Confirmation

Church Ministry Signup (Due by Oct. 1st)

We ask our Confirmation candidates to commit to serving a minimum of 10 hours in a ministry here at St. James as part of your preparation to be confirmed. It gives you an opportunity to experience your faith in a new way. Please fill out the Ministry Opportunities Sheet from the Confirmation Candidate-Parent meeting, select your 3 preferences as to which ministries you would like to serve in this year and return to the CF Office no later than Oct 1st.  Please note some ministries have limited spots available and will be filled in the order that forms are received. You are responsible for contacting the coordinator of that ministry & carrying out that commitment of serving throughout the year. There are varying level of commitments, so please do not sign up for a ministry hoping you will be able to participate. Our parish is counting on you to follow through on your commitments.

Confirmation Name (Due by April 13th)

Each candidate for Confirmation is asked to select a Saint for their Confirmation name.  Please do your own research and learn about the Saint that you choose.  You should be able to talk a little about your saint (what they are known for, what they did that inspires you & why you chose this Saint) when you are in front of the Bishop being confirmed.  Complete the Confirmation Candidate Name Selection form and the turn it in to the CF Office no later than April 13th.

Confirmation Retreat 

The Confirmation Retreat is a mandatory component of the Confirmation process.   Retreats are designed to build community for ALL who attends so we ask you to come with a positive attitude and be open to the experience.

There are two options for the Confirmation retreat. Candidates need to attend ONE of the retreats listed below:

Saturday, Oct 19th – Sunday, Oct 20th

Friday, Feb 7th – Saturday, Feb 8th

• Retreats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please sign up early and you will be notified as to which retreat you will attend.
• The retreat link will be sent out on Aug 27th and will also be shared in the CF News.
• If you are unable to attend either retreat, please contact Sue Devine-Simon at sdevine-simon@stjames-parish.com to discuss alternate retreat options.

Sponsor Requirements, Selection & Contact Info Form (Due by Oct. 1st)

St. James Requirements of Your Sponsor (please let your sponsor know when you select them):

1. Select your sponsor.  You should choose someone who is a confirmed, practicing Catholic and is not one of your parents.  Siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles & family friends are all good choices.  Please fill in the Choosing Your Sponsor form and return to the CF Office by Oct 1st so that we can connect with your sponsor and keep them updated and in prayer about the process and events.
2. Attend the Candidate/Sponsor Reflection Day on Oct. 6th at Good Shepherd Parish (9:30am-12pm)
3. Complete ONE service activity and discussion with your sponsor
   • This service with your sponsor can be service to the church or to your community
   • We will provide some ideas for different service opportunities throughout the year.
   • Candidate needs to complete Candidate/Sponsor Service Activity Reflection Form for this activity. This is due April 13th
4. Attend the rehearsal (May 15th @ 6:30pm) and Confirmation Mass (May 18th @ 2pm) at St. James

Liturgy

Liturgy is the source and summit of our faith as Catholics. It is expected that candidates attend and participate in Mass each week, not simply out of obligation, but as a way of deepening our relationship with God. 

Attendance Policy

YOU ARE MISSED when you do not attend, so please respect our catechists and the group by attending the sessions.

1. Make up work is required after missing more than two sessions.  ** See make-up lessons at the bottom of the page.  
2. On occasion, candidates may attend an alternate class time in the same week as their regular class time. Contact the CF office so we can alert the affected catechists.
3. If attendance becomes an issue, candidates may be asked to postpone Confirmation to a time they can commit more to the process.