Youth Confirmation

Confirmation Requirements

Readiness for Confirmation

At St. Timothy, we have a 2 year confirmation preparation program. We require 2 years of faith formation (in 9th & 10th grade) and in 10th grade, students receive direct confirmation formation. However, Catholic School Students may opt out of 9th grade faith formation and only need participate in 10th grade.

Since Confirmation celebrates the response of the individual to the gift of faith, the primary responsibility for determining when the candidate is ready for the sacrament lies within the individual candidate himself/herself. Because Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation, the decision is to be made in dialogue with the representatives of the faith community into which the candidate is being initiated.

Parents may decide for their child that he/she will be instructed for Confirmation; however, the decision to be confirmed rests with the young person. William J. O’Malley, S.J., in his book, Sacraments:  Rites of Passage, says: To be genuine, Confirmation cannot be a treadmill onto which one is “expected” to climb at a certain age because all of the other boys and girls are doing it. It has to be a reasoned, free choice. In adolescence, young people can be invited to the world of adult responsibilities and commitments. But they can’t become adult unless free to make their own commitments. That means they may choose to make no commitments for a while. . . .That also means they may make commitments contrary to the ones that have given meaning to their parents’ lives. But love is not love unless it is freely given (175).

Attendance Requirements

We hope all youth can attend Mass weekly and Sunday evening meetings. It is within the group that youth are able to discuss, ask questions, and help each other “figure out” their Catholic Faith. If a student becomes ill or must miss a small group meeting, a parent must email their child’s mentor leader or Youth Ministry Office before the absence occurs. Because this is an issue of liability, it is imperative that we know where the student is supposed to be.

Expectations of Those Preparing for Confirmation

The decision to be confirmed is a serious one, for it indicates that a young person wishes to ratify and accept the Church. In Confirmation, one willingly assumes an active participation in the Church’s apostolate or mission.  The preparation for receiving the sacrament of Confirmation happens throughout a young person’s lifetime. This type of preparation is referred to as “remote” preparation and includes all the years of catechesis that have led to this moment. “Immediate” preparation refers to catechesis for Confirmation specifically. This Immediate preparation for Confirmation is a process that lasts one year and focuses on preparation for receiving the sacrament.

Do Catholic School Students Require The Same Preparation?

Sacramental preparation is only provided through the Parish.  Students that attend a Catholic School will not receive any Confirmation Sacramental preparation at their school.  However, since they do receive Religious Education they are not required to attend indirect formation 9th or 10th grade

Religious Education.  They are only required to attend Direct Confirmation Preparation Sunday’s. They are encouraged, however, to attend every Sunday.  A special calendar with Direct Confirmation Preparation Sunday’s is provided for all of our Catholic School Students.

Baptismal Certificate: Due ASAP

If candidate was not baptized at St. Timothy please send a copy of student’s baptismal certificate to our office or via email scan or picture to  christelle.howard@sainttims.org  or mail it to:

St. Timothy ATTN: Youth Ministry
17512 Lakeshore Rd. Lutz, FL 33558

Overnight Retreat

Candidates must attend one overnight Youth Ministry Retreat.

Confirmation Day Retreat & Rehearsal
TBD, 2020

This is a mandatory day retreat for all students getting confirmed. Parents and sponsors are also required to attend.  The retreat is located at St. Timothy.  This day retreat and rehearsal will give candidates, sponsors and parents time to reflect on this beautiful sacrament together, pray for each other, and also give every body an opportunity to run through the logistics and rehearsal of the Confirmation Mass.  This retreat is an integral part for parents/guardians and sponsors to have one last assessment of the candidate that the criterion for readiness has been met for them to receive confirmation.  Sponsors that cannot make this day can have a proxy stand in for them at the Retreat/Rehearsal.  A proxy cannot be a parent.  This day will include a lite breakfast and lunch as well.  Parents, sponsors and friends will be asked to write letters of encouragement, support, guidance and prayer to the candidates for them to receive at this retreat.

