ST. MARY'S CONFIRMATION 2007-2008
The St. Mary’s Confirmation program is a seven-month process beginning in October of 2007 and extending through May of 2008. Youth in grades 9-12 who are registered members of St. Mary’s Parish and who freely choose to be confirmed will prepare to receive the sacrament as a group.
The emphasis of the Confirmation program at St. Mary’s is on the experiential nature of our faith. It is by integrating our faith experiences with life that we make the transition from head knowledge to personal relationship with Christ as members of His Body, the Church. While emphasizing the experiential, the program also seeks to provide solid teaching on Christian discipleship within the framework of Catholic theology.
Youth seeking to become candidates for Confirmation will register in September. The registration asks for information regarding baptism, name of sponsor, etc. Confirmation classes begin the second weekend in October. The Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Confirmation will take place on the weekend of Oct. 20th-21st. Prayer/worship experiences as well as service opportunities will be scheduled accordingly throughout the calendar year.
Service privileges are designed to enhance the ability of the candidates to serve as part of the larger faith community. These experiences are an excellent opportunity for each person to recognize his/her own gifts and blessings as he/she offers assistance to people in need. It is our hope that the candidates will be guided to a lifetime of service to others as fully initiated members of the church.
Time will be taken for a weekend Confirmation "Advance" (previously known as a retreat). This “Advance” provides the candidates an opportunity to reflect on their personal faith experiences and to look forward to the approaching Confirmation celebration.
Parental involvement is the key to the prayer /worship, catechesis, and service opportunities. The catechists and the Confirmation coordinator may serve as role models, but it is important to stress that parental involvement shows interest and commitment from the entire family.
Confirmation is about faith, commitment, and community. Each person – from coordinators, catechists, candidates, sponsors, parents, and the entire faith community of St. Mary’s – should grow in openness to and awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit during the Confirmation preparation and throughout their journey of faith.
The reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on April 13, 2008 at the 11:00 AM Mass.
The candidate must be registered in the program and will be required to fully participate in the following activities:
6 classes – October 2007 through May 2008
Confirmation "Advance" Weekend
Once registered, each candidate and their parent(s) will sign a
Confirmation Covenant Agreement
We reserve the right to recommend that a candidate's Confirmation be postponed if we feel he/she is not participating fully in the Confirmation preparation.
We do ask that a fee of $50.00 be made to offset the cost of the Confirmation Advance Weekend, but no one will be denied the experience because of financial reasons.
EACH STUDENT IN GRADES 9-12 WHO WISHES TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR CONFIRMATION MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO CHRIST IN HIS/HER LIFE
CONFIRMATION CALENDAR
Most Confirmation classes will be held on the second Sunday of each month from 7:00-8:00 PM in the parish hall.
October 14th God's Plan
October 20th/21st Rite of Admission to Candidacy for
Confirmation at all the Masses
November 11th God's Love
December 15th CONFIRMATION ADVANCE WEEKEND
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
January 13th The Catholic faith and Our Parish History
February 10th Baptism and Confirmation
March 9th The Mass and Eucharist/New Life in the Spirit
April 6th Confirmation Rehearsal at 7:00 PM in the church
April 13th THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
at the 11:00 AM Mass
GOALS OF THE CONFIRMATION PROGRAM
That the candidates understand and comprehend the significance and role of the sacraments in their own lives and in the life of the Church.
That the candidates recognize and appreciate the role and activity of the Holy Spirit in their own lives and in the life of the Church.
That the candidates have a reasonable understanding of the person, mission, and message of Jesus.
That the candidates have a better understanding of what it means to commit their lives to Christ.
That the candidates experience the meaning of initiation into a welcoming community.
That the candidates understand the Rite of Confirmation and prepare to celebrate it in a meaningful way.
ROLE OF THE CONFIRMATION SPONSOR
It is necessary that the person chosen by the candidate to be their Confirmation sponsor fulfill the conditions mentioned in Canon 874.5 of the code of Canon Law for the Roman Catholic Church.
1.) The sponsor must be a Catholic who has been baptized, confirmed, and has received the Holy Eucharist. The sponsor should lead a life in harmony with the faith.
2.) The sponsor must have completed their 16th year unless the pastor makes an exception to this for a just cause.
3.) The sponsor may not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed.
It is desirable that the one who undertook the role of sponsor at baptism be the sponsor for Confirmation (Canon 893).
A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be a sponsor but may be a witness to Confirmation together with a Catholic sponsor (Canon 874).
The sponsor is strongly encouraged to meet/talk with the Confirmation candidate at least once a month to discuss: the candidate's spirituality and prayer life, the service project in which the candidate is involved, the candidate's relationship with others, the candidate's school life, where the Holy Spirit is leading the candidate, etc. In this respect, it is advisable that the Confirmation sponsor be a person who lives in close proximity to the Confirmation candidate.
The sponsor is strongly encouraged to attend Mass with the candidate during the Confirmation process. Sharing a meal together after Mass is another way to 'reach-out' to the Confirmation candidate.
The sponsor is strongly encouraged to show his/her support for the candidate through prayers, cards or letters, and phone calls during the Confirmation preparation and to continue to lend spiritual support after the Confirmation catechesis and liturgy is over.
Questions? Contact:
Patti McTaggart
302 East Jefferson
Iowa City 52245
Phone: 337-4314
Email: pmctaggart@icstmary.org