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THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
IMPORTANT DATES
Parents, you are being given these dates in May, 2010. Please, take this home and check your family calendars. If you have a vacation or wedding already scheduled on any of the (*) bolded, asterisked dates below, call the RE Office ASAP and "speak now or forever hold your peace!" Otherwise, we will expect to see your child at those events.
Sponsor Report Due September 30, 2010
St. Emily Confirmation Fee Due October 6, 2010
$75 Payable to: St. Emily Religious Education
Enrollment Recognition Mass October 16, 2010 *
8 th grade Bake Sale November 13 & 14, 2010
Confirmation Name Report Due November 30, 2010
All Three Service Reflection Papers Due November 30, 2010
Confirmation Interviews December, 2010
Exact dates, times, and location TBD
Gift buying and wrapping December 10, 2010
Catholic Charities Christmas Party December 11, 2010
Service Reflection Paper Due January 5, 2011
Confirmation Retreat at Techny January 16, 2011 *
Confirmation Rehearsal February 18, 2011 *
This is mandatory for the candidate with a sponsor or parent.
St. Emily
Sacrament of Confirmation February 19, 2011
St. Thomas Becket Fall, 2011
Sacrament of Confirmation To be determined
May, 2010
Dear Parents and Candidates,
Parents, your children have an opportunity to deepen their faith and affirm the decision made by you and their godparents on their behalf. From the day of their Baptism, you have been fostering and directing your children's spiritual growth by the atmosphere in your home, the example of your life and through the celebration of the sacraments. As your child travels through the process of preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, there will be many more opportunities to guide, accompany, and even learn from your son or daughter.
Candidates, you are encouraged to be open and honest with yourselves and your peers as you engage in the process of preparation. The process is designed to help you learn more about Jesus, the Church, and your own place within the faith community. As the old saying goes, the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. If you are struggling with any part of the Church's teaching, now is the time to ask your questions, examine the answers, and come to an understanding that will allow you to freely and whole-heartedly commit to accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of your Confirmation.
We hope you will develop a deeper personal relationship with Christ, experience the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life, and feel a sense of belonging to the Church as you prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Blessings on the journey!
Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation
As a perfection of Baptismal grace…
“Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.”
--Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1316
As completion of the sacraments of initiation…
“Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, (the baptized) are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”
--Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1285
In terms of the period of preparation…
“Preparation for the Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.”
--Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1309
As to who can receive this sacrament…
Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that “the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,” for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.
--Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1306
* St. Thomas Becket Parish offers Confirmation to teens in the fall of 9 th grade. Students from St. Thomas will attend classes and participate in Confirmation preparation at through St. Emily's Religious Education program during their 8 th grade year. The following summer and fall, St. Thomas will have six Confirmation sessions and a small group retreat before they celebrate Confirmation at their parish. Additional information and forms will be distributed to St. Thomas Becket families at a later time.
Do I have to get confirmed?
As stated, "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time." What does that mean? It means you do not have to get confirmed at this time . It means if you are unsure or unwilling to make this commitment at this time , you can defer it to a later time in your life. It means that every baptized Catholic who has received the sacrament of Eucharist is obligated to receive Confirmation sometime in their life , in order to become a fully-initiated member of the Church, entitled to all the benefits!
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a celebration of the Holy Spirit's presence in us - the same Spirit who anointed Jesus to redeem the world. Confirmation is not a reward given out when you earn points or jump through hoops. You are not celebrating a graduation. Confirmation is not the beginning or the end of anything; it is a transition - a shift from the way you've been living your faith by following examples and instruction, to active participation in the life of your parish community, the Church, and the world! Confirmation celebrates your intentional commitment to lifelong faith formation and growth in the living body of Christ!
Our goals are:
• To help you understand that the sacrament of Confirmation deepens your relationship with the God and the Church.
• To help you discover your personal and unique gifts and talents; and inspire you to go out into the world to share those gifts.
• To help you become aware of the presence and the actions of the Holy Spirit in our world and inside you.
• To learn more about yourself and your relationship with your peers in terms of your Catholic Christian faith.
