Confirmation
Preparing your student for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmandis. (Catechism, 1309)
Welcome!
Thank you for choosing to participate in Saint John Parish’s Confirmation Preparation Program. Your willingness to commit yourself to this program for receiving the Religious education that leads up to the Sacrament of Confirmation conveys to the entire faith community how much you value both your faith and your community. Your faith formation over the past two years has assisted you in identifying the gifts and talents you possess and challenged you to put these gifts and talents to use in our community. This year during our Confirmation preparation, you will be invited to take responsibility for your own faith formation, as well as to assist others in that same endeavor.
At St. John the Baptist Parish, the sacrament is received in the fall of their junior year. Confirmation preparation begins in the 9th grade.
In 9th grade students will choose their sponsor. Students attend CCD classes on Wednesday evenings.
In 10th grade students will choose a saint name and write a biography on that saint, do community services, attend a retreat, and listen to speakers. Students attend CCD classes on Wednesday evenings.
In 11th grade students will attend 5-8 classes on Sunday evenings at St. John the Baptist Parish before they are Confirmed.
CHOOSING A SPONSOR
According to Canon Law (3893) sponsors must be:
1. Confirmed Catholics leading a good Christian life
2. 16 years of age or older
3. Someone other than the candidate’s parents
When choosing a sponsor, we suggest someone who is accessible to you, and who you feel comfortable talking with. A sponsor is someone who will be a mentor for you in your faith growth. Choose your sponsor with careful thought. If you are having difficulty choosing a sponsor, please contact Mrs. Nancy Hackel. There will be things that you need to do with your sponsors outside of class – you can use phone, social media, or e-mail if they live outside of the area. It is YOUR responsibility to inform your sponsor of the appropriate dates!
CHOOSING A SAINT
In the Catholic Church, we have a tradition of taking the name of a saint for our own Confirmation name. The saint whose name we choose serves as an inspiration to us in living out our Christian faith. Candidates in Confirmation will be asked to choose a saint’s name to take as their own and do a short written report on that saint. Candidates may also choose their own baptismal name, reinforcing the connection between the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
A good place to start researching saints is the Catholic Online website, www.catholic.org/saints/ and/or
http://sevendolors.com/news/files/doc_view/34-confirmation-saint-names.
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ATTENDING A RETREAT
The date of the retreat has not been set for the 23/24 school year.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Christ said that he came to serve, not to be served. We need to follow his example. Catholic Social Teaching is central to our beliefs as Catholics. True Christian service is meeting the needs of others in friends or enemies. As you begin to develop a mature faith, you need to develop an attitude of serving others. This is an attitude which puts the needs of others before your own wants and needs. You will be asked to participate in and reflect upon a service experience that you will do during this preparation year (through journaling and the like). We will ask you to help with one Fish Fry. Also, one community service is done with your sponsor.