Confirmation

Strengthening the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Requirements

 

This year Confirmation prep has changed! We’re preparing in the Fall!

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

The age of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Seattle moved to the 7th grade as of 2020. If you have a student who is in the 7th grade or above and was in formation during the prior year (i.e. 6th grade for a 7th grader), they are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Everything You Need to Know About Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation

 

Documents to Fill Out for Confirmation

 

You may scan and email your documents electronically, or stop by the parish center during office hours to turn them in.

Enrollment Process

 

Step 1: Enroll in Faith Formation by going Here. After you have enrolled your student in their grade-level program (Fraternus or Fidelis), we will reach out to you with further instructions for enrolling in Confirmation preparation.

Step 2:  Gather the required information and documents.

  • Attend one Welcome Meeting. We’ll have a Welcome Meetings on October 2nd (5pm-6pm), October 9th (5pm-6pm), and October 10th (6:30-8pm). During this meeting, we’ll cover all the information you need to know about Confirmation preparation at Holy Redeemer.

  • Find a Sponsor who meets the canonical criteria. We’ll go over this at the Welcome Meeting.

  • Request a Baptismal Certificate with notations from the parish where your student was baptized. The certificate should have a “notation” on the back for your student’s First Communion. It’s easiest to call the parish where your child was baptized and have them send you a copy of their baptismal certificate - please don’t give us your “original” keepsakes! If your student was baptized at Holy Redeemer, we already have this information on file.

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.