• To form disciples – persons who believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus.
What are the Church's Requirements?
Canon Law requires that "a person who has the use of reason be suitably instructed, properly disposed, and able to renew the baptismal promises." But what does that mean? It means a person who is competent to make logical decisions for themselves must be given all of the necessary information about the sacrament of Confirmation in order to understand it well enough to express their sincere desire to be confirmed, and must be able to repeat, out loud and of their own free will, the baptismal promises spoken for them by their parents and godparents on the day they were baptized.
What are St. Emily's requirements ...
Candidates are required to enter into this preparation process willingly to experience what it means to be a Christian as lived out through our Catholic Tradition. You should see yourself as an active, gifted, and essential member of the Church, ready to embark on a life-long journey of active participation in our faith.
... regarding education ...
Candidates for Confirmation are required to have had consistent, continuous, age-appropriate catechesis, beginning in first grade.
... regarding spirituality and prayer...
Candidates for Confirmation should experience growth in their prayer life as they deepen their sense of God and spirituality. Some consistent form of prayer each day is strongly recommended - reading the Bible, centering prayer exercises or prayer in the morning and/or evening, etc.
... regarding liturgy and worship...
Candidates are required to attend Mass and be regular communicants every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation in order to be considered ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
... regarding service...
We do not require service HOURS in order to be confirmed. We do require that candidates display an understanding of Catholic social teachings and a desire to be actively involved in service to the Church and the world. In order to develop this understanding, you are required to explore social justice and the ministry of service in a variety of ways. You should use your initiative in finding or creating service opportunities. Local volunteer needs are published in the Daily Herald, village halls and library newsletters, and posted on the Service Bulletin Board on the wall between the RE office and the YM office in St. Emily School . Contact information forms are also available in the Religious Education Office. Parents are expected to help their children in the search for, and participation in, service activities - talk with your children, look into possibilities, make some phone calls, and get them started. Better yet - do some service with them!
In order to broaden your understanding of being called to use the many and different gifts you have been given, you are required to participate in at least three different services before being confirmed - to the parish, the community, and to the marginalized - and complete a short reflection form for each one before November 30, 2011 . Blank forms may be picked up from the Religious Education Office. Contact information for service organizations can be printed out by clicking on this link: SERVICE CONTACTS LIST
2011 Class Project - St. Emily's Religious Education program sponsors a Christmas party for families receiving assistance through Catholic Charities New Hope Program. Candidates and parents provide the “work force” needed to make this party successful. All candidates are required to participate in this class project in some way. It can be as simple as baking homemade cookies to planning and coordinating the games and activities of the day.
Service Reflection Paper
All candidates are required to turn in a two-page, typed paper to St. Emily's Religious Education Office by January 5, 2011 , reflecting on your lifetime service experiences to this date. This paper should demonstrate that you have had enough experience in several different categories of service so that you can express new and significant insights into your awareness of the needs of others; that you have developed a service-consciousness and an understanding of what it means to be an active member of your parish and the Catholic Church.
Attendance requirements for Religious Education students
Candidates in the Religious Education Program are expected to arrive on time and attend the full 90 minutes of all regularly scheduled sessions from September through April. If three classes are missed in the first semester, the candidate, parents, and RE staff will meet to make sure that the student still has the ability to be adequately prepared to receive the sacrament. Recognizing that today's young people have many interests and busy schedules, we ask parents to make your child's faith formation a priority when conflicts arise. (and they will!) Occasionally families experience unforeseen crises. If you should find yourselves in those circumstances, please call the Religious Education Office. Our primary concern is what is best for your son or daughter. We will be happy to work with you.
All St. Emily RE candidates are required to continue into Mystagogy after Confirmation. This begins February 23 and continues through April 20 . What is m ystagogy ? Literally, mystagogy means leading those who have been initiated into a mystery into its deeper meaning and significance for their lives. It is a time for processing the still-fresh experience, exploring the mystery, and settling in to this new role.
Requirement Summary
• Attend mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.
