Sacrament of Confirmation

Candidate & Parent Orientation

Overview

• Father Tom Welcome

St Patrick’s Catholic Faith Community

• Christine Johnson, RE Coord Welcome

• Catechist Introductions
• Candidate Expectations
• Parent Expectations
• Typical Class
• Website Review
• Questions and Answers
Fr Tom Welcome
Christine Johnson,
RE Coordinator Welcome
Candidate Expectations
Free-will Decision

• No candidate should be coerced into the formation

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process, as this not only defeats the purpose of the

program
• Creates an atmosphere that could negatively affect others
• Candidates who wish to receive the
sacrament of Confirmation accepts
what it means to be confirmed and will
participate fully in the process as well
as take seriously what it means to be a
member of the Church
Free-will Decision

• Candidates, together with their families, are asked to fully

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discuss …
• what it means to be confirmed and

• program expectations and requirements

• Candidates unsure of the decision may enroll in the next

preparation program
Attend Classes

• Confirmation classes are intended to complement the faith

formation that takes place both within the candidates’ families
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and at the Mass

• Confirmation classes take place in the Chapel Conference
Room, weekly, prior to Mass, 09:00 am to 10:15 am, from
September through the Confirmation Mass
• If 10 minutes or more late the candidate will not be allowed
admittance to the class and will count as an absence
• Candidates coming in late are disruptive to the class
Attend Classes

• In "The Classroom" web page you'll find all classroom work

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and homework for the next week

• If you have any questions contact your classroom instructors

• Candidates will bring to class, every Sunday, the following

materials: (1) Faith First manual, (2) Catechism of the
Catholic Church, (3) a Bible, and a (4) Three-ring binder to
retain handouts and other class materials
• Candidates with four or more unexcused absences will be
dis-enrolled from the program unless there is a serious
medical or family reason
Sunday and Holy Day
Mass Attendance

• The Mass and the Eucharist are the center of our Catholic
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faith
• The obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses is
expected of all candidates
• If away from the parish, it is expected they will seek out
another Catholic church in which to attend Mass

• The Eucharist is central to the Catholic life

• Central means by which we nourish our faith and worship God
• It is through hearing the Scriptures read and discussed that
we learn more about our faith and about God
Sunday and Holy Day
Mass Attendance

• Candidates should make every effort to participate in the

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Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the

Easter Vigil)
• This is the holiest time of the year for our Church
• The services on these days are rich
in the traditions of our faith
• We will discuss with the candidates
how they can fully participate in
the Triduum during class
Baptismal Certificate

• Baptism is necessary before one can receive any other

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sacrament
• All church records are kept at the church of Baptism
• If you do not have a copy of your child's Baptismal
Certificate, you must write or call the church it took place
in and request a copy
• Candidates must submit a copy
of their Baptismal Certificate
when possible (not Baptismal record)
Baptismal Certificate

• Please make sure the certificate includes the address of

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the Church the Sacrament took place in

• This will enable use to update your child's Sacramental
record in our Church
Baptismal Certificate

• If your child was baptized in a military Chapel and you do

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not have a copy of the certificate

• You can request the certificate by internet (preferred method)
• www.milarch.org/sacramental/index.html
• You can also write or call
Archdiocese for the Military Service, USA
PO Box 4469
Washington DC 20017-0469
Phone: (202) 719-3605
Fax: (202) 269-1002
Choose a Sponsor

• You'll be required to have a sponsor—someone who

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will guide you and share the story of faith with you
• A good sponsor will make this process a little easier
and even more fun

• Requirements for the Sponsor

• The individual must be Catholic who is practicing his or
her faith
• 16 years of age or older who has received the sacrament
of Confirmation and the Eucharist
Choose a Sponsor

• Candidates may wish to choose one of their baptismal

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godparents to be their Confirmation sponsor, emphasizing

the important relationship between the two sacraments
• Parents should not be sponsors of their children
• It is the sponsor’s role to support the candidate and his/her
parents
• The Church discourages candidates from choosing one of
their parents to be their sponsor
Choose a Sponsor

• A sponsor may be a relative,

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friend or someone from our

parish
• Your sponsor should be
prepared to assist the person
being confirmed in their
preparation, during the
ceremony, and afterward in
the life-long journey toward
Christ
How to Choose a Sponsor

