2024-25 Confirmation Preparation Components
Our year begins with the Confirmation Information Session:
Our confirmation program begins with an information session at the end of September.
Though parts of our program resemble that of years past, we are making a few key additions for this coming year to better form and prepare our candidates. We hope to bring life and energy to our program while supporting our teens.
All candidates are required to agree to and complete the following requirements for the 2024-25 year:
Attend Weekly Mass Obligation (Saturday Vigil or Sunday) and all Holy Days of Obligation
This is a requirement for all Catholics and is crucial for the spiritual growth necessary in receiving Confirmation.
Attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once during the preparation year
All Catholics are required to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per year. Ideally, we would like to see candidates attending Reconciliation regularly and especially right before the Rite of Confirmation on February 23rd.
Choose a Confirmation Sponsor, Saint, and write a Letter of Intent.
All candidates are required to choose a Sponsor and select a Saint to be confirmed. In the Letter of Intent, candidates will share their reason for choosing the saint and articulate why they wish to be confirmed in the Church.
All Sponsors are required to attend a preparation session to help equip them for the important role they will play in walking with the candidates towards confirmation and beyond. The date for this session will be provided at the informational meeting. If any sponsor is not able to attend, they must make suitable arrangements with Jonny Rodriguez, St. Bart’s Youth Ministry & Discipleship Associate (see below for contact information).
Attend all Confirmation Prep Sessions
We will meet typically twice per month outside of Saint Bart’s regular youth ministry programming. A full calendar will be provided at the informational meeting. If a candidate is unable to make one of these meetings, they will be responsible for any missed content.
Attend Two Retreats
Candidates will be required to attend one Overnight retreat during year 1, as well as a One-day retreat during year 2. The One-Day retreat focuses on Confirmation, so it is important that teens attend the One-Day retreat even if they choose to attend multiple Overnight retreats.
Our hope with this requirement is to give candidates an opportunity to encounter Jesus in a deep and personal way. Retreats are a unique opportunity to create a dynamic and engaging environment that better facilitates a deeper and personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Complete 30 Additional Formation/Service Hours per year (60hours for entire 2-year program)
The hope for our Confirmation program is to foster in every candidate a deeper connection to the Catholic faith through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. We believe in empowering them towards a life-long relationship with Christ, that they may continue to live in the gifts and mission of His Church after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. To help facilitate this, the candidates will be required to attend additional 30 hours of service/formation opportunities outside of the Confirmation Prep Sessions. These will allow the candidates to be exposed to and engage with the abundant life within the church.
NOTE: Since this a new requirement this year(24’-25’) second year students wouldn’t have had a compete calendar year to working on this requirement. Due to that reason second year students during 2024-25 will be required to complete a reduced amount of hours. More details will be shared on our Confirmation Introduction session on 9/29.
Formative experiences: Daily Mass, Highschool or Middleschool Youth Nights, Adoration, NET Lifeline Night, Steubenville Conference, Summer Camp, Winter Faith Camp, Liturgical calendar Events (Advent, Lent, Easter), Other St. Barts Ministry Events, Other Diocesan Events.
Service formation opportunities: Altar serving, Volunteering at Sunday Evening Youth Mass, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Interfaith Outreach Food Shelf, Simpson Housing, Saint Bart’s Loaves and Fishes, Nursery Volunteer, Prayer Network, Abria.
Other service and Formation opportunities not listed are welcome after the approval of Jonny Rodriguez, the confirmation coordinator. Information and questions regarding this will be discussed in more detail at the information session.
We will be providing supplemental activities and materials for the candidates, parents, and sponsors to complete as they prepare for Confirmation. These materials will be guidance towards a deeper understanding of the sacrament and its purpose. We are excited for what the Lord has in store for this year and look forward to walking and growing the faith with you!
Questions?
Contact Jonny Rodriguez, Youth Ministry & Discipleship Associate via email (jrodriguez@st-barts.org) or by calling the parish office at (952) 473-6601.