Grade 8 and High School: Confirmation 2024

The Confirmation Date has been set. It is Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 4PM at St. Ambrose Church with Bishop James Checchio presiding.  The date of the Confirmation Retreat including location and the date for Practice will be announced shortly.

Sponsor Requirements It is an honor to be asked to serve as a sponsor for Confirmation. This privilege, however, does carry some responsibilities. Because of the close relationship between Baptism and Confirmation, one of your Baptismal godparents would be a good choice. Whoever you choose, a sponsor should be a person who can take an active role in your preparation for Confirmation. They should demonstrate a genuine and observable commitment to their faith and model the behavior of a person striving to follow Jesus and his teachings. What is a Sponsor?

• An individual who has more experience than you do in the faith.
• An individual who cares deeply and takes the journey of faith seriously enough to want to talk about it and walk it with you.  
• An individual who wants to be there for you and is able to spend time with you during your preparations for the sacrament. 
• Someone who sets an example of faith through regular church attendance.

• MUST belong to the Catholic Church, and be fully initiated – having received Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
• MUST be at least 14 years of age, sufficiently mature in his or her faith commitment and be actively expressing it within the Christian Community - regularly attending Mass
• MAY be male or female for any candidate.
• MAY NOT be a parent, but MAY be a grandparent.

List of Things every Confirmation Candidate should know:
Go to https://www.saintambroseparish.com/psr for many of the answers.

How to find something in the Bible
The prayers you need to know
The different types of prayer
The Creed
The Ten Commandments
The Precepts of the Church
The Seven Sacraments
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (and how they are important to your personal prayer life)
Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Beatitudes
Why the Holy Eucharist is central to our faith
The connection between Baptism and Confirmation
What we believe about the Saints
How to find a favorite saint (see links below and to the left)
The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell
What the Church teaches about Purgatory (and where is that in the Bible)
What is the Holy Trinity (and where is that in the Bible)
What is the Mass
Why we should never miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days
What is sin and what is the difference between Mortal and Venial Sin?
What is the difference between Sins of Omission and Sins of Commission?
What does the Church teach about Heaven?
Why does the Church teach that what is in the heart is so important to our faith?

What is Confirmation?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that:
 

"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." CCC 1285

“…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.” CCC1309

Parents, along with the pastoral staff, are to see to it that candidates are properly instructed about the sacrament. Because parents are the primary educators of their children and are responsible for initiating their children into the sacramental life, you serve as role models for your child by being committed Christians. In fulfilling their role, parents should expect to:

• Worship with your families regularly.
• Be actively involved in the Confirmation preparation of the candidate.
• Engage in discussions about the material being studied including sharing your understanding and perspective.
• Encourage your child to reflect and thoughtfully consider the decision to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
• Pray for your child’s spiritual growth every day.
• Support and encourage completion of assignments, activities, and expectations.

• Parents are responsible for initiating their children into the sacramental life.

• Must freely choose to be confirmed and make their desire known and be willing to participate in the Confirmation program of prayer, preparation and Reconciliation, etc.
• Must be in the state of grace at the time of Confirmation
• Must have adequate knowledge of the Catholic Faith and have participated in required classes
• Must attend Sunday Mass (or Saturday Vigil) and Holy Days of Obligation and receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation regularly.
• Are responsible for completing all required home study, service projects /service hours (20), and spiritual formation encounters.
• Must be aware of the initiation aspect of the sacrament of Confirmation and be committed to continuing the faithful practice and study of their religion.