• Look for someone you trust, whose faith you admire and
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who will be there for you

• Look for someone who knows you well and is willing to
serve as a Christian guide and role model for you
• Choose your sponsor carefully and with thought
• If you continue to have difficulty then pray about it
How to Choose a Sponsor

• You may want to invite your sponsor to visit the Sponsor

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Info page on the parish’s website

• Sponsors are invited and encouraged to join the
candidates for the Confirmation rehearsal session
• If a candidate’s sponsor is unable to be present at the
Confirmation Mass, a proxy may stand in for him/her
Write a Letter to Your Sponsor

• Candidates will be required to write a letter to their

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sponsor detailing why they chose him or her and what

will be expected of them as a sponsor during the
upcoming year of preparation
Confirmation Interview

• Father Tom will meet with each of the candidates throughout

the year
St Patrick’s Catholic Faith Community

• Prior to Confirmation he will interview each of the candidates

to assess their preparation and readiness for the sacrament.
Candidates should be prepared to answer the following
questions:
• Why do you want to be confirmed?
• Why did you choose your sponsor?
• What saint did you choose for your Confirmation name? Why?
• What is the most important part of Mass?
• Father may also assess your general knowledge of our faith (e.g.,
sacraments, commandments, beatitudes, prayer and devotion, etc.)
Sacrament of Reconciliation

• All students are required to receive the Sacrament of

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Reconciliation during Lent

• It is desired that all candidates
and their sponsors be in a state
of grace at the time of Confirmation
Choose a Confirmation Name

• A Confirmation name is consistent with the Church's

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tradition of assigning new names to the faithful when

they accept a new ministry (i.e. religious, St. Peter, St.
Paul)
• Choosing a Confirmation name gives the candidates the
opportunity to reflect on the life of a saint they wish to
emulate
Choose a Confirmation Name

• Confirmandi are asked to check into reasons for their

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baptismal name if they are not already aware of the

reason
• One may keep the baptismal name to emphasize the fact
that Confirmation is a sealing of the Baptismal
Commitment
• Candidates may choose a new name as a sign of growth
in faith
Write a Saint Research Report

• A saint research report will be required of each

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candidate
• In the report candidates will explain their choice and report
information about the saint that they have chosen
• Each saint is known for particular qualities or virtues.
Candidates will explain how, by imitating this saint, he or
she can become a better Christian
Eucharistic Adoration

• The Eucharist is the center of our Catholic Faith. We

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have the opportunity here at the Moody Chapel to sit

quietly with Jesus, exposed in the Blessed Sacrament
• This is a time of quiet prayer, reflection and adoration
• To help candidates with their prayers and reflection, you
can bring the bible, a prayer book, or a book of readings or
reflections of a Saint or other holy person
• Some people find it helpful to reflect on the hymns; after
all hymns are prayers
Eucharistic Adoration

• Each candidate will be required to participate in Eucharistic

Adoration at least three times during the year while he/she is
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preparing for Confirmation

• Candidates should plan on spending at least a half hour at
Adoration
• Each family is strongly encouraged to participate in Adoration
with the Confirmandi as a family
Prayer

• Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life – and therefore

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a vital part of preparation to receive the sacrament of

Confirmation
• Candidates will have numerous opportunities to discuss
and explore prayer, with a particular emphasis on
discussing and exploring the role prayer
plays and can play in their daily lives
• Each session begins and ends with a
prayer experience
• Candidates may be asked to lead the
opening and concluding prayer
Community Service

• The Church teaches us that it is the responsibility of the

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baptized to live the Gospel in the world

• Christians actively preach and spread the Gospel when they
participate in both civic and parish-based activities in a manner
consistent with Jesus’ example and teachings

• Candidates will be expected to complete 20 hours of

community service before the final retreat
• If you and your family are involved in, or plan to take part in, a
service project which will help to fill a need in the lives of others –
food, clothing, shelter, educational assistance
Retreats

• There will be two or three retreats

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• Retreats are mandatory for all candidates (sports & recreational

activities are not an excused absence from the retreat)
• First Retreat: Held on a Saturday (6 hours)
for the candidates
• Explore other religions
• Compare and contrast with Catholicism
• Second Retreat: Tentative day trip to the
Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Savannah, GA
• Third Retreat: Overnight retreat held close to the
Confirmation ceremony (TBD)
Parent Expectations
Parent Participation

