Role of Parents in the Confirmation Process.

The Sacrament of Confirmation imparts a character and enables the person who has been baptized and received First Holy Communion, to continue on the journey of initiation into the Christian faith, by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Those who receive this Sacrament are empowered to witness to Christ in word and in deed, and to proclaim the gospel message.

“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and service are the rule.” Catechism 2223

Your role as the parent of a Confirmation candidate is indispensable, because it is primarily within the family that your child will learn how to live the teachings of Jesus. As parents, your responsibilities will include two main components, which center on your own spiritual life.

1. Grow in holiness. No matter where you are now on your spiritual journey, make a commitment to grow closer to Christ this year. Be an example to your child as to what it looks like to live a holy, Catholic life. Show him/her the joy that comes from living a life of service, rooted in prayer, for His glory.

Ideas for growing in holiness:

• Attend Mass together as a family; participate by raising your voice in song and speech. Consider volunteering for a ministry that serves during Mass.

• Commit to daily prayer. Schedule some time each day for prayer, even if it is just 10 minutes. If you already have this time, consider lengthening it, or try adding something new. Let your child see you taking the time to pray and have them join you.

• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. If you haven’t gone to Confession lately, now is the perfect time to make it a habit! Take your child along.

• Come to know Jesus through scripture. Consider enrolling in a bible study, or commit to reflecting on the daily readings.

• Bring Christ to others. Many people in our parish, neighborhoods, and even in our families are longing to feel the love of Jesus. Consider a visit to the homebound or those in a nursing home, make cookies for a lonely neighbor, take the time to chat with an old friend.

2. Pray. Pray for your child as they prepare for Confirmation. Pray with your child as they prepare for Confirmation. Pray as a family; even simple prayers like the Grace Before Meals or a family rosary can have a huge impact on your child’s spiritual life. Pray for strong, positive influences and role models to help guide your children when you can’t be there. Pour out your thoughts and concerns to the Lord – it makes Him happy.

"If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve." -Mother Teresa

Parents Guide to Confirmation Preparation Overview:

Confirmation Preparation throughout the Diocese takes place over the course of two years and begins no earlier than 8th grade.

The goal of Confirmation Preparation is to ground candidates in the faith and prepare them to live a life of faith, strengthened by the grace of the Sacrament.

To accomplish this, each candidate is expected to complete the following:

•   Catechetical Sessions - 25 hours each year is dedicated to learning and exploring the faith of our Church.

•   Retreat Opportunities - two 5-hour retreats (one each year) focused on prayer and relationship with God.

•   Service - as an integral part of our identity as Catholics, each candidate is expected to complete a reasonable amount of service and reflect on it in light of the Sacrament.

•   Regular Mass attendance - as Catholics seeking full initiation, it is vital that candidates regularly attend Sunday Mass.

•   Regular partaker of the Sacrament of Reconciliation - it is important to approach Confirmation free of the bonds of sin.

  In the second year of preparation, candidates are asked to participate in an interview/ conversation with the parish clergy or staff and take part in an immediate preparation for the Sacrament.
  
  Candidates

  Preparation for Confirmation in the Diocese of Boise is a two-year catechetical process (proximate preparation) that begins in the 8th grade. The process challenges every part of the candidate to grow. They will learn (head), experience (heart), and serve (hands).

  Because Sacraments are celebrated within the worshiping faith community (i.e., the parish), Catholic School students should be referred to their home parish.

  Candidates who have special needs should have catechesis (teaching of the faith) appropriate to their capacity, and then celebrate Confirmation with the support of their family and faith community.

  Prior to the actual selection of a sponsor in year two, both candidates and parents will be instructed on the role and responsibility of a sponsor.

  Near the end of the two-year process, there will be opportunities for an interview between the candidate and pastoral leader to reflect on the candidates’ self-understanding of their faith, their desire to seek Confirmation, and their commitment to a life-long journey of discipleship; and sessions for immediate preparation for the sacrament.
  
  Parents/Guardians of Candidates
  
  “The single most important influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.” (Soul Searching, Christian Smith)

  Parents and guardians are invited to grow in their faith along with the candidates, and attend any sessions of interest.

  There will be particular sessions offered for parents and guardians on the meaning and theology of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

  Together, parents, guardians and candidates will learn about the role and responsibility of a sponsor.

  Families are encouraged to join the candidates each weekend at Holy Mass, participate in opportunities for service in the community, and spend time together in prayer and reflection.

  
  Sponsors of Candidiates
  Pre-requisites:

  Sponsors for the Sacrament must be:

•   Must be at least 16-years old.

•   Be a fully-initiated Catholic: having

  received Baptism, Confirmation and

  Eucharist.

•   Must lead a life of faith that is in accord

  with their commitment as a sponsor.

•   Is not the father or mother of the one to

  be Confirmed.

  Due to the connection between the two Sacraments, it is desirable that the sponsor (godparent) at Baptism be chosen as sponsor for Confirmation, if he/she still meets the requirements.
  
  How To Be a Good Sponsor

  •   Make time for quality conversations about faith and life with your candidate.

  •   Be open and honest about both the rewarding and challenging aspects of being Catholic.

  •   Encourage your candidate to be the best Catholic possible.

  •   See the good and wonderful in your candidate; and tell him/her.

  •   Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers. Sometimes finding the answer together, or seeking out someone with the answer, is a better experience.

  •   Be genuine and true—to yourself, to your candidate, to your faith.

• Being a sponsor can seem overwhelming, but really—you are not being asked to be anything new. The qualities that led your candidate to ask you to be his/her sponsor are the same qualities that will make you a good sponsor. 
  
  The Parish Community

  As the faith community, the parish has an important role in Confirmation as well. Through prayer and witness, the parish shows its commitment to the young people receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

  In turn, the candidates seeking Confirmation bear witness to the parish through regular attendance at Mass and through their spiritual growth.

  
   Religious Education and Confirmation: OCIA
  Our OCIA group is for any adult interested in preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Communion or Confirmation.
  OCIA is also open to anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Catholic Church, or a good "refresher" for cradle Catholics. Please call the parish office for more information, 
  First Communion K – 8th Grade:
  
  Confirmation: K-8 and High School
  For more information contact: Roxanne Gawel: [email protected]
  
  

• THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

  At confirmation, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirm our baptismal promises. Greater awareness of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred through the anointing of chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop.

  Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. 

  Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, we renew our baptismal promises and commit to living a life of maturity in the Christian faith. As we read in the Lumen Gentium (the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church) from the Second Vatican Council:

  Bound more intimately to the Church by the sacrament of confirmation, [the baptized] are endowed by the Holy Spirit with special strength; hence they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith both by word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ. 

  
  SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION FOR CONFIRMATION

  In the Acts of the Apostles, we read of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. While baptism is the sacrament of new life, confirmation gives birth to that life. Baptism initiates us into the Church and names us as children of God, whereas confirmation calls us forth as God’s children and unites us more fully to the active messianic mission of Christ in the world.

  After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostles went out and confirmed others, showing confirmation to be an individual and separate sacrament: Peter and John at Samaria (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17) and Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:5-6). Also, the Holy Spirit came down on Jews and Gentiles alike in Caesarea, prior to their baptisms. Recognizing this as a confirmation by the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded that they are baptized (cf. Acts 10:47).

   FOR ON HIM THE FATHER, GOD, HAS SET HIS SEAL. (JOHN 6:27)