The Confirmation Program at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church seeks to assist youth that has chosen to pursue a life-long commitment to Christ by becoming fully initiated through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Because we understand the sacrament as one of a lifetime commitment, the first step is making Confirmation preparation a priority. The diocese requires that Confirmation be celebrated in the high school years and requires that there be a minimum of two-years (four semesters) of formal Catholic education immediately prior to celebrating the Sacrament. The youth of St. Patrick will be eligible to celebrate Confirmation beginning in the spring of their sophomore year provided they have met the two-year prerequisite.
Regular participation in SPY is required as part of the Confirmation Preparation Program, as well as attending Mass weekly and participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Additional Confirmation Prep Classes and a Retreat will be scheduled.
Day: Sundays
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Location: Classrooms ABC
Preliminary Parent/Teen Confirmation Meeting: Jan 10th at 3:30 pm; Classrooms ABC
Confirmation Rehearsal: Thursday, May 20th at 6 pm
Confirmation Day: Sunday, May 23rd at 3 pm
Location: Main Church
Curriculum: “Chosen: Your Journey toward Confirmation” from Ascension Press
Only 1 (one) absence from the Confirmation Class will be excused.
Students who miss 2 (two) or more Confirmation Classes will no longer be considered a Candidate for Confirmation as they will have missed crucial parts of the preparation. Since there are only 4 classes, each class is important in forming the Candidate’s understanding of Confirmation.
After missing 2 classes a meeting will be held with the teen, parent(s), and the Director of Faith Formation to determine if the teen will be able to re-enter the program as a Candidate. This meeting must be initiated by the parents of the Teen. Scheduling the meeting is no guarantee of re-admission into the program as the meeting will be used to discern what requirements must be met to re-enter the program.
Teen Candidate is asked to attend a Retreat prior to receiving Confirmation. If your child cannot attend our retreat you must notify us immediately so that other arrangements can be made.
Tardiness: Students who arrive 20 minutes or later after confirmation classes begin will be counted as absent for that class.
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
A. 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.
B. Candidates may request the sacrament if they:
1. Are baptized and able to renew baptismal promises, unless a grave reason suggests otherwise
2. Exhibit an active faith life and knowledge of the Church
3. Participate in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Mass
4. Are willing to commit to active involvement in the parish confirmation catechesis
5. Are willing to respond to the call to active participation in the Church
6. Are willing to continue to learn and grow in faith following confirmation and throughout their lifetime
Confirmation Sponsors
A. The sponsor represents in a personal way the witness and support of the parish community.
B. 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.
C. The sponsor should participate with the candidates in their preparation as well as the celebration.
D. To perform the role of sponsor, it is necessary that a person:
1. 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 O-6 July 28, 2017 3
2. 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 that an exception is to be made for a just cause
3. 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
4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared
5. Not be the father or the mother of the one to be confirmed (c. 874)
E. A spouse may not serve as a sponsor for their spouse.
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:
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:
The Communion of Saints is the persons 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 write an essay explaining their choice.
An Essay on the selected Saint should include:
Name of the Saint chosen, a brief synopsis on the life of that Saint, and “why” that saint was selected. This should reflect an understanding of that Saint. The student may also be asked why they chose this Saint. Essays must be typed, a minimum of 2 paragraphs and a maximum of 1 page.
Here are some websites to help in your research:
Teen Candidates are asked to attend a Retreat prior to receiving Confirmation. If your child cannot attend our retreat you must notify us immediately so that other arrangements can be made.
Hannah Head
Saint Patrick Youth Minister
hannah@stpatrickhutto.org
(512) 460-9689