• As parents, you are the first and primary educators of

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your children in their faith

• 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 will attend some sessions with your child so that
you may participate in their ongoing faith formation
Parent Participation

• Set the example for your child as he or she takes on the

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responsibility of a Confirmed Catholic

• The example of the parents’ prayer life and attitude toward
Jesus Christ and His Church is the best teaching sons and
daughters will ever have
• It is the candidate’s responsibility to complete all
requirements, it is the parents’ responsibility to assist by
making sure all assignments are done on time and that
his or her child is at each scheduled activity
Parent’s Role

• In private, let us know of any special needs of the child

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(e.g., autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, etc.)

• Provide primary education of candidate in matters of
faith
• Assist with retreats, service work, rehearsal and Liturgy
of Confirmation as requested
• Be actively involved in the sacramental preparation of
the candidate
• Attend meetings and the celebration of the sacrament
Don’t Coerce Your Child

• Do not coerce your child into the formation process, as

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this not only defeats the purpose of the program but also
creates an atmosphere that could negatively affect
others
How will I know if my child is ready?

• Through acts of conversion or growth in faith

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• Any one of the following can be a sign:

• Referring actions to Christ (seeing connections between
scripture stories and their life)
• Praying on their own and thinking of seeking God in prayer
• Charity for others (especially for those who are not their friends)
• Selfless acts
• Questions about God
• Spontaneous joy at learning about God
• The desire to know more
Typical Class
Class Schedule

• Opening prayer
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• Briefly review previous week’s session

• Review of Sunday’s readings
• How the week’s message applies to candidate
• Week’s lesson
• Occasional test or quiz
• Closing prayer
• Assign Homework for the next session (e.g., next week’s
readings)
Catechesis Based on the
“Four Pillars” of the Church

• The Creed
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• The Creed, as the Catholic profession of faith, summarizes

the gifts that God gives as Creator, Redeemer and
Sanctifier. In explaining the articles of the Creed a
catechist explores our common baptismal faith in the one
God, the Father Almighty; in his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Savior, and in the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier of the
Church
• Seven Sacraments
• God’s plan of salvation is continually made present in the
sacramental celebrations of the Church
Catechesis Based on the
“Four Pillars” of the Church

• Christian Moral Life

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• The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments guide the

Christian disciple in a life of virtue and Christian morality
• Christian Prayer
• Prayer is important in the life of a disciple of Christ. The
seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer are a means to
understanding to different modes of Christian prayer and
spirituality
Class Schedule

• Review Knowledge Base

St Patrick’s Catholic Faith Community

• Faith First (RE program) is a building block program

• AF families are transient
• Different candidates with different needs
• Will provide a review of the basics for the first few weeks
• Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Beatitudes, prayer and
devotion (Act of Contrition, Nicene Creed, traditional prayers),
laws of the church, rosary, etc.
• "Knowing Your Faith“ - short and concise Catechism of Catholic
teachings, practices, and worship; question and answer format is
easy to understand; excellent tool for parents and teens to learn
more about their faith
Class Schedule

• Faith First Education Program

St Patrick’s Catholic Faith Community

• Awarded the 2007 First Place Award for Best Educational

Books by the Catholic Press Association
• Designed around the four pillars of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church:
• Nicene Creed
• The Sacraments
• The Commandments
• Prayer
Class Schedule

• Faith First is designed to prepare young people for a lifetime

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of discipleship. The program is designed as follows:

• Gathering as Church
• Proclaiming the Word
• Renewing Baptismal Promises
• Laying on of Hands
• Anointing with Oil
• Offering the Gift of Peace
• Sharing Eucharist
• Sending Forth on Mission
Class Schedule

• We will supplement the Faith First program will some

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additional materials such as …

• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit as received during Confirmation
• Lent and Advent activities and information
• Learn about saints and contributions to the church
• Tour of the church
• Retreats: Other religions and how the compare and
contrast to Catholicism, current events, “hot” topics, etc.
www.MoodyCatholic.com

Website Review

www.MoodyCatholic.com
Summary

• Father Tom Welcome

St Patrick’s Catholic Faith Community

• Christine Johnson, RE Coord Welcome

• Catechist Introductions
• Candidate Expectations
• Parent Expectations
• Typical Class
• Website Review
• Questions and Answers