Parent/Student Meeting

Tuesday, October 3
7:30 pm

Confirmation Retreat

Saturday, March 16

Confirmation Exam

Tuesday, March 19

Confirmation Rehearsal

Wednesday, April 24
7:00 pm

Confirmation

Thursday, April 25
4:30 PM

Welcome to your child’s Confirmation year!

As noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost:
 

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";
• it unites us more firmly to Christ;
• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Preparation for Confirmation should transform the lives of the students. It is necessary for true preparation for any sacrament, especially Confirmation, that parents take an active role in the process. Parents are the primary teacher of faith, by word, and more importantly, by example. Through this combined effort, the Sacrament of Confirmation can be transforming and meaningful in the faith lives of both our students and you, their families

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFIRMATION AT ST. PATRICK’S

Baptismal Certificate

A copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate is required for ALL candidates (even if baptized at St Patrick’s).  You will be contacted by staff if we do not have one. Please provide a copy immediately. Copies can be scanned and emailed to our office.

Assessments

Students in Religious Education Classes will be assessed on different Church Teachings and Traditions throughout the year. Each student should have received a Study Guide at the end of 7th Grade from the Religious Education Office. The Study Guide covers basic Catholic Teachings that all students are expected to know prior to their Confirmation. Please review the guide with your children and don’t hesitate to reach out to the Religious Education Office for an extra copy. Answers to the guide may be found in the Outlines of the Catholic Faith booklet given to the students with their Study Guide. The corrected Study Guide (due at the Parent/Student Meeting on October 3) should be used to prepare for the Exam on March 19.

Confirmation Interview - By appointment/Sign-up Genius

Each Candidate will meet with the Pastor in small groups of 6-8. A Sign-Up Genius link will be provided via email.

Sacrament Materials Fee

This year the fee for Confirmation is $85.00. The fee helps to cover the cost of robes, the Letio Divina book, and the Confirmation retreat. If paying by check, it should be made payable to St. Patrick’s and can be turned in at the Parent/Student meeting on the same date.  Please include your child’s name on the “memo” line.

Selecting a Sponsor

The following are directives regarding sponsors from the Archdiocese of Washington:

• Sponsors must themselves be a confirmed Catholic who is registered in a parish and attending Mass regularly.
• They must have completed their 16th year of age.
• The sponsor may be male or female.
• Sponsors must provide a certificate of verification from the parish in which he/she is registered stating that he/she is a practicing Catholic. We will provide the sponsor form to be used.
• According to the directives of canons 893 and 874.5, neither the father nor the mother of a candidate may be their sponsor.
• To express more clearly the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation and to make the duty and function of the Sponsor more effective, “it is desirable that the godparent at Baptism, if present, also be the sponsor at Confirmation” (canon 893.2)

These are just minimal requirements. The word sponsor comes from the same root as “responsible,” and a well-chosen sponsor can help you grow in your faith. Choose a sponsor who is actively practicing his/her faith, and who will assist you as you prepare for Confirmation, present you to the bishop for anointing, and support you in the years ahead as you discover how the gifts of the Holy Spirit are unfolding in your life. (From the Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth) Avoid choosing someone because he or she is “fun” or because they have not had a “turn” yet.

It may take some time to get the necessary signature from the sponsor’s parish, please begin this process immediately.

Confirmation Name

Students may use their Baptismal name for their Confirmation name. In this way, they state that the promises made for them at Baptism by their parents and godparents will be lived out in their life by their own choice. Alternatively, students may choose any saint’s name as a Confirmation name. Either way, the students should read about the saint they have chosen and discover how he or she came to be so transformed by the grace of Christ, and how that grace manifested itself in their lives. It can be very helpful and meaningful if students talk with their parents and godparents about various saints and the importance of these great souls in their lives. The students will be given a form to fill out the saint’s name they have selected.

Confirmation Retreat

The retreat is mandatory for all students. Mark your calendars now. The retreat is scheduled for March 16. Failure to join the St. Patrick retreat will require the student to attend a retreat with another parish. Arrangements must be made by the parents with other parishes.

Saint Poster

Each candidate selects a Patron Saint to emulate in their walk in faith toward our Lord. The research he/she does will help the candidate to know more about the saint and more about the life of faith. Since the goal of every Catholic is to become a saint, it is good to know what that looks like! The candidates will also learn the process of declaring sainthood in the Catholic Church. The posters will be collected and displayed in the church for their Confirmation. Posters are due on April 9.

Adoration Hours

Students are encouraged to include acts of faith as part of their preparation for Confirmation. Specifically, they are asked to spend time adoring the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The intent of this approach is to mirror the Gospel rather more closely than focusing on simply accumulating hours. As the apostles were sent on a mission to others, so too the Confirmation students are sent to share in the apostolic mission of the Church to bring Christ to others. Because this mission comes from Jesus Christ, all of our service must be rooted in and received from Him through time spent in his Eucharistic Presence. Students will complete an Adoration sheet to be turned in after each session in Adoration, like the Faith in Action sheets. The eight required hours may be completed in ½ hour or full 1-hour increments and will be due on April 9.

Faith in Action

Each student is expected to complete their Faith in Action project (2 projects minimum) by April 9, 2024. It is the family's responsibility to make sure the child accomplishes the service in their own local community and in the parish. The Religious Education office will provide an opportunity for Faith in Action in St. Patrick and will inform parents when that date is identified. A Faith in Action form tailored to each individual project will be provided to the students. All projects and forms must be completed and turned into the RE Office by April 9. Students who have not completed their hours/projects by this date will need to meet with the DRE.