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Confirmation

“I am created to do or to be something for which no one else is created: I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has. […] God knows me and calls me by name."
– Blessed John Henry Newman

Welcome to Confirmation Preparation at St. Francis of Assisi Parish! We pray that your preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation will be an opportunity for spiritual growth and development of your relationship with Jesus Christ, the St. Francis community and the greater Catholic Church that He started. Please know that you have the prayers and support of this parish community, as well as Catholics world-wide, as you journey towards Confirmation.

ROLES:
Parents! “Don’t forget, the greatest inheritance that you can give to your children is this, the light of the faith. Hand on the faith, a strong faith that it be their salvation.” – Pope Francis

Candidates! All of the expectations and assignments are given to you to aid you in the process of preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. To be ready to receive this Sacrament is primarily an internal disposition… because we can’t see that, we ask for outward signs, which should manifest themselves easily. All of the items we ask for are your responsibility. Your maturity and initiative will show you are serious about this Sacrament. Ask questions. Seek answers.
Sponsors! A Confirmation sponsor is more than a ceremonial role. Sponsors serve as mentors for the candidate to be confirmed. A sponsor guides the candidate and gives firsthand experience of Catholic living outside of his/her immediate family. (CCC 1311)

CANDIDATE EXPECTATIONS:

Sunday Mass Attendance: The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. “Sunday Mass is the center of Christian time, for on Sunday we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, and every Sunday is a miniature Easter.” (YouCat 187) It is the central part of the practice of our faith.

Confirmation Night Attendance: All students are expected to attend Confirmation Nights. Confirmation 1 meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, while Confirmation 2 meets the 1st Wednesday of every month. Additionally, second year students are expected to participate in at least one other youth group event each month, whether it be service opportunities, "faith & sports night", or UNITE. Meetings take place from 7-8:30 pm in the Frassati Room in the Parish Center Basement. Be sure to check the schedule for exact dates, as exceptions may apply.

Meeting with Sponsors: Each candidate will receive a set of Sponsor Packets. Candidates and sponsors will meet throughout the year to work through each of these packets together. This provides opportunities for the sponsor and candidate to get to know each other, encourage each other, have meaningful discussions, and ask questions about the faith. At the end of each packet is a Summary Sheet. Both the sponsor and the candidate are responsible for filling out this sheet. The sponsor cannot be a parent; however, the sponsor can be a grandparent/God parent/family friend. This should be someone the candidate trusts in seeking out faith advice and direction.

Completing Required Tasks: Our Expectations don't exist so you can "earn" the Sacrament. Rather, they act as an important indicator of your desire to take seriously your call to live out the graces you receive. By becoming fully initiated in the life of the Church, you are making a solemn promise with God; you will be sealed with an indelible mark (CCC 1317).

Confirmation Retreat: We ask that each candidate participate in both of the following:

YEAR I: Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

YEAR II: Retreat with Pax Christi, St. Pius X, St. John's, and Sts. Peter & Paul Youth at Camp Victory.

Service Expectations: As part of maturing in the faith, each candidate is expected to do some sort of service throughout preparation, and hopefully beyond! The service activity should be an ongoing ministry of St. Francis of Assisi or should benefit the church in some way. A minumum of four opportunities are expected. Some ideas include:
- Spending an hour in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Helping with younger grades on Wednesday nights during your off weeks.
- Fall Festival Volunteer – Helping with the annual Fall Festival
- Channel One Food Shelf: Helping out at Channel One on the 3^rd Saturday of the month. Contact Erin Martin at erinmartindnp@hotmail.com.
- Sunday Lunch Program: A meal for the poor held at St. Francis Church every Sunday. Contact Kathy Rossman @ rossfam@charter.net or 507-280-8408.
- 40 Days for Life: Spend an hour praying outside of Planned Parenthood for an end to abortion.
- Praying for the Dead: Visit a cemetery and pray for the souls of those who have died.
- Fall Festival Volunteer – Helping with the annual Fall Festival
- Totus Tuus (June/July): High school volunteers are needed to help in classrooms, with games, organizing snacks, and more at our summer faith formation program.
- Camp Summit (August): Join the FIAT Team or Prayer Team at Camp Summit, a middle school camp at Eagle Bluff Nature Center. The week includes leading small groups, prayer, performing skits, and encouraging the younger students.
- Fall Festival Volunteer (October): Helping with our annual Fall Festival.
Service Reflections

After participating in the service opportunities, each candidate should turn in a Service Reflection. This should be typed and should answer the following questions.

♦ What expectations did I have about this service?
♦ Was the experience what I imagined?
♦ How did I feel before the service? How did I feel after?
♦ What did I notice about the people I helped or the people I worked with?
♦ Where did I see Christ in this service? (Ex – Read Matthew 25:35-40)
♦ How does service help me prepare for Confirmation?
♦ How can I actively serve after Confirmation?
♦ Would I participate in these service opportunities again? Why or why not?
(if no, what service would you like to try instead?)

Reflections can be turned in throughout the year.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect from Year 2
The second “year” of Confirmation prep, starting in September, will spend less time in the classroom and more time living the Christian life. However, to whom much is given, much will be expected (Lk. 12:48). Therefore, our year 2 candidates will be expected to choose one youth ministry activity or service opportunity every month as their 2nd meeting.

♦ Attendance at Confirmation Nights
♦ Participation in Confirmation retreats
♦ Service activities and service summary
♦ Sponsor Meetings
♦ Choosing a Confirmation (Saint) Name and writing a short report
♦ Writing a letter to Bishop Quinn
♦ Interview with Father
♦ Sacrament of Confirmation (April/May)

THE CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

Confirmation

Documents

Sponsors! A Confirmation sponsor is more than a ceremonial role. Sponsors serve as mentors for the candidate to be confirmed. A sponsor guides the candidate and gives firsthand experience of Catholic living outside of his/her immediate family. (CCC 1311)