Program Guidelines

The Confirmation Program is a two-year program of study designed to challenge, deepen and enrich the faith of our high school students while preparing them to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.  For students who have had no interruption in their faith formation, confirmation is conferred in late September of the junior year of high school.  For a student who has missed substantial faith formation and especially in the middle school years there is a one year review process before the student can enter the first year of preparation.

• Mass Attendance:  Weekly Mass attendance is a central part of our faith experience and a requirement of our Catholic tradition.  It is more important than ever, though, that our students who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation attend Mass regularly.  Mass is an opportunity to gather at the table of our Lord as parish family – setting aside whatever differences may be between us with no regard to age, sex, color  or nationality – to hear our faith story proclaimed through sacred scripture, to pray sing, share the gift of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and leave fortified by Word and Sacrament to live the life Jesus commands , to love and serve one another.  WE may gain book knowledge of God and the tenents of our faith in classes but it is at our Sunday liturgy that we experience God among us and alive within us.  Attendance at Sunday Liturgy should be a priority for all confirmation participants.

• Class Attendance:  The continuum of learning is only successful when a student attends with regularity.  The classes are offered in six week semesters so the lessons can be built upon each other and students and teachers can build relationships.  Therefore, we encourage students to attend all classes and allow only 1 absence per semester.  We do understand there can be extenuating circumstances so please be in contact with us if something happens that affects attendance.  We do our best to design a schedule that takes into account school and extracurricular schedules.  We try to minimize schedule conflicts as often as possible by giving you enough notice to help your scheduling.  Therefore, school assignments, sporting events, and employment are not considered excused absences.

• Community Service:  By virtue of our baptism, we are called to care for one another.  Jesus trusts us to seek the less fortunate and share our time, talent and treasure with them.  Community service is an opportunity to do just that.  The service should be an action that challenges the student to go beyond his/her comfort level in reaching out to others.  As such, it needs to be an activity that the student does not normally undertake.  Students in Year 1 must complete 5 hours of service and students in Year 2 must complete 10 hours.  Students will be given appropriate forms to document their service when the program begins.