Confirmation Preparation

Thank you for looking into beginning your Confirmation process with us here at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  We look forward to accompanying you on your journey! 

Questions or concerns about Confirmation preparation can be directed to:

Beverly Miller

Director of Youth Ministry
ssppyouth4u@gmail.com   |    388.2995

 
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third and final Sacrament of Initiation in the Catholic Church. It confirms and completes the Sacrament of Baptism. The time of preparation helps the candidate to grow closer to God, develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, and open themselves to the reception of the Holy Spirit and His seven gifts. Weekend Mass attendance is necessary, and must be of the highest priority. In addition, increased personal prayer time, frequent reception of the Sacraments and catechesis in either the Catholic School or Parish based Faith Formation classes are essential components.
 
Candidates:
are invited to begin the two year preparation process at the beginning of their freshman year.  Below you will find the main elements of this process.
 

Mass Attendance:
Weekly Mass attendance is a vital part of your Confirmation Preparation.  We want to help you grow deeper in your Encounter with Christ, and participating in the greatest Prayer [our Catholic Mass] and worthily receiving Jesus physically and substantially present in the Eucharist is the best start, middle and ending to that goal!  Beginning September 15th, you will be asked to submit weekly homily notes online.  More details can be found here:  https://sspeterandpaul.com/homily-notes

Orientations: September 15, 2019
The first step in the Confirmation process for both our incoming 9th grade students and 2nd Year students is attending our parish Confirmation Orientations being held in the Desmet Hall (Fitzgerald Building) Sunday, September 15th beginning at 10:30 am.    All candidates and parents are to attend the orientation where you will meet our Pastor, Fr. Andrew Whiting, receive all informational materials for the year, and take part in a brief parent session for our YOU programming taking place this fall.   

Interviews:

Year I Candidates First Interview will be held: Wednesday, November 6th 2019
Year II Candidates Second Interview will be held: Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

All candidates will meet with Fr. Andrew in the Fitzgerald building beginning at 6 pm.  Signs will be posted as to where to go.

Choosing Sponsors:
Sponsors, chosen by the confirmandi, guide them throughout the preparation process. This person is to be a committed Catholic, one that you can look to for prayer and support, someone you feel comfortable sharing your beliefs with. The sponsor must be a mature Catholic, confirmed and practicing their Catholic faith. We strongly recommend they be at least several years out of high school or older, preferably living in this area. The sponsor can be a family member, godparent, friend, teacher, etc..., but it cannot be your parent. Candidates and sponsors meet several times throughout the preparation time for service projects and Year II monthly Confirmation classes with Fr. Andrew Whiting, IVE.
 
Commitment/ Recognition Sundays:

• Year I Rite of Enrollment will be held Sunday, November 17th 2019 at the 9:30 am Mass. We will have seats reserved in the front of church for Year I Candidates, Sponsors and/or Parents.  Please arrive no later than 9:00 am and meet in the Gathering area of Church for more information

• Year II Rite of Testimony will be held Sunday, April 26th at the 9:30 am Mass.  We will have seats reserved in the front of church for Year II Candidates and Sponsors.  Please arrive no later than 9:00 am and meet in the Gathering area of Church for more information. 

Service Projects:
During their preparation years candidates are asked to look at how they can encounter God through the service of others. We ask sponsors and candidates to participate in these projects together.  Both Candidate and Sponsor will be asked to share in a letter how they saw Christ in their time of Service.   Contact Beverly or see your Confirmation handbook for ideas.
 
Retreats and Encounter Opportunities:
Year I Confirmation will be attending 3 LIFELINE events in St. Paul at the Net Center.  These events fall on 1st Saturdays.  Carpooling to and from will be provided:  October 5, January 4, February 1.  We will leave from SSPP at 3 pm and be back by 12 am.

Year II Confirmation will be attending 1 TEC [Together Encounter Christ] retreat.  Optional retreat times would be October 18-20 in Rochester or February 15-17 in Jackson.  Carpooling to and from retreat will be provided.

*Please fill online permission form found here https://sspeterandpaul.com/forms-1 in order to allow us to transport youth to and from events.

 
Confirmation Rehearsal and Photos: [TBA]
Photos will begin at 5:30 pm at Ss. Peter and Paul Church.  (Please arrive by 5:15 pm.) Rehearsal will begin at 6 pm 

Dress Code for Rehearsal, photos, and Confirmation is as follows:
All candidates and sponsors are expected to dress appropriately. This means modest dresses/skirts & tops for girls.  No spaghetti strapped dresses, skirts should be no less than 5 inches above the knee.  Tie and dress pants, shoes, shirts for boys (suit coat optional).

Confirmation Ceremony: [DTBA]
Confirmandi are Confirmed by the Bishop at the end of their second year of preparation, which many times will be 10th grade.   Ss. Peter and Paul will combine with St. Joseph the Worker/ Holy Family Parish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We encourage all parishioners to attend, especially Year I Confirmation students to pray for your friends in Christ and witness what you will be receiving the following year.