Confirmation

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. Small Group Meetings (year-round, beginning in October)

Small Group meetings begin in October and will meet 3 times a month, both in-person and online. During the year, small groups will also go through the ALTARATION program. 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.

3. Confirmation Saint Name (by April 30, 2023)

• 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.

4. Diocesan High School Rally and Middle School BASH (October 23, 2022 and April 22, 2023)

Year 1 and 2 students attend the Diocesan High School Rally or Middle School BASH Events (depending on their age) which take place on October 23, 2022 (Rally) and April 22, 2023 (BASH). More information will be available closer to the events.

5. Service

There are no service hour requirements, but practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy is an important part of the Faith and will be a topic in the Confirmation interview.

6. 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).

7. Other Year One Requirements

• Baptismal Certificate – must be turned in no later than September 30, 2022.
• Confirmation Sponsor – Year 1 students must choose their Confirmation Sponsor and submit his/her Name and Sponsor Letter before April 30, 2023. 
  • 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, 2023 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.