Confirmation

Strengthening the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Are you an adult who needs Confirmation? See our OCIA page!

Youth Confirmation Prerequisites

  • Already Baptized (Your student not yet baptized? Email Katelyn Greenlee at katelyng@holyredeemervanc.org)

  • In 6th Grade or Older (to receive Confirmation in 7th grade or older)

The first step is to register your student for their regular Faith Formation program (Fraternus or Fidelis). Click here to register! 

How Preparation Works at Holy Redeemer

  • Attend a Welcome Meeting (for both student and parent) in the Fall

  • Submit required Documents (listed in your folder, received at a Welcome Meeting)

  • Weekly Participation in Fraternus (for young men) or Fidelis (for young women)

  • Monthly Confirmation sessions, attended by students and a parent or their sponsor

  • Catholic Parenting Series (for adults only) in Early Spring

  • Three Witness events of your choosing (one in each category of Evangelization, Mercy, and Vocation)

  • Participation in the Confirmation Retreat (Early to Mid November)

  • Confirmation Mass (Saturday evening in Late November)

Documents and Helpful links

You can find copies of these documents in the folder you received at your Welcome Meeting. But if you need another, find them below! You may scan and email your documents electronically, or stop by the parish center during office hours to turn them in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you start in 6th Grade? Why do you have Confirmation in the Fall? Since 2020, the “typical” age of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Seattle is now 7th grade. We want our Confirmandi to benefit from the grace of the sacrament as early as possible, so they receive the sacrament early in their 7th grade year (towards the end of November). This means preparation begins as early as the start of 6th grade, and families can take advantage of the summertime to pursue activities that meet the requirements of our preparation program. Confirmed 7th graders are expected to register for Fraternus or Fidelis at the start of 7th grade and continue participating in the program throughout the school year.

What if my child also needs to prepare for their First Communion? Students who are in 6th grade (or older) and have been baptized but not yet received their First Communion will receive their First Communion at their Confirmation Mass. When registering, there will be a place to indicate what sacraments your student needs. These students will need to attend a few extra sessions, dates and times TBD.

What’s “Confirmandi?” Confirmandi are people preparing for Confirmation. “Confirmandi” is a group, “Confirmand” is one person.

What’s a Sponsor? A Sponsor is an adult practicing Catholic who acts as a mentor throughout Confirmation Preparation. During the Confirmation Mass, they attest to the readiness of the Confirmand to receive the sacrament! Catholic godparents are a great choice for a Confirmation Sponsors, but any Catholic who meets the requirements can make a great sponsor. We’ll discuss specifics during a Welcome Meeting.

How do I enroll my student? Register your student for Fraternus or Fidelis in the Summer or Fall, and we’ll reach out to you to help you enroll in Confirmation preparation. If you approach us in the Winter or Spring, contact Katelyn for details.

What are Welcome Meetings? A Welcome Meeting is a required “Info Night” where we give you all the details about the program and answer questions. It’s also a great opportunity to bring up any known schedule conflicts. We’ll offer multiple opportunities to attend a Welcome Meeting, but if none of them work contact Katelyn to set up a 1 on 1 meeting. All families must attend a Welcome Meeting.

How many classes can I miss? None, but we understand that illnesses and unavoidable conflicts happen. Generally speaking we expect you to attend and participate in about 80% of the sessions. Our monthly Confirmation sessions are especially important because it’s difficult to recreate discussion and activities at home. The most important thing is to contact Katelyn when you know you’re going to be gone, so we can arrange for an alternative experience. During the Welcome Meeting we give you all the dates (as best as we know them) for the whole program, and try our best to stick to the original calendar. If you miss a significant portion of the program, and we don’t hear from you, you risk delaying your Confirmation to a future date.

 

Youth and Parent Roles at Weekly Confirmation Class

 

Youth Participation: Youth preparing for Confirmation are expected to attend 80% of weekly classes, both Confirmation preparation specific classes (monthly, on Tuesdsay evenings) and Fraternus/Fidelis evenings (weekly, on Wednesdays). Youth are also responsible for volunteering or participating in three kinds of events (Faith, Service, and Vocation) and completing a short written reflection on each. Youth also need to participate in the Confirmation Retreat. All requirements, including all paperwork, need to be completed and turned in before the day of the Confirmation Mass.

Parent Involvement: Parent involvement is required for Confirmation at all ages. Dedicated Parent/Sponsor sessions are planned to begin in the Winter. Parents of middle school students are asked to attend Large group sessions with their students as well. 

Confirmation “Lingo” (Terminology)

Mentor: A highly dedicated adult volunteer trained and equipped to accompany your son or daughter on the way to holiness. Their goal is to accompany your teenager to help them discover Christ’s importance in their lives, and to support a dialogue that engages rather than merely teaches.

Parent/Sponsor Sessions: Parents are required to attend Parent Sessions where material is presented for parents to help their students and families grow in holiness.

Confirmandi: A person preparing for Confirmation.

Youth Requirements (Outside of Class)

 

Youth are required to complete three outside-of-class service and faith-deepening events in preparation for Confirmation. These are:

Articulating the Faith Event reflection
Articulating the Faith is an event or experience where the student teaches or communicates Christ and/or the teachings of the Church in word and/or deed. They will then write a short reflection on the experience (use the above document linked).

Service Event reflection
A Service event is time spent serving others according to the Spiritual or Corporal works of Mercy. They will then write a short reflection on the experience (use the above document linked).

Vocation Event reflection
A vocation event is an event where the student learns about a vocation different than marriage. They will then write a short reflection on the experience (use the above document linked).

At the Welcome Meeting, you will be given a sheet of events going on throughout the calendar year which fall under these above three categories. If you have an idea for your own qualifying event, please do not hesitate to contact us about counting it toward your requirements! Throughout the year we will send emails which provide ideas for ways to fulfill your Confirmation service requirements with upcoming events.

Confirmation Retreat(s)

 

There is a weekend Confirmation Retreat that takes place at Holy Redeemer over two full days (Saturday and Sunday with no overnight). Dates TBD.

Get equipped to open wide the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and how to unleash their power in your life! More details on the format of the retreat and sign up once you have enrolled.

Rehearsal and Confirmation Mass

 

Rehearsal and Reflection Night (Students and Sponsors)

There may be a practice before the Confirmation Mass to prepare youth and their sponsors with their “lines” that they will say when approaching the Archbishop for Confirmation. There will also be a time of spiritual reflection in preparation for the Sacrament. Information will be announced as we draw closer to our Confirmation date.

Confirmation Mass

Holy Redeemer will welcome Archbishop Etienne, Bishop Schuster, or Bishop Elizondo from the Archdiocese of Seattle to celebrate Mass and Confirm our parish’s youth. The date for Confirmation Mass largely depends on the bishops’ schedules - as so as we know it, we’ll tell you! We’ll also post it on the top of this page as soon as we can. We won’t know which bishop will be celebrating the sacrament until much closer to the date.