Confirmation Process Overview

The Confirmation Program is a time of investigation, reflection, and formation.  Candidates are asked to participate in this process and then decide for themselves if they wish to request the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.  At no time can candidates be forced or coerced into the Sacrament—one’s response to God’s call must be free.  At the end of this process, the pastor and his representatives will assess the eligibility and proper disposition of the candidates for reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

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. 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.

Confirmation Program Requirements:

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. Respect– Candidates must respect themselves and others by their actions, language, and dress (no short shorts/skirts, exposed undergarments, spaghetti straps, midriffs exposed, etc.)

3. Mass Attendance – Candidates must attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  “…the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation…Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” CCC 2181

4. Program Attendance – No more than three absences will be allowed.  Missed Confirmation sessions will require a written makeup assignment completed by the due date listed on the assignment. 

5. Reconciliation – Candidates must celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once during the course of the Confirmation Program.

6. Retreat – Candidates must attend the Confirmation Retreat.  If there is a serious scheduling conflict, please contact the Confirmation Director.

7. Christian Service – Candidates must complete seven service projects with at least one from each of the following categories: family, parish, and community.  Service Project Forms must be signed and submitted for each project.

8. Confirmation Assignments – Candidates must complete four assignments.  These assignments will be used to assess their progress throughout the year and to help them prepare for the Evaluation Test.

9. Saint Report - Candidates must 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.

10. Evaluation Test – Candidates will complete a written evaluation based on the content covered throughout the year.

11. Interview – Candidates will be interviewed to assess their readiness for the Sacrament.

12. Documents – Candidates must complete and submit the following documents:  Candidate Covenant, Confirmation Candidate Information Form (CCIF), Baptismal Certificate if not baptized at St. Andrew, Sponsor Validation if sponsor is not a member of St. Andrew.

13. Letters– Candidates must write a letter to the Bishop requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Sponsors must write a recommendation letter to the Confirmation Director concerning their Candidate.

Practical Details

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.