Receive the Holy Spirit

In Confirmation, Christians receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit and deepening of baptismal graces needed to grow as mature disciples of Christ in the life of the Church. Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Holy Communion.

ROLE OF THE CANDIDATE

As candidates continue preparing for Confirmation, they must:

• Listen attentively and participate willingly in religious education
• Respect each other’s point of view
• Ask questions – this helps develop a more mature understanding of Christian beliefs and strengthens their commitment.
• Attend Mass weekly
• Invite a practicing Catholic to be their Confirmation sponsor
• Participate in the Youth/Parent Session, Youth/Sponsor Session, and Retreat
• Complete the Required Confirmation Checklist.
• Participate in Pastoral Team Interviews
• Remain active in the Catholic community, continuing to learn about and practice their faith.
• Dress appropriately for the Confirmation Mass

ROLE OF THE PARENT(S)

Parents play a vital role in their children’s initiation into full Christian community membership. Parents of Confirmation candidates:
They are the primary educators of their children.

• Represent the Church by showing their child a Christian example and the importance of faith.
• Are responsible for initiating their children into the sacramental life
• Serve as models for their children by being committed Catholic/Christians
• Encourage their child to worship with the parish community
• Nurture their child in the faith
• Should encourage their child to reflect on and thoroughly consider the decision to receive the sacrament of Confirmation
• Are asked to attend meetings and programs that are planned to help their child prepare for the sacrament
• Are not permitted as Confirmation sponsors of their child
• Are asked to assist their child with the immediate preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation through prayer, study, and Christian service
• They should stress the initiation aspect of the sacrament by encouraging their children to continue learning more about their faith
• Should help their child understand that Confirmation service projects are the beginning of a life committed to Christian service
• Encourage their child to participate in parish activities
• Commit to daily prayer for the candidates

Choose a Sponsor

We ask you to choose a sponsor to join your journey. A Sponsor is like a spiritual coach who lives our faith and can share their experience with you. Pick someone you admire for their faith and who can help you grow closer to Christ.

ROLE OF THE SPONSOR

Under Canon 874 of the Code of Canon Law, the Confirmation Sponsor must meet the following criteria:

• Your Confirmation Sponsor must be a practicing Roman Catholic who has celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Eucharist
• Your Confirmation Sponsor must be at least 16 years of age.
• Your Confirmation Sponsor must regularly attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation and give witness to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• Your Confirmation Sponsor must be free of all Canonical impediments. (a legal obstacle that prevents a sacrament from being performed validly)
• Your Confirmation Sponsor may not be your Mother or Father.
• Your Confirmation Sponsor is open to the Living Word of God in sacred scripture and the Church.
• A proxy may be used if your Confirmation Sponsor cannot attend your Confirmation Mass. The proxy represents the Sponsor and must fill in the same Sponsor Criteria.

Confirmation Sponsor Requirements:

• Fill out the Sponsor form.
• If possible, a parent or sponsor should participate in a service experience with the candidate.
• Attend the Youth/Sponsor Information Session
• Attend the Youth/Sponsor Workshops
• Attend the Confirmation Mass to present the student to the Archbishop to be Confirmed. 

*Experiences served as part of your stewardship or family chores cannot be counted as fulfilling your service requirements. (Examples: Serving at Mass, running the cameras at Mass, mowing your lawn, taking out the trash, helping a sibling study or do homework, babysitting)

Service is a component of the confirmation process as required by our Diocese.

For our confirmation Service, we ask that students center their service around the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy with one of the projects under Care for the Common Home (Care for Creation). Students are asked to perform a minimum of six (6) experiences (while we do not require a set amount of hours at St Lawrence, a minimum of 12 hours of service hours is a guideline to provide a real experience)

(Example: A service trip to Franciscan Soup Kitchen 4 hours of service – 1 experience for community, [Corporal Works: Feeding the Hungry, Giving Drink to the Thirsty])

(Example: Cleaning Tables at the Fish Fry could be 1-3 hours and would count for one experience for the Parish)

(Example: Baking Cookies or a cake for a Bereavement meal after a funeral count for one experience [Bury the Dead, Comfort the Sorrowful])

A list of service organizations can be found at the link below. Also, check our Youth Ministry Facebook page for announcements about service trips to Franciscan Soup Kitchen or other organizations. We hope that once you begin serving, you’ll want to continue serving, as that is our call as Christians–to love and serve others.

The link below is from the Catholic Charities Office, listing their many service opportunities.

The link below is a list of service organizations and non-profit organizations in the Archdiocese of Louisville.

• Service Ideas Within the Community
• Visit the elderly in a nursing home
• Assist senior citizens with chores
• Volunteer Work at the Hospital
• Volunteer work at a food pantry
• Tutor after school for a younger student
• Volunteer at the Homeless Shelter
• Walk a 5k for a Cause
• Service Ideas Within the Parish
• Attend Adoration for 1 hour
• Help Setup/Clean up for Parish Events
• Volunteer to help a Teacher
• Clean up around the parish grounds
• Write a letter to a seminarian
• Attend a Bible Study or start one

Select a Saint’s Name

Do some research on Saints in the church. Look into their interests and causes and find some that interest or pertain to you. Your saint name will serve as your inspiration for being a church member and your name when you receive the Sacrament.

Letter to the Pastor

The Pastor of St Lawrence would like to receive a letter from each student before the Confirmation Mass that shows that they have prayerfully discerned that they are ready for Confirmation.

Your letter will be approved by your teacher and then given to the Confirmation Coordinator, Mike Raymer, at the Parish office.

The following components need to be in the letter to Pastor:
1.  What does Confirmation mean to me?
2.  What did I do to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation?   
3.  Which service experience had the most significant impact on me?
4.  Why did I choose my sponsor?
5.  What is my Confirmation name, and why did I choose it? 
6.  What will I do in the future to live out my Confirmation Commitment and be an active member of my church?