Confirmation

Confirmation is usually received near the end of 8th grade in our diocese. Some form of continuous religious education and family practice is expected from First Communion through 8th grade as regular long-term preparation. For short term requirements and registration, whether the child is in our religious education program, Our Lady of Grace School, or is being home schooled, go HERE.

If you are 10th grade or older, in college or an adult and would like to prepare for Confirmation, you will need to talk to Jim McCullough at 274-6520 ext. 335 or email him at jmccullough@olgchurch.org. After some discussion, we will decide upon the best way to proceed.

Confirmation Preparation

Long-Term Preparation (begins in 6th grade and continues through 8th grade)

Four elements are necessary: 1. Sacramental Life, 2. Catechetical Instruction, 3. Prayer Life Development, and 4. Living as part of the Body of Christ.

As is appropriate for middle school children, all these things are done through guided practice or apprenticeship with adults.

These adults are, most crucially, the parents who prepare their children through their lived Catholic Christian family life.

Parents provide middle school children encouragement, good example, instruction, and invitations to step up to the challenge of living a fully Christian life.

The parents' role is supplemented by adult catechists, youth leaders, clergy, and other parish families, but ordinarily it cannot be replaced.

Let's consider the elements one-by-one:

1. Sacramental Life "The most important activity for the candidates is regular attendance at Eucharist," state the diocesan guidelines. For middle school children this means weekly family Mass attendance.
   
   
2. Catechetical Instruction This means a systematic instruction in all the major elements of the Catholic faith. It may be done in the Catholic School, the parish religious education program, or through approved instruction at home.
   
   
3. Prayer Life Development This means learning how to pray, how to reflect upon the Scriptures, making morning and evening prayer a daily part of life, learning to take certain times for personal or communal prayer and spiritual growth, etc. Some of this is done in classes, but example and coaching at home is crucial.
   
   
4. Living as part of the Body of Christ This means service to others in the parish and outside of it; taking part in parish events that make Our Lady of Grace our church family; bearing witness to Jesus by living our faith in daily events as He has instructed us in Scripture, prayer, and through the teachings of His Church. The parish provides many opportunities. It is up to the family to choose and participate.
   
   

Immediate or Short-Term Preparation (begins at the end of 7th grade)

Church Tradition, canon law, and our own diocese mandate that Confirmation candidates must be 1.) suitably instructed and 2.) properly disposed.

They are "suitably instructed" throughout 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, and in the retreat experiences they have after 7th grade. Their "disposition toward receiving the sacrament" is considered in the interviews noted below.

Steps to Confirmation after 7th Grade:

1. Initial interview in October  We will review the 4 elements of the guided practice of long-term preparation, and agree on a plan to strengthen their practice where it is needed. We recommend 30 service hours for Confirmandi between the end of 7th grade and Confirmation. Keep very brief notes on your service so you can discuss it in your interviews.
   
   
2. The Confirmation Retreat Sunday, March 25, 2012 at The Summit at Haw River State Park. It will include deeper instruction on the sacrament of Confirmation, discerning a personal sense of vocation, and what their initiation as a Catholic implies about their future activities.
   
   
3. Final Interview in late March Discussion of what has been done, learned, absorbed, as well as what the candidate wants. Is the candidate committed to further growth as a Catholic? Service Project Reflection Sheets will be due at this time. (see Service Record below)
   
   
4. Rehearsal and Liturgy: The diocese will inform us of the date and celebrant, probably in January, 2012. We will then set the rehearsal date.
   

Paper work needed (PDF files):
Confirmation Preparation Packet
Confirmation Registration Form
Sponsor Information Form
Confirmation Saint Report
Service Record


All forms must be turned in to the church office, care of "Faith Formation." Do not turn them in to school teachers or catechists. Thanks!

Confirmation Sponsors

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Contents and photographs copyright 2007 by Our Lady of Grace Church
Design and graphics copyright 2007 by Karen McCullough