Confirmation
My child is approaching the end of
primary school. What do I do to have
her/him confirmed?
Introduction
As our children approach the teen years,
they are becoming more aware of the
choices they must make for themselves.
With our input, our children have
learned the values of life and
hopefully, Christian life. We have them
baptised as babies, but now it is their
turn to choose to follow Jesus for
themselves. Part of this experience is
coming to know and accept that Mom and
Dad are not as perfect as they thought
they were when they were younger. Mom
and Dad don’t always have all the
solutions to life’s difficulties and so
it makes sense that parents encourage
the children to turn to God in times of
need. They must also learn to become
active (rather than passive)
participants in their faith journey and
in contributing to the Church and to
society at large.
What kind of formation will my child
require?
Formation from the Parent/s
This faith journey requires the
support, first of the parents who are
the primary teachers of the Christian
faith for their children. Besides the
parents, teachers, catechists and the
school play an important part in this
maturation process. Of course, the
children grow in their experience of God
by participating in prayer and worship
in the parish community. If you have not
taken your responsibility to bring your
children to Sunday mass, this would be
an ideal opportunity to do so. Our
children, no matter how old they are,
still look to us for an example to live
their lives in the footsteps of Jesus.
If a teen does not attend Sunday Mass
then this may be an indication that
he/she is not ready to make the
commitment that the Sacrament of
Confirmation calls for in the Roman
Catholic Church. We encourage you to
assist your child in attending and
participating in the Sunday Eucharist
and other Church celebrations.
In adolescence, your child will begin
to push the envelope of freedom and
independence. This is a natural and good
process of individuation. While
respecting this natural process, you
want to provide that safe, holy
environment in which they can discover
the realities of adulthood. It would not
be wise to allow your child to make
his/her own rules, including those of
faith practices. Rather, within the
boundaries of Christian lifestyle, your
child will profit by your wisdom and the
wisdom of the Church.
Formation while attending School
My child attends a Roman Catholic
school . . .
The school faith program is set-up
during grade seven to prepare your child
for this special sacrament. Along with
course content, your child will be
expected to attend a retreat geared
towards confirmation. He/she will also
engage in social concern activities and
learn about responsibility within the
Christian community.
My child attends a public school or
is home-schooled . . .
To complement the formation you offer
at home, your child must also receive
two years of formation. There is a
correspondence course available. To be
confirmed the child must have completed:
Programme 4 - Commandments
Programme 5 - Sacraments
Confirmation programme -Christ our Life
– Confirmed in the Spirit
The programs listed above are offered
through the diocese and parishes and
taught by the parents to their
child. To register contact
Christina Mines, Diocese of Hamilton
Catechesis Office at 905-528-7988 ext.
2239 or visit the Hamilton
Diocese Catechesis Office website for
more information, printable registration
forms and to register online.
Retreat
Along with course content, your child
will be expected to attend a retreat
geared towards confirmation. Your
candidate can choose between a retreat
in the church at 7pm on Monday, April
29, or Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
How does the process work?
Applications to be considered for
Confirmation
Applications for young persons wishing
to be confirmed will emailed from our
Catholic schools or for those in Public
schools from the parish office.
The deadline for registration for 2024
has now passed. Late submissions will be
considered for the following year’s
Confirmation program.
Parent meeting
This meeting is held in the Church.
It’s purpose is to refresh the parents
understanding of confirmation, our
expectations and is an invitation to
deeper commitment in support of their
children.
Enrolment Sunday
At this stage, the applicants are asked
to formally enrol themselves in the
preparation for Confirmation. The
candidate and their family can attend
one weekend mass on either Saturday,
February 3, 2024, at 5pm or Sunday,
February 4, 2024 at 9am or 11am.
One on One Interviews
Your child will meet with one of the
pastoral team. These interviews provide
an individual encounter where the
pastoral team member can assess the
preparedness of your child to receive
this sacrament. It will also provide an
environment where the young person can
express any concerns, ask any questions
and confirm their own desire to be
closer to God and be of service to
neighbour.
Picking a Sponsor
The sponsor must be an active Roman
Catholic, at least 16 years old, having
received first communion and
confirmation and in good standing with
the Church. That person should model a
good Christian lifestyle for the one to
be confirmed. Parents cannot be
sponsors. Although some will expect it,
relatives are not necessarily the best
sponsors if they do not fulfil the
criteria. Please let us know if you find
difficult to choose a sponsor; perhaps
we can help you. Further requirements
will be supplied to the applicant during
their formation.
The celebration of Confirmation
The Confirmation Celebrations will be
on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The St. Raphael School Confirmation
Celebration will be at 10:00am and the
St. Paul School Celebration will be at
1:00pm. Candidates in the Catechetical
Correspondence Course will choose one of
these two celebrations to join.
Contact Person: Father
Emmanuel.
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