The Formal Confirmation Process
1. Every young adult who wishes to be confirmed will need to request to receive the sacrament. This need for a request is the same with all the sacraments (for children under the age of 7, parents make the request for Baptism and Eucharist on behalf of their child). This request for Confirmation can be made at any point along the student's time in the Disciple Formation Program; although, it's anticipated that most students will make the request in their Junior Year of High School. The "Confirmation Request" form is linked above (and is received by Anne and Fr. Brian). This is an exercise in Catholic maturity for our youth, and is aimed at keeping young adults as intentional, willing participants in their faith and faith formation.
2. An informal meeting is scheduled between the student, his/her sponsor, and the "Confirmation Board." The purpose of the Confirmation Board is to involve other senior parish members in the sacrament, and to begin making connections whereby the student is welcomed into adult involvement in the Church through Confirmation. The Confirmation Board consists of: Fr. Brian, Anne Stemper, and 2-3 other people who are active in the parish and serve as examples of committed discipleship.
3. The Confirmation Board meeting happens. It is a casual gathering where the student shares: how s/he is already beginning to put the faith into practice in everyday life and life situations, what the student's plans are for continuing his or her faith formation after Confirmation, what the student's Confirmation name will be and how that name signifies this new step in his or her life as a student of Christ, and how the student plans to be involved in the parish or the wider Church as an adult. Unless there is serious reason why a student would be asked to hold off on the sacrament for a little bit, the Board welcomes the student to receive the sacrament. To help prepare for the meeting with the Board, just click HERE or the button above.
4. A formal letter is written by the student to the Bishop (Anne will give details as to what the letter should include). This letter is then given to Anne, who forwards it to the Bishop.
5. Students participate in two preparation sessions and a retreat. While the entire High School Disciple Formation program is meant to prepare students for Confirmation and Catholic living, focused preparation for the sacrament is the subject of these two sessions and retreat. The sessions are times of instruction and reflection, and the retreat is a time of reflecting on the Rite of Confirmation itself through various experiences of: prayer, anointing with unconsecrated oil, the laying on of hands, the taking on of a new name, and so on.
6. The Sacrament of Confirmation is scheduled and takes place. Please note that the scheduling of the sacrament is entirely dependent upon Bishop's schedule. In the Summer months, Bishop's office sends parishes a list of potential Confirmation dates; the parishes respond with their preferred dates; Bishop's office collates the data from the parishes and makes a schedule of Confirmation Masses throughout the diocese. Saint Clare's Confirmation Masses are generally in the Fall of the year. When an annual date for our next Confirmation Mass is confirmed with the Bishop's office, parents and students will be notified without delay so that planning of celebrations can begin. THE CONFIRMATION MASS FOR FALL OF 2024 IS ON SATURDAY, OCT. 19, 6PM @ HOLY FAMILY IN BRILLION. The Diocese of Green Bay has a dress code for Confirmation Masses. Please follow the link to the right for the dress code.