Confirmation Sponsor Info & Agreement Form: TBD, 2020

A sponsor must be a practicing, Confirmed Catholic.  He/she cannot be the candidate’s parent/guardian.  A godparent is a good choice.  The candidate is encouraged to choose someone close by.  The sponsor should be a person who is prayerful, open, dependable, loving, and has been Confirmed themselves for at least a couple years, 18 years of age or older.  If student’s confirmation sponsor is a long distance away or cannot be present at the Day Retreat/Rehearsal or at the actual Confirmation ceremony than it is acceptable to have a proxy stand in to either one or both of those events.  Parents cannot stand in proxy.

Confirmation Saint Name Form & Paper: Due TBD, 2020

As we go through our sacramental preparation for Confirmation, Confirmation saints are chosen to be a person we want to be like, as well as someone who can pray for us from heaven. Through the process of canonization, when someone is declared by the Church to be a saint, the Church is proclaiming that this member of the faithful practiced heroic virtue during their life on earth, ‘the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors’ (CCC 828).

To aspire to be like a saint is the same as trying to imitate an actor, musician, or athlete; a confirmation saint is someone cool who we want to be like!  Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of people taking on new names, dating back to the Old Testament. God changed the names of many to reflect the special roles they’d play throughout the history of the Church.

In Paragraph form, please answer the questions below regarding the Saint you chose for your Confirmation name.

1. What is your given baptismal name? (The name you were given by your parents- First and middle?)  Is there a meaning behind the name you were given?  I.e. named after a grandparent, Saint, etc.
2. What Saint’s name have you chosen for your Confirmation name?
3. Tell the Saint’s story/background using your own words.  Please do not plagiarize.
4. Explain why you have chosen this particular Saint and what it means to you.
5. How do you plan on living out your life post Confirmation? Volunteering, serving in what ministry, and favorite time and place for prayer in your daily routine?

Please list any resources you use for this reflection.  1-2 page double space typed, 12 font.

10 Service Hours: Due TBD, 2020

They are hours spent sharing your love of Jesus Christ with others who may or may not be as fortunate as you are. It is your opportunity to show that you believe in Jesus and what He taught us by your actions and deeds.  It is not enough that you know about your faith.  How do you put your faith into practice? How often do you go out of your way to help others?

In Paragraph form, please answer question regarding your 10 service hours.  This could have been completed at multiple locations.

1. What did you do for your 10 hours of service?
2. Include dates, people you helped and how did this impact you.

One to two paragraphs double space typed, 12 font.

Candidate Interview: TBD, 2020

Candidates are asked to complete a 15 minute interview with the Youth Minister, Youth Coordinator or Deacon.  The Youth Ministry office will schedule these times in March.  In the interview, the candidate will be asked about their intent to be confirmed, as well as, their reasons for making this decision.  The interview is a chance for the candidate to ask questions and process experiences from the Confirmation process before they receive the sacrament.   The Youth Minister also makes sure that all necessary paperwork and requirements are completed for the candidate at that time.

Confirmation Day Retreat/Rehearsal: TBD, 2020

This day retreat and rehearsal will give candidates, sponsors and parents time to reflect on this beautiful sacrament together, pray for each other, and also give every body an opportunity to run through the logistics and rehearsal of the Confirmation Mass.  This retreat is an integral part for parents/guardians and sponsors to have one last assessment of the candidate that the criterion for readiness has been met for them to receive confirmation.  Sponsors that cannon make this day can have a proxy stand in for them at the Retreat/Rehearsal.  A proxy cannot be a parent.  This day will include a lite breakfast and lunch as well. Parents, sponsors and friends will be asked to write letters of encouragement, support, guidance and prayer to the candidates for them to receive at this retreat.

Confirmation Mass: TBD, 2020

All are invited to attend a special Confirmation Mass.  It is recommended that family and friends joining for this special celebration arrive 45min to 1hr early for good seating. Students and sponsors will be given direction as to when to arrive and what to wear at the Confirmation Day Retreat/Rehearsal.

For more information on these ministries, please contact Justin Lantz at justin.lantz@sainttims.org or Jennifer Linder at jen.linder@sainttims.org.

We are always looking for willing hearts to join us!