• Receive the Eucharist. Pick up the book, read, pray, sing!
• Demonstrate your understanding and participation in Christian service.
• Attend all required classes, meetings, and activities.
• Complete and turn in required paperwork - on time.
• Express a sincere desire to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
• Participate in Confirmation Mystagogy.
Confirmation Retreat
The first half of next year will be spent exploring and reviewing the rituals and traditions of our Catholic faith and learning specifically about the sacrament of Confirmation; the who, what, where, when, and why of it. In January of 2011 all candidates who indicate their readiness and express their desire to receive the sacrament of Confirmation will be required to participate in an all-day retreat celebrating the culmination of their preparation. This retreat is designed and presented by St. Emily's Religious Education and Youth Ministry. It will be held off-site at Techny Retreat and Conference Center in Northbrook , Illinois from 9am until 5pm on Sunday, January 16, 2011 . Parents, siblings, and sponsors will be invited to celebrate mass with us at the end of the day. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW !
*St. Thomas Becket candidates are also required to participate in their parish overnight retreat held in the fall of 2011.
Confirmation Names
The Church urges all Confirmation candidates today to retain their baptismal names as a more appropriate expression of the intimate connection between Baptism and Confirmation. While not official Church doctrine, we recognize that taking a different name to be called by at Confirmation has been part of our local tradition for quite some time. Therefore, if you truly desire to be called by a name other than your baptismal name, you may do so providing it is the original, proper given name of a saint or holy person who has influenced you in a significant way or is the patron saint of a cause or occupation that has significant meaning to you. This person should be someone who inspires you, someone you want to look to as your patron; someone you can turn to in thought and prayer, knowing you always have someone in your corner.
Parents - offering guidance here is a great way to participate in your child's preparation. Share your own memories about choosing names when you were confirmed. Talk about how or why you chose your child's name when they were born. Help your son or daughter to understand that choosing a Confirmation name is not about honoring a relative or picking out a name because it's cute or funny; nor is it the most important part of Confirmation.
Candidates who choose different Confirmation names are required to turn in a short, typed, one-page report about the life of the saint or holy person whose name you want to be confirmed with, explaining how you decided, what you admire about this person, and/or what influenced you the most about them.
Candidates who choose to keep their Baptismal names are required to turn in a short explanation of how or why their name was originally chosen by their parents or why it has significant meaning to them and to you.
These papers will be sent to the Bishop before Confirmation, along with a formal request letter. Confirmation Name Reports are to be turned in to St. Emily's Religious Education Office by November 30, 2010 .
* St. Emily School and St. Thomas Becket candidates may be asked for a report with different guidelines or due dates. The report referred to here may or may not fulfill those requirements. If not, you may not choose one or the other; you will need to do both.
Letter to the Bishop
All candidates are required to write a formal letter to the bishop requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation. You will be given further instructions and direction in class.
Parents - this is another important sharing opportunity. The letter should be in your child's words, but please help them with grammar, spelling and clarity of thoughts.
Understanding the Role of Sponsors
“Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents.”
-- Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1311
Canon Law states that a sponsor must be 16 years of age, a Catholic who has been confirmed and received the Eucharist, one who leads a life of faith, is in good standing with the Church, and not be the father or mother of the one being confirmed. It is the parent's role to raise their children in the faith. It is a sponsor's role is to assist in this task by seeing to it that the confirmed person faithfully fulfills the commitment made at Confirmation. Sponsors should be chosen by the candidates and should have the ability and intention of fulfilling a sponsor's role.
Choosing a sponsor is very important and should not be taken lightly. Consider the people closest to you to see who is the best example of someone living as Jesus tells us; someone who you feel close enough to be able to share your thoughts, feelings, doubts, or joy in your faith. The spiritual relationship and how this person lives their life as a faith-filled Catholic Christian in today's world must be the primary considerations in choosing a sponsor. Sponsors will be invited to attend a special Enrollment Recognition Mass at St. Emily on Saturday, October, 16, 2010.
