Confirmation

Witness to Christ in the World

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!

Confirmation Prep for Youth at Holy Redeemer Includes:

  • Attend an Info Meeting in the Fall. Dates for the session will be sent to families of eligible students who register for Fraternus or Fidelis.

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

    • Wednesdays, 6pm-8:15pm, at Holy Redeemer starting in September

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

    • December-May on a Thursday, 6:30pm-8pm, at St. Thomas in Camas

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

    • On your own, more info given during the Info Meeting

  • Confirmation Retreat in the Fall (after you complete the Monthly Sessions)

    • A Friday night and all day Saturday (go home to sleep in between) at St. Thomas in Camas

  • Submit required Documents (listed in your folder, received at an Info Meeting)

  • Confirmation Mass in November, after your retreat

    • At Holy Redeemer, exact date TBD

Documents and Helpful links

You can find copies of these documents in the folder you received at your Info Meeting . But if you need another, find them below! You may scan or photograph and email your documents electronically, or stop by the parish office 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 students 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.

How much does Confirmation prep cost? Nothing extra, in addition to registration fees for Fraternus/Fidelis. Scholarships for Fraternus and Fidelis are always available for Columbia River Catholic families. Contact any member of the Evangelization Team for more info on Scholarships.

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 may 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 specific requirements during an Info Session, but in short they MUST be fully practicing Catholics who have also received Confirmation.

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.

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 Info 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.