classes:
Teen Confirmand:
- Must Attend all SPY Nights; A max of (5) SPY Nights may be missed, per year
Parent/ Guardian:
- Parent/ Guardian must attend Kerygma Retreat, prior to registration
- Parent/ Guardian must actively participate in their weekly Adult Small Group
Retreat Requirements- select (2) of the following, per year:
(Costs are in addition to registration; costs will vary)
- Confirmation Retreat: Dec 7-8
- 24HRS Homeless Lock-In: January 17-18
- DCYC: January 31- February 2
- Mission Trip: Spring Break
- Fishers of Men Retreat: May 16-18
- Steubenville: June 20-22
Service Hours- (15) hours minimum, per year. May be earned by:
- Participating in a Ministry at St Patrick,
- Service Projects provided by SPY, and/or
- Specific Projects provided by Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator
Year 2, Preparation Classes:
Teen Confirmand:
- Must attend 2nd Tuesday class each month; A max of (3) classes may be missed, per year: A make-up session will be required with a take-home lesson & homework
- Must Attend all SPY Nights; A max of (5) SPY Nights may be missed, per year
Sponsor/ Local Proxy:
- Must Meet 1x/ monthly with Confirmand to discuss provided topic & questions
- Sponsor or Proxy must attend a Kerygma Retreat, prior to registration
Parent/ Guardian:
- Parent/ Guardian must attend monthly 2nd Tuesday class with their teen
- Parent/ Guardian must attend Kerygma Retreat, prior to registration, &
- Parent/ Guardian must actively participate in their weekly Adult Small Group
Retreat Requirements- Confirmation Retreat: December 7-8, and select (1) of the following:
- 24HRS Homeless Lock-In: January 17-18
- DCYC: January 31- February 2
- Mission Trip: Spring Break
- Fishers of Men Retreat: May 16-18
- Steubenville: June 20-22
Service Hours- (15) hours minimum, per year. May be earned by:
- Participating in a Ministry at St Patrick
- Service Projects provided by SPY, and/or
- Specific Projects provided by Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator
* Confirmation 1: to be offered in English only- for Confirmandi
*Confirmation 2: to be offered in English & Spanish- for Confirmandi & their parents/ guardians
Confirmation Retreat: Registration Open!
This is a required retreat for 2nd Year Confirmandi, optional for 1st Year.
Date: December 7-8
Location: Eagle's Wings Retreat Center, Burnet, TX
Deadline to Register: 11/1
Total Cost: $150*
- $75- nonrefundable deposit due 11/1
(limited spots available for Confirmation 1 teens!)
- $75- remainder due 11/24
Transportation:
Parents are responsible for drop-off on Saturday morning at 9am, sharp, at the Eagle's Wings retreat site.
- Caravanning Departure Option: Teens to check-in at 7am at St Patrick parking lot
- Caravan will depart at 7:30am, sharp, from St Patrick
- Very limited seats available for carpooling
- Teens should eat breakfast before coming to St Patrick
Parents are responsible for pick up on Sunday, at 1pm, sharp, from the retreat center.
- Parents may attend Mass on Sunday at 11am at Eagle's Wing's with our group.
- No carpooling option will be available for return ride home
Donations Needed:
- Help Sponsor A Teen
- Sign-Up Genius link for food and paper product donations
*Limited Partial Scholarships available, in exchange for hours worked for the church.
Register Here: http://stpspy.org/spyew
*Confirmation students are expected to attend a retreat both their first and second year, prior to receiving Confirmation. Our retreat will be February 17-18th at Eagle's Wings Retreat Center. More details to follow.
Service Hours Log
All Teens in our Confirmation Program will have the opportunity to find projects and/or ministries where they can use their God-given gifts for our parish. All of our skills and talents are gifts from above and we are called to use them for His greater glory. With your help, we are making disciples!
CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS:
The following is reprinted from the Pastoral Manual for the Diocese of Austin.
Age of Confirmation: The age for the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation will be the early years of high school between fourteen (14) and sixteen (16) years.
QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES:
- Each baptized Catholic has the right and the obligation to receive the sacrament of confirmation, but the candidate has the personal responsibility to choose to complete initiation into the faith life of the Church.
