Confirmation

Grades 7 – 12 (see below for detailed requirements)

At Good Shepherd, preparation for Confirmation is a two-year process which typically occurs during 7th and 8th grades with Confirmation taking place in Fall of the 9th grade year.

If your Middle or High Schooler has not yet received First Reconciliation or First Eucharist, preparation for those sacraments will have additional requirements. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will take place in the Spring of their second year of preparation.

Contact Miguel DeAngel with any questions about grades 7 – 12 sacramental preparation.

Adult Confirmation

For those who are already baptized Catholic, but never received the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist, Good Shepherd offers a 10-week session of small group meetings to prepare for these Sacraments. Contact Joan Sheppard for a list of the upcoming sessions.

Confirmation Preparation

Confirmation preparation is a two-year process focused on the candidate’s experience of Mass, Scripture, Service and Fellowship with their fellow Confirmation candidates as well as the larger Good Shepherd community.

Here are the specific requirements that must be met in Year 1 and Year 2 in order for the candidate to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

If Year 1 requirements are not met, the student must re-register in Year 1 the following year;
If Year 2 requirements are not met, the student must re-register in Year 2 the following year.

Registration

Registration for the 2022-2023 year is open until May 31, 2022. Click here to register.

Year One Student Requirements

1. Mass and Gospel Weeklies (year-round)

Parents must attend the Quarterly Gospel Weeklies meetings and pick up their child’s packet.
Families must attend Mass on a weekly basis and complete the Gospel Weeklies activities for that week.

2. ALTARATION (complete between March 1 – May 31, 2022)

Year 1 students must complete the ALTARATION program between March 1 and May 31, 2022. Click here for details about the Altaration program

3. BASH (April 30, 2022)

Year 1 and 2 students attend the Diocesan BASH Event which takes place on April 30, 2022. Click here for details about BASH. There is no cost to the family. Good Shepherd provides transportation to and from the event.

4. Sacrament of Reconciliation

All Year 1 students are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during their first year of preparation. This may be done at any regular weekly offering at Good Shepherd or at one of our special Evenings of Reconciliation (Advent and Lent).

5. Other Year One Requirements

Baptismal Certificate – must be turned in no later than May 31, 2022.
Confirmation Sponsor – Year 1 students must choose their Confirmation Sponsor and submit his/her Name and Sponsor Letter before April 30, 2022.
- Year 1 students should watch this video on Choosing Your Sponsor and read the Sponsor Eligibility Requirements before choosing a sponsor.
- Sponsors must submit confirmation no later than April 30, 2022 that they meet the requirements to be a Confirmation Sponsor:
  - If your Sponsor is a registered parishioner of Good Shepherd, have them complete and submit the Good Shepherd Sponsor Information Form;
  - If your Sponsor is registered at another parish (not Good Shepherd), they must submit a Sponsor Eligibility Letter from the parish where they are registered.
  - Sponsor Information Form or Sponsor Eligibility Letter must be submitted to the Parish Office or via email to Jessica Campos. You must include “Confirmation Sponsor Letter” in the subject line of your email.

Year 2 Requirements

1. Mass and Gospel Weeklies (year-round)

Parents must attend the Quarterly Gospel Weeklies meetings and pick up their child’s packet.
Families must attend Mass on a weekly basis and complete the Gospel Weeklies activities for that week.

2. BASH (April 30, 2022)

3. Small Groups and Anointed in the Spirit

Year 2 students will actively participate in a Small Group consisting of a group of their peers and two adult mentors.
- Active Participation is defined as being present in the Group (in person or virtual meetings as determined by the Small Group Leaders) and engaging in the discussion. If virtual, students will have their cameras on.
Year 2 students will complete the assignments in the Anointed in the Spirit textbook as provided by their Small Group Leader. The chapters will be discussed during the Small Group meetings.

4. Confirmation Name – by March 31, 2022

Year 2 Students must turn in their Confirmation Saint Name to their Small Group Leader according to the Group’s meeting schedule. (Small Group Leaders will inform the students what date the students will discuss their chosen Confirmation Names.)
Candidates may choose to keep their baptismal name, signifying that they are confirming the faith that was given to them at Baptism; or, Candidates may choose the name of a patron saint, or one of the great men or women of the Bible, who serves as a role model and guide.

Resources to help you choose a Saint

Choosing a Confirmation Saint – Check out this video to hear some Good Shepherd Young Adults and Father Tom talk about what saint they chose for their Confirmation and why;
Biggest and Best List of Confirmation Saints – A Lifeteen blog post that explains why we choose a Confirmation saint and offers a long list of potential saints organized into interesting categories.

5. Works of Mercy

As Catholics confirmed in your Mission to serve as Christ serves, Candidates will complete the following:

A minimum of 10 hours of volunteer service of their choice;
Online completion of the Confirmation Service Reflection Questions (due September 1)

6. Interview

The Confirmation Interview is an opportunity for each candidate to articulate their understanding of the sacrament of Confirmation, why they want to be confirmed, and how they think God may be calling them to put their faith in action moving forward.

Candidates will sign up to be interviewed by their Small Group Leaders in September 2022.

7. Sacrament of Reconciliation

All Year 2 Candidates will participate in a Reconciliation Service at Good Shepherd at a future date.

8. Retreat

All Confirmation Candidates will participate in a Confirmation Retreat – the culmination of your two years of preparation, and a Spirit-filled celebration of your Small Group and Good Shepherd community.

The Retreat will be held at Good Shepherd in late Summer/early Fall of 2022 (date TBD).

9. Confirmation Rehearsal

All Candidates and their Sponsors must participate in the Confirmation Rehearsal in October (date TBD).

10. Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

If the Candidate has completed all of the requirements listed above, he or she will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Good Shepherd on October 29, 2022.