Candidates are required to turn in a one page, typed report about their sponsor by September 30, 2010 . This should include the name and relationship of your sponsor, the name of their home parish and how they are involved there, why you chose this person, how will he or she help you prepare for Confirmation and how will he or she influence your faith life in the future.
* St. Thomas Becket candidates and their families are invited to attend this recognition mass. Your sponsor report is requested to be turned in by the same due date, but may be subject to change. (Further information regarding an Enrollment Mass to be held in the summer at St. Thomas Becket will be distributed to families at a later time.)
Understanding the Role of Parents
As young teens struggle to clarify their own convictions, attitudes and values, parents are their chief models. Within families, faith is often caught more than taught. In considering your role of preparing your son or daughter for Confirmation, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I accept responsibility for being the primary catechist in my child's spiritual growth?
- Do I keep lines of communication open with my teenager?
- Do I participate in the sacramental life of the Church?
- Do I model the importance of being called to serve others lovingly?
- Do we attend Mass and receive the Eucharist together as a family every weekend and on Holy Days of Obligation?
- Am I involved with parish activities as much as I could be?
- Do I take care of my own faith formation, growing in knowledge and love and share that knowledge and love with my family?
- Do I take time for personal prayer?
Here are some ideas of how you can help:
- Witness to your own faith in your daily words and actions.
- Pray with your children, including in your prayers those who are in need around the world.
- Assist your son or daughter in meeting the Confirmation preparation requirements and due dates for written work.
- Help guide your children in the process of choosing an appropriate, faith-filled sponsor and deciding if they want to honor their Baptismal name or choose a patron saint's name.
- Support and join your child in planning and performing Christian service. Volunteer as a family to serve at a soup kitchen.
- Attend Sunday liturgy and perhaps invite a friend or relative who has not been to Mass to go to church and breakfast with you.
- Help out at a church function or participate in it, especially an inter-generational one where you can go as a family.
- Talk with your children about what they are learning. Learn something new yourself!
- Encourage your child in daily prayer. Model your own commitment to personal prayer.
- Help your child process the experiences of this sacramental preparation journey. The more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it!
Service Bulletin Board
Information about ministry and service opportunities will be posted on the Service Opportunity Bulletin Board on the wall between the St. Emily Religious Education and Youth Ministry offices in the main hallway of the school. These opportunities are open to all candidates.
Confirmation Interviews
St. Emily staff members (Mrs. Kobylski or Mr. Belgard) will speak with all candidates prior to Confirmation in order to evaluate where they are in their readiness and whether they understand and genuinely desire to receive this sacrament. Don't panic! These are short personal conversations that are a good opportunity to get to know each other. If you need help in one area or another, it's a good time to figure that out and help you make a plan to get you where you want to be.
Confirmation Preparation Fee
St. Emily candidates are charged a sacramental fee of $75. This fee is above and beyond the regular tuition costs for the school or religious education program. The billing and collection of these fees are handled separately through St. Emily's Religious Education Office.
St. Thomas Becket candidates are charged additional tuition and retreat fees which are handled separately through St. Thomas ' Religious Education Office .
Please Note:
There may be other forms to complete, notices sent home or meetings scheduled for either parents or candidates or both. We will do all possible to distribute information in a timely manner. Please make sure that St. Emily's Religious Education Office has a current address, phone number (both home & cell) and parent email address. We will not email your child directly without your consent.
Contact Information
St. Emily Religious Education Office 847-299-5865
Program & Sacrament Coordinator - Joan Kobylski jkobylski@stemily.org
Program Assistant - Patricia Martin pmartin@stemily.org
Office Assistant - Linda Kestler lkestler@stemily.org
St. Emily Youth Ministry Office 847-544-5090
Youth Minister - Gregg Belgard gbelgard@stemily.org
St. Thomas Becket Religious Education Office 847-296-9051
Religious Education Liaison - Jeff Prostko rel_educ_stb@sbcglobal.net
St. Emily
Sacrament of Confirmation February 19, 2011
St. Thomas Becket Fall, 2011
Sacrament of Confirmation To be determined
Parent/Confirmand Commitment Pledge