- Candidates may request the sacrament if they:
- Are baptized and able to renew baptismal promises, unless a grave reason suggests otherwise
- Exhibit an active faith life and knowledge of the Church
- Participate in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Mass
- Are willing to commit to active involvement in the parish confirmation catechesis
- Are willing to respond to the call to active participation in the church
- Are willing to continue to l earn and grow in faith following confirmation and throughout their lifetime
CONFIRMATION SPONSORS:
- The sponsor represents in a personal way the witness and support of the parish community
- Opportunities for catechesis should be offered to the sponsors in order to assist them in fully understanding their role in the ongoing formation of the candidates
- The sponsor should participate with the candidates in their preparation as well as the celebration
- To perform the role of sponsor, it is necessary that a person:
- Be designated by the one to be confirmed, by the parents or the one who takes their place, or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing the role
- Have completed the sixteenth (16) year, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan Bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister than an exception is to be made for a just cause
- Be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with faith and the role to be undertaken
- Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared
- Not be the father, mother, or spouse of the one to be confirmed (c.874)
ROLE OF THE SPONSOR:
The sponsor's function is to take care that the person confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the duties inherent in this sacrament.
A sponsor is:
- A role model, a person who fully embraces and lives the Catholic faith fully together with complete participation in their local Catholic Church
- A mentor, someone to help guide and encourage the candidate. Walking side by side as the candidate seeks to respond to God's call
- A trusted adult, who is willing to stand with the candidate not only during a ceremony but throughout life's journey
Code of Canon Law # 893 states:
“... that a person who would undertake the office of sponsor must fulfill the conditions mentioned in Can. 874 and that it is desirable that the sponsor chosen be the one who undertook this role at baptism.”
Canon # 874 states:
“ To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:
- Be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or minister. To be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it.
- Not be less than 16 years of age.
- Be a baptized Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and a person who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; (Must attend Sunday liturgy every week, be in a valid marriage if married.)
- Not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared; (Must be in a state of Grace.)
- Not be either the father or mother of the person to be confirmed."
IN ADDITION, SPONSORS ARE ASKED TO:
- Pray for and with the candidate
- Either a parent or sponsor are asked to attend Confirmation sessions
- Actively participate in the process, while sharing their faith with their candidate
- Attend the Confirmation rehearsal before Confirmation, and attend the Confirmation ceremony
As we will be asking sponsors or another adult if they are not available to attend the confirmation sessions, sponsors must be chosen before our first Confirmation session, January 7th, 2024.
SELECTING YOUR SAINT:
The Communion of Saints are the people in heaven who intercede with God on our behalf. Thus, the saints are our patrons in Heaven. In acknowledging the saints, we acknowledge our connection with them through and in Christ and to each other. Teen candidates will be asked to select a Saint to be their patron for Confirmation and will be asked about the saint chosen in their Confirmation interview. Candidates should know the name of the saint they have chosen, their story, and explain why that saint was selected to show they made a thoughtful decision. Reminder, the saint selected must be a fully canonized saint, so look for St. in front of their name (cannot be Bl. or Ven.).
Here are some websites to help in your research:
- https://lifeteen.com/biggest-best-list-confirmation-saints-guys-girls/
- https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints
- www.americancatholic.org/ (search for Saints in the search bar)
- https://www.catholic.org/saints/
- https://ucatholic.com/category/saints/
- https://thekoalamom.com/2019/11/100-cool-saints/
FYI: Other Christian denominations also have saints but may not be recognized by the Catholic Church. When using the internet be sure the website you are using is Catholic.
OTHER RESOURCES:
● Formed.org - Best described as a “Catholic Netflix” it houses many movies, audio files, interviews, and eBooks which can be downloaded and read on your computer or phone. It can be accessed through an app on your phone, online, and on Roku and AppleTV.
See Movies -> Saints of History, eBooks ->Kids and Teens or Explore the Faith, and the Saint Audio section under Audio. Or search “Saints” in the search bar. See attached Formed document on how you can access this resource through our parish.
● Social media can be used as a tool to learn about the Saints. There are a few Catholics and Catholic businesses who post about Saints on Instagram. Here are a few examples: @mhunterkilmer (Catholic speaker and author, also on Facebook and posts great stories about Saints), @saints.alive.pod, and @_littlesaints.
