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Confirmation
Preparation for Teens
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If you are beyond
high school age but would like to receive the
Sacrament of Confirmation, please visit our RCIA
page.
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PROGRAM GOAL
The goal of the St. Mary Church Confirmation program
is to challenge each candidate to be a witness for Christ and His
Church
and to determine if they are ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Program Goal is achieved through catechesis
(instruction in the Faith), Evangeization,
service,
and community building activities.
ELIGIBILITY
The St. Mary Confirmation program is open to teens
that will be between the ages of fifteen and nineteen at the time of
reception
(March). A certificate of Baptism must be provided at the beginning of
the program to take part in the preparation. Teens should also have
been
involved in formal religious training for the previous year and also
the current year.
PREPARATION
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
consists of the following stages.
| 1. Parent Information Meeting - This meeting
is for parents and teens that may have unanswered questions about
the process. It is not a required meeting. |
| 2. First Interview for Candidate with Coordinator - Candidates
should call the Confirmation Coordinator at the appropriate time to
arrange this initial visit. |
| 3. Candidate Kick-off Meeting - This is the first formal
gathering of the Candidates for Confirmation. |
| 4. Worship - Candidates are expected to attend weekly Sunday
Eucharist and Holy Days of Obligation. If this expectation is not
being met, confirmation should be delayed. Candidates are expected
to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially during
Advent
and Lenten seasons. Candidates are expected to participate in a
retreat experience in the last year - this provides an
opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God, self, and
others. |
| 5. Catechesis - This consists of four Days of Renewal on
certain Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. (Includes snacks.)
The
sponsors are welcome to participate in each renewal day. Please see
the general attendance policy. |
6. Sponsors - Sponsors must be fully practicing Catholics,
have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First
Communion,
and be at least 16 years of age. Parents cannot sponsor their own
children. Sponsors not registered at this parish must supply us with
a sponsor certificate signed by their pastor of their parish.
Possible sponsors under the age of 19 must meet with the coordinator
prior to acceptance as a sponsor for the program. |
| 7. Service - Each candidate is asked to follow the teachings
of Jesus and willingly give 20 hours of service. Opportunities will
be presented for large-group, all-day projects and several small
opportunities of the Candidates choosing. Candidates can receive
"credit" for an
out of parish service project of no more than ten (10) hours with
a completed and submitted form from an authorized representative
of
the organization of service. In-parish service should be a minimum
of ten (10) hours. A log of service is due 2 weeks before Confirmation
along with an evaluation of one service activity. |
| 8. Final Interview - This will include a meeting with the
Confirmation Coordinator and a questionnaire to be returned no later
than one month before Confirmation (includes the picking of a Confirmation
name). |
| 9. Request for Confirmation - This letter to Fr. Anderson
requesting confirmation should be turned in by the appropriate time. |
| 10. Rehearsal Day - This is the final formal
gathering of Candidates before the Celebration of Confirmation.
This
provides a time to prepare to receive the sacrament and practice
walking through the ceremony. Due to Deanery Wide Confirmations,
more information will be given as soon as a final date is confirmed. |
| 11. Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation - The day
has arrived! |
COST The
Confirmation program is paid for by your High
School Religious Education fees. This covers food and
supplies for the four Renewal days.
ATTENDANCE
Candidates are expected to attend all events.
In the case of an extreme emergency (i.e.: hospitalization,
death in family, etc.) which requires an absence, a suitable means
of make-up
work will be determined. Any teen dismissed during a meeting for disciplinary
matters will be considered absent for the entire day.
This page was last modified
on February 15, 2008
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