Confirmation is the last of the three Sacraments of Initiation. It is one of the visible signs in this world of God’s power, presence, and action. Confirmation is not just a "personal sacrament", rather, it is a confirming upon the candidate buy the Bishop, the Pastor, the Program Director, the Sponsor, and the entire parish community that the candidate is being fully initiated into the Catholic Faith.
Confirmation is not just about learning facts about our faith. It is a period of discipleship. A time of growing in faith, knowledge, devotion, and service. It is a time to discover more fully one's gifts and talents so that they can be later shared fully with the entire parish community and the Church universal.
One important aspect of the sacrament of Confirmation is that it is a choice, made freely, by the candidate. As an infant, the parents and Godparents spoke on behalf of the new member of the family of God. Now, the candidate must speak freely, and decisively, for themselves.
Scheduling Information
Who can participate in the Confirmation process at St. Andrew Church?
It is our custom at St. Andrew to Confirm in the ninth grade. We believe that this is an excellent time in spiritual, emotional, and psychological development of a young adult to receive the great gift of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In order to be confirmed, one must be an active Catholic[1] who is either a family member of a registered parish member, a registered parishioner themseles, or a member of a local parish who is concurrently registered as a parish member of St. Andrew and must have some form of formal catechism at least one year immediately prior to the Confirmation preparation program.
St. Andrew offers catechism to our eighth grade students in the form of the EDGE youth program. EDGE is a program that combines catechetical education, Catholic youth fellowship, and organized service opportunities for middle school age children and meets the requirements for catechetical training set by the Diocese of Lansing. The program meets on Sunday evenings following the 5:30 PM Mass.
You may seek other formal religious education, if desired, but it must meet the requirements established by the Diocese of Lansing. For more information on those requirements, please go to the Diocese of Lansing website at www.dioceseoflansing.org/catechesis_k12/index.html.
When is Confirmation Preparation done at St. Andrew Church?
Confirmation preparation sessions are held on Wednesdays beginning with the 7:00PM Mass and ending at 9:15PM. Candidates begin with daily Mass in the sanctuary and then relocate in the Parish Hall for a large group discussion or lesson. Afterwards, candidates meet with a small group of their peers (gender separated) to discuss the topic of the evening. Typically, there are three Wednesdays a month when Confirmation preparation takes place. The confirmation preparation schedule often parallels the Saline Area Schools calendar.
Preparation Process
Confirmation is a long term process with many and varied facets. It includes learning about one's faith, participating in service opportunities, experiencing a retreat, sharing faith in small and large group interaction, and dialogue with parents and sponsor to name a few. In order to accomplish this there are several requirements of the program.
Requirements for Confirmation Preparation
Prior to Confirmation Preparation, each candidate must have had one year of formal Religious Education in the year immediately preceeding..
1.Belief - Candidates must profess belief and have basic understanding of God, the Trinity, the Eucharist, and the teachings of the Catholic Church professed in the Creed.
2. Attendance - Regular attendance at Confirmation preparation sessions, Sunday Mass, Wednesday Mass, and Holy Days of Obligation are mandatory. No more than three (3) absences will be allowed. Missed Confirmation meetings will require a written makeup assignment completed by the following week. The written assignments are not an alternate for Wednesday preparation classes and should be used only in emergencies. It is strongly suggested that all candidates participate in St. Andrew Youth Program (LIFE meetings on Sunday evenings).
3. Journaling - Confirmation candidates will be asked to keep a journal during the Confirmation process. Journals will be evaluated by candidates and small group leaders from time to time. Keeping a good journal will help prepare for the evaluation at the end of the preparation period.
4. Saint Report - Each candidate is asked to write a 1-2 page report on the saint they chose for their Confirmation name. The report should include a brief history about the saint and the reason why that saint was chosen.
5. Interview/Evaluation - Each candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a personal interview by a member of the parish staff and each candidate will complete a written assessment based on the journal questions and content covered throughout the year.
6. Reconciliation - All Confirmation candidates are encouraged to renew their faith by participating in the Sacrament of reconciliation during the Confirmation preparation process. This will be facilitated by a discussion of the Sacrament and it's practice, as well as making special times available to participate in the Sacrament. All candidates must celebrate the Sacrament of reconciliation at least once during the course of Confirmation preparation.
7. Willingness to put others first - Each Confirmation candidate will participate in seven (7) different service projects as a way to put into practice the role of a disciple on the journey of Confirmation. The service projects should be split between service for family, parish, and the wider community. Each service project must be concluded by completing a Service Project Evaluation form.
8. Retreat - Candidates must have at least one "retreat experience" during the course of the Confirmation preparation process. St. Andrew offers a Confirmation retreat that all candidates are required to attend. If there is a serious scheduling conflict, permission may be obtained from the Confirmation Director to count the Fall or Spring retreats offered by St. Andrew as their Retreat experience. Permission must be granted in writing one month in advance of the retreat.
9. Respect - Candidates must assume personal responsibility for their bodies and others as temples of the Holy Spirit. This includes respect for all candidates and adult leaders as well as appropriate dress for Confirmation, Mass, and retreats (no short shorts/skirts, hats, sagging pants revealing boxers, spaghetti straps, midriffs exposed, etc.)
10. Forms/Letters - Each candidate is required to complete a Candidate Covenant, a Confirmation Information Form (with a copy of Baptismal Certificate), a letter to the Bishop, and several Service Project Evaluation forms.
Practical Details
Choosing a Sponsor
When choosing a sponsor for Confirmation, please keep in mind the following requirements:
1.) Sponsors must be confirmed members of the Catholic faith.
2.) Sponsors can be no younger than 16 years of age.
3.) Sponsors must be "practicing Catholics" and active members of their parish (each sponsor is asked to get a letter of validation from their pastor or parish staff confirming that they are active members of their faith community. This is standard operating procedure in most parishes and a simple form letter can be generated and sent.)
4.) Sponsors should be someone who is able to dialogue regularly (and meet, ideally) with the candidate throughout the preparation process.
5.) As per canon law requirements, a parent cannot be a sponsor for a candidate.
Photos
A backdrop will be available for families to take photos with the sponsor and candidate. After the Confirmation Mass, the Bishop and/or Pastor are often available for photos with candidates.
Certificates
Confirmation Certificates are prepared after Confirmation reception and will be abailable at the final Confirmation Preparation meeting.
Confirmation Fees
There is a $100.00 fee for Confirmation which helps to cover the cost of Bibles,
Catechisms, handouts, staffing, food, and T-Shirts. As is the case with all of
our programs, special family financial situations can be brought to the attention
of the Program Director for a possible partial or full stipend.
There is a $100.00 fee for the Confirmation retreat (usually in January). This fee coves the cost of food, lodging, and transportation for the candidate. This fee is waived for children of adult volunteers in the program.