Letter to Confirmation Candidates

March 5, 2009

Dear Young Parishioner and Parent:

Our parishes' records indicate that you are eligible to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in the spring of 2010. Confirmation candidates should be high-school freshman or older. (I have already heard from many of you via blue postcard)

A tentative schedule for Confirmation preparation 2009-10 has been posted. (We do not yet have a date for the celebration of the sacrament but will let you know as soon as we receive that information - probably in the Fall). The class sessions will be held at St. Augustine Parish Hall on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Special sessions are noted on the schedule.

One of the requirements for Confirmation is a retreat experience. This year we are providing an experience at Mt. St. Francis on Wednesday June 24 from 9-3. This Day of Reflection will meet the retreat requirement. We will work with any student who has a serious conflict with this date and help them to find a Deanery retreat to attend to meet the requirement. Retreats through the Catholic schools are different from the Confirmation retreats, so a school retreat does not fulfill this requirement.

Another component of Confirmation preparation is service. We will have a list of projects to choose from on June 7th. One thing we are requiring this year is that our candidates be of service at our Sunday liturgies so that the community will get to know who you are. We will need to know which Mass you attend and what ministry you wish to serve in. We are asking our candidates to do this service for '09-'10 and to consider continuing this service to our community after Confirmation at which time you could also be a Eucharistic Minister of Communion.

There will be an orientation meeting for candidates and parents on Sunday, June 7 (date pending on the Providence graduation), from 9:30a.m.-10:30a.m.. in St. Augustine Parish Hall. At least one parent should attend this meeting with the candidate. You will need to choose a sponsor who should be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed. You will need to choose a confirmation name which should be a saint's name (a saint whose life can be an example for you or the saint's name of someone you know and admire - we have resources available please call). Please have this information for us when you come to the orientation meeting.

We will celebrate the Rite of Commitment on Sunday, September 20 at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 Mass followed by a brief gathering in St. Catherine Hall for you and your sponsors.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or email Barbara Renners (Youth Ministry Coordinator), at 283-6234 (barb4youth@insightbb.com), or me at 282-1231 (annnortham@insightbb.com). We are looking forward to working with our young parishioners as they prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Please respond to Barbara or me by April 1 to let us know that we should count you.

Love & Peace,
Ann Northam, DRE
St. Augustine – Sacred Heart