Confirmation Grades 3 - HS
"I have baptized you with water: He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:8
Standards
The following standards are integral to the process of preparation for Confirmation at Sacred Heart Parish - Chester. Therefore, they will be carefully included in all programs, understood and embraced by all members of the team of catechists working to prepare youth for the Sacrament.
Knowledge of Christ. (Age Appropriate)
This knowledge is to be gained in classroom performance and study. The candidate should recognize the importance of Jesus Christ in his/her life.
· Interview. The readiness of the Confirmation candidate should be discerned through an interview with either a priest or his delegate prior to reception of the sacrament.
· Knowledge of Faith. The candidate should demonstrate an understanding of the principal elements of the Catholic Faith according to his/her age and ability and be committed to ongoing learning and growth in faith.
Retreat.
The candidate must attend the retreat.
· The format of the retreat will be distinct from that of regular classroom
catechesis, and should deepen the prayer life of the young people through the
use of creative programs to help them personally encounter Christ in the
Sacraments. It is important that the Sacrament of Penance and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist be offered during the retreat.
Sacramental Life.
The candidate should participate in the sacramental and liturgical life of the parish by:
· Actively participating in Mass every Sunday.
· Receiving the Sacrament of Penance frequently.
Confirmation Name.
The candidate may choose a Confirmation name. The baptismal name is always an appropriate name for Confirmation to show the relationship between the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. However, a special name may be chosen if desired, in which case it should be that of a recognized saint. If the baptismal name is not that of a recognized saint, a new name (that of a recognized saint) may be chosen for the celebration of Confirmation.
Choosing a Sponsor.
Requirement Summary: The Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston requires that the sponsor be an active, practicing Catholic; is at least 18 years of age, has already received the sacrament of Confirmation; is not a parent of the candidate, and, if married, is married in the Catholic Church. The Church recognizes that a person cannot transmit what the person does not have. Candidates are to choose only one sponsor.
· Baptismal Sponsor. “It is desirable that the one who undertook the role of sponsor at baptism be sponsor for Confirmation” (CCL 893.2). However, another qualified sponsor may be chosen.
· Relationship. The sponsor should be a person who already has a trusting relationship of some sort with the candidate, an older friend or relative (not a parent) in whom the candidate can confide. The sponsor is expected to maintain an ongoing relationship with the candidate in order to support the candidate’s lifelong spiritual growth.
· Maturity. It is important that the sponsor be more mature, more informed, and more experienced in the ways of our faith and culture than the candidate is. It is recommended that the sponsor be an older person who has some experience with his or her own faith, hence a clearer perspective from which to speak.
· General Characteristics. The sponsor needs to be an open, honest, caring, committed and encouraging person who will help the candidate grow in his or her understanding of the faith as the young person comes to a deeper appreciation of God in his or her life.
· Knowledge of Readiness. The sponsor should have a good knowledge of the candidate’s readiness for reception of the Sacrament so as to testify on the candidate’s behalf.
Confession before Confirmation.
“To receive Confirmation, one must be in a state of grace.”
Curriculum
Grades 3-4-5
The following age-appropriate materials will be used to prepare the students for Confirmation:
- St. Mary's Press - "Go-Seek-Find" Confirmation
- "Growing Up Catholic"
- Baltimore Catechism - Volume 1
- Parent/Sponsor Catechesis Lessons
Grades 6-HS
The following age-appropriate materials will be used to prepare the students for Confirmation:
- St. Mary's Press - "Called to Mercy"
- "Growing Up Catholic"
- YOUCAT Catechism - Knowledge of Faith Survey
- Parent/Sponsor Catechesis Lessons
Confirmation TIMELINE for 2024/2025
September 15 – Catechetical Sunday – CCD Registration – Confirmation Introduction.
October 6 - Last day to REGISTER FOR CONFIRMATION (Register by emailing: sacredheart1925@comcast.net}
October 27 – Confirmation Session ONE / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis / Confirmation Enrollment at 11:00 AM Mass
November 24 – Confirmation Session TWO / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis
December 22 – Confirmation Session THREE / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis
January 26 – Confirmation Session FOUR / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis
February 23 – Confirmation Session FIVE / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis
March 30 – Confirmation Session SIX / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis
April 27 – Confirmation Session SEVEN / Parent-Sponsor Catechesis / RETREAT?
MAY/JUNE – Confirmation Mass?
