Confirmation

Confirmation Process Overview

Four Small Group Mentor Sessions

• Who: Sophomore Confirmandi
• What: Confirmandi will be led by an adult who will address questions and topics to discuss with each Confirmandi in the group. Mentor groups are highly flexible, allowing each group to decide the time, place, and event they experience together, and even allowing to meet more regularly if they choose to!
  • The four basic meetings cover the following topics: Social, Sacrament, Service, and Sponsors.
• Why: he goal of these Mentor Groups and Session Topics are focused on lived experience of the Catholic faith for the teens and accompaniment by active, faithful Catholic Adult mentors of our Parish.

Three Large Group Sessions

• Who: Sophomore Confirmandi, Parents (At least one), Sponsor (Once chosen, if possible)
• What: All those who are part of the Confirmation preparation process (Teen, Parents, and Sponsor) are required to attend Three Large Group Sessions throughout the Year. Meetings will have one large group talk or topic at the beginning, then Parents and Confirmandi are broken off into their own groups to have more intentional topics given to them. Both the Confirmandi and at least one Parent should be at these meetings, with Sponsors encouraged to attend once chosen.
• Why: Our goal is to walk with both the teens and parents during a very pivitol time in their child's life. Separating the group also provides an opportunity for more relevant information to each group. The Confirmandi will cover a deeper understanding of the Church and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Similarly, the Parents will cover a deeper understanding of their role in their Child's Faith and ways to help them with this process.

Two Years of Integration & Formation

Track One: Two Year Process

• Who: Confirmandi who DO NOT recieve Regular Theological Formation through Catholic/Homeschool Classes
• What: During their Freshman Year, Confirmandi must attend our regular Sunday Night Youth Ministry. During their Sophomore Year, Confirmandi must participate in a Mentor Group as well as attend the Large Group Meeting and Confirmation Retreat.
• Why: The Goal for the first year is to integrate themselves in a Catholic community and experience the life of the Church according to the pillars of Personal and Pastoral Formation. The Goal for the second year focusing on intentional discernment and preparation for recieving the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the pillars of Intellectual and Spiritual Formation.

Track Two: One Year Process

• Who: Confirmandi who DO recieve Regular Theological Formation through Catholic/Homeschool Classes
• What: During their Sophomore Year, Confirmandi must participate in a Mentor Group as well as attend the Large Group Meeting and Confirmation Retreat.
• Why: Recognizing the great work of Catechesis that is done through our Catholic Schools and Homeschool programs, we do not require additional formation during the Confirmandi's Freshman year as they are fulfilling the necessary Formation and Community in their respective schooling. They still highly encouraged to attend and participate in our Regular Sunday Youth Ministry to be a part of the larger parish life and address topics, questions, and experiences they would not be able to recieve in a School environment.

One Confirmation Retreat

• Who: Sophomore Confirmandi
• When: February 10-12, 2023 (Fri.-Sun.)
• What: A few months before their Confirmation Date, Sophomore Confirmandi will attend a retreat at the St. Joseph Retreat Center in Tipton, IN. This will be a Weekend retreat that focuses on final preparation for recieving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and what they want to do moving forward after they receive it.
• Why: A retreat is a great opportunity to, literally, retreat from the world and enter into a deeper, more intentional discernment. Having it closer to the confirmation date helps them to have confidence in their preparedness by searching, themselves, if they are truly ready for this and how they want to share the Kerygma that is given to them with the fullness of gifts and fruits of the Spirit they will receive.

Important Dates

CONFIRMATION 2022/2023 LARGE GROUP MEETINGS - (both Parents & Youth are REQUIRED to attend)

• Session 1- October 9, 2022 
  • Large Group: Confirmation 101 
  • Students: Mentors: On the Road to Emmaus
  • Adults: Parent Social Event
• Session 2- December 11, 2022 
  • Large Group: Rescued
  • Students: Gifted: The Holy Spirit
  • Adults: The Role of Parents in Formation
• Session 3- January 29, 2022
  • Large Group: The Kerygma
  • Students: Vocation: The Call to Sainthood
  • Adults: Navigating Gen-Z

CONFIRMATION 2023 WEEKEND RETREAT:

When: From February 10th @5:30pm to February 12th @4:30pm
Where: St. Joseph Retreat Center, 1440 W Division Rd, Tipton, IN 46072

CONFIRMATION 2023 LITURGY:

Mentor Session:  Social
Mentor Session:  Service
Mentor Session:  Sacraments
Mentor Session:  Sponsors

Sponsor Forms