The Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation Process
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welcome!
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Congratulations!
First things first, our faith community is always extremely excited whenever any of our young people freely decide that they would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It takes courage to become a fully initiated disciple of Christ, and we want to congratulate you and your teen and let you know that we are praying for all of you as you explore the possibility to begin the process to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
“Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the Sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiations, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.” from the Catechism of the Catholic Church - CCC 1316
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It's time for a talk...
As mentioned above, receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation is a decision freely made by our youth. Before registering your son or daughter for Confirmation, please have a conversation with them to see where they are in their relationship with Christ and His Church, if they are open and committed to growing those relationships, and if they are willing to commit to the time and effort needed to participate in the Sacramental Preparation Program.
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Mass attendance
Regular attendance at Mass is expected. Going to Mass is central to our faith life. You don't start "acting Catholic" after Confirmation, just like you don't marry a stranger and then you start dating and fall in love after the wedding!
The day you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation is a public declaration of your faith and commitment to the Catholic Church. Just like on your wedding day, you already love your fiancé and are committed to them and your relationship; your wedding ceremony makes it official
The big question is this: If you and your family do not attend Mass regularly now, why would you want to register your teen in a program that will lead them to become a fully initiated member of the Church that you don't feel connected to?
Here's the good news... So let's say your family has not been the best Mass attendees lately... well, this is your moment to shine! Recommit to celebrating the Sabbath Day as a family! Come home! Our parish and Church need your family's presence! Our community is here, ready to welcome and care for you! We want you to be part of our faith community and everything we are about! If it has been a while since you have attended Mass or if are struggling with our Catholic faith, please check out this amazing website called, "Catholics Come Home."
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who is eligible to enter the confirmtion preparation process?
How do I know if I am ready to register for Confirmation?
Registering does not mean that you already know absolutely everything there is to know about the faith! It means you are deciding to be committed to the program that will show and allow you to experience what it means to be Catholic. You will then be able to make an informed decision on your Confirmation Day to become a fully initiated member of the Church!
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Past Religious Education Experience
Any 9th through 12th-grade student is welcome to join our Confirmation Preparation Process! Teens that attended a Catholic School or our parish's (or any other Catholic parish's Faith Faith Formation program) can join the immediate Sacramental preparation program that runs concurrently with the second-year formation year.
Teens are typically confirmed in the Spring of their 10th-grade year, after completing the required two-year preparation requirements. (Older teens, of course, are welcome to join!)
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Please note...
A change has recently been made to the grade/age teens can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the past, participation in 8th-grade Faith Formation (or attending a Catholic grade school) was Year 1 of the Confirmation Program and teens were traditionally Confirmed in the Spring of their 9th grade. Starting this year, 10th grade will be the earliest that teens can receive the Sacrament.
Teens that completed Year 1 Confirmation LAST year will still be Confirmed this Spring as was expected. However, starting this year, Year 1 Confirmation Faith Formation will now begin in 9th grade.
Please read Fr. Dean's letter HERE, explaining his decision...
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Registration
Family Registration
The teen's family must be currently registered family here at St. John Neumann. If you live in our parish's canonical boundaries and your family is not registered, please click HERE first before proceeding. We are sorry, but we are unable to accommodate teens from other parishes.
IMPORTANT! If you have not already done so, families will need to add their children as household members by registering them on the MY SJN Hub prior to filling out the registration form.
Teen Registration
Parents must complete all necessary registration forms, submit copies of their teen's Baptism and First Holy Communion certificates, and pay the necessary Registration and Sacramental preparation fees in order to complete the registration process.
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