Confirmation
What is Confirmation?
The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the grace of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism & First Holy Communion) by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal or “confirm” the baptized in union with Christ and equip them for full, active participation in the worship of the Church.
Family Requirements for Confirmation
St. Jude of the Lake’s sacramental preparation program is family-oriented.
Parents, as the primary educator of your child, your faith journey is important to us. We only see your children for less than 24 hours of instruction time/year meaning you get most of the deep questions of the faith. We are here to support and encourage you as parents on your faith journey too. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Deacon Pavlick or Elizabeth Cairns for with questions.
Confirmation Registration and Information Night:
Parents: Mark your calendar for the Mandatory Parent Meeting on September 23th from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. If you cannot attend this meeting please contact Elizabeth Cairns to arrange a meeting date.
All families must sign up for Flocknote and opt-in to the 26-25 Confirmation
Parish Group. To sign up for Flocknote go to stjudeofthelake.flocknote.com/
Family Expectations:
Parents will:
● Attend the Parent Meeting or meet with Elizabeth Cairns before class begins.
● Attend mass with their son or daughter, ensure the Confirmand attends all sessions, and do makeup work if they miss a session, communicate needed information to students, and that their child attends the Confirmation retreat.
● Attend the final class of the year, May ? th from 4:15 – 5:30 PM.
Eligible candidates will:
● Attend Sunday Mass and observe holy days of obligation
● Be open to the faith and teachings of the Magisterium.
● Complete the requirements for Confirmation.
● Complete the Sponsor activities with their sponsor.
● In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Confirmation is
usually received in eighth grade or later.
Confirmation Focus
The focus of our Confirmation is to bring students into a deeper relationship with Our Lord and his Church. We do this by meeting as a group and having a topic for the evening. The topic is presented as a talk, and typically ends with an activity. To finish the evening we use a “small group” model where all students are assigned to a small group (6-8 students of a single gender.) They will meet for about the last 10-20 minutes of class, and be dismissed from their groups.
Adult Parishioners, Parent volunteers, and St. John Vianney students at the
University of St. Thomas led the small groups.
If a student misses a class, the student will be expected to review the notes from that session and write a few paragraphs about it to ensure they understand what they missed. Contact Elizabeth for instructions.
Confirmation Sponsors
Sponsors play a huge role under Archbishop Hebda’s leadership in the
Archdiocese, and we follow his lead.
A Confirmation Sponsor is a person who is responsible for helping the confirmand live as a witness to Christ by witnessing to Christ in their own life and encouraging the confirmand. Sponsors should pray for the confirmand daily and practice their own faith well. Confirmation sponsors are expected to meet with their confirmation candidates throughout the year and work together on a faith journey to help guide them closer to Christ and his Church. Sponsors are always welcome to come to any class meeting!
Dear Parents,
I want to emphasize how essential your role is in preparing your child for the
Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation for Confirmation is meant to lead your child into a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit—so that they become better able to live out their lives as Christians.
You are the primary educators of your children: the faith is first introduced and nurtured in the home, and that “domestic church” is where your child learns to grow in faith, hope, and charity. In fact, parents are the first and most important educators of their children in this area, and you also have a fundamental competence for that work. Because your child will be called to make this step in faith with personal openness, the Church asks you to provide the supportive witness your child needs. When adults around them live the faith with attention, acceptance, and forgiveness, children learn to recognize God’s fidelity in the loving presence of their parents. During Confirmation preparation, encourage your child to reflect prayerfully on what it means to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to bear clear witness to Christ with courage. Your help in their immediate preparation—through prayer, study, and participation in parish life—is especially important. Even though you cannot serve as your child’s sponsor, your active involvement in formation matters profoundly. Your attendance at meetings,
participation in Mass, opportunities for prayer (such as adoration), and support of their service projects will show your child that Confirmation is not merely a rite of passage, but a real step toward living faith more fully—receiving strength from the Holy Spirit to serve the Church and the world. Thank you for your prayer, example, and participation. Your role helps ensure that your child approaches Confirmation properly and at the right time, with the formation they need to live what the sacrament signifies
Begin the Confirmation Process
To get started with the Confirmation process, click on the gold button to register and download the calendar for the year to keep track of all the important dates. This will help ensure you don’t miss any key events or deadlines throughout the Confirmation journey
Questions? Contact Lizzy Cairns or Deacon Frank Pavlick