● Podcasts: The Saint of the Day Podcast by Good Catholic, Catholic Saints by Augustine Institute, Saints Alive Podcast
● Phone Apps: Laudate (see Saint of the Day tab), Online With Saints
● Our St. Patrick Parish Shelf Library - We have a small shelf outside the classroom that has books free to check out. Just make sure to take care of them and return them when you are finished.
SHARING THE STORY OF YOUR SAINT:
The tradition of taking on a new name to show a new rule can be traced back to the Old Testament. When Abram was called to lead his people to believe in the one God, his name was changed from Abram to Abraham, “Father of Many Nations”. Again, in the New Testament, we find Simon’s name changed to Peter, meaning “rock”, because he was to become the rock upon which Jesus founded His Church.
Now that you are about to be confirmed, it is time to choose the name you will take as a sign of your growth in faith.
A name identifies you in a unique way, not just your physical self, but who you are as a person. One of the traditional practices in the Church at the time of Confirmation is choosing a name that will remind you of this sacrament. Your prayerful reflection will help you determine that name. You might want to recommit yourself to your Baptismal name since it expresses the relationship that exists between these two sacraments, especially after you reflect on its meaning and discover some of the people who shared your name in Christian history. You might want to choose the name of a saint who represents the type of Christian you wish to be. It is important to learn as much as you can about your patron saint. After all, you are asking this saint to be your friend and advocate for the rest of your life. Whether you decide to stay with your Baptismal name or pick a new name, take the time to research and explore the root meaning of the name, for as Scripture says, "God calls each of us by name."
● Step 1: Find a list of canonized saints in the Roman Catholic Church by reading a book or doing online research. Saints are people who have lived holy lives and are now in heaven as members of the Church Triumphant. Their life stories provide examples for others on how to overcome spiritual obstacles on Earth. If searching the internet be sure to search on “Catholic saints”. A “Blessed”, not yet canonized a saint, may NOT be used.
● Step 2: Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him for help in finding a saint whose life you'd like to imitate. This saint will be bonded with you spiritually, and in essence becomes your heavenly patron who intercedes for you before God.
● Step 3: Narrow your selection to three saints. One of them will be your new Confirmation name. Think about the specific virtues those saints exhibited, such as patience, perfection, diligence, humility, mortification, meekness, obedience, prayer, charity or simplicity. Find a virtue that connects with you. This list should be submitted by March 3rd. Final decision of the saint should be chosen by April 14th.
● Step 4: Consider the one or two special stories told about those saints on your “short list” to help you find a spiritual connection. For example, St. Maximilian Kolbe gave up his life for another person's life in a German concentration camp during World War II, and so showed the virtue of selflessness. St. Francis, a spiritual leader who founded a religious order, led a simple life of poverty and greatly loved animals.
● Step 5: Take your list of saints to a family member or friend who is a practicing Catholic. Talk about the saints’ lives with that person and discuss what attracts you spiritually to these holy people.
● Step 6: Pick your saint to intercede for you!
● Step 7: Before you are confirmed, pray to the saint whose name you have chosen for your Confirmation name. Ask this saint to intercede for you, to help you make the right moral choices, and overall to be a powerful spiritual guide the rest of your life.
GUIDELINES FOR THE STORY OF YOUR SAINT:
Guiding Questions:
- What saint did you chose to pray to and imitate in your preparation for Confirmation and why?
- What is the summary of your saint's life story:
- what point of history did they live
- what area/region did they live
- what were their struggles and difficulties
- how did they follow Jesus in they way they lived
- how did they die
- Why did you choose this saint?
- what makes them meaningful to you?
- What event in the life of your saint most impressed you?
- why?
- What special virtues did your saint possess?
- what special ways did they use them?
- How can you imitate this saint today?
- When was the saint canonized or beatified by the Catholic Church?
- what is their feast day (if they have one)
- Are they a patron saint? If yes, of what?
- Who were your other two saints?
- why were they considered (provide two paragraph on each discussing why you considered them)
You will be asked about your saint in your Confirmation interview. Make sure you can explain a bit about them and why you chose them. If you have any questions, please email confirmation@stpatrickhutto.org.
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