Confirmation Prep
Confirmation is the final sacrament of Initiation. Our mission here at St. Mary’s is to fully prepare your child, though our Religious Education program, and now Confirmation preparation, to have a full and vibrant relationship with God Our Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit, so they will walk hand in hand with them throughout life, as a practicing Catholic, and be with them in eternal life.
To fulfill that mission, beginning in the Fall of 2022, preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation will have a new look. Preparing for Confirmation is a two year commitment beginning in 8th grade. To begin to prepare for Confirmation, students in 8th grade will attend regular RE classes as they have K-7th grade. Their studies will be coordinated with 8th grade students who are attending St. Mary’s School, so they can all start together when preparing for Confirmation in 9th grade. In addition to what they are learning in school/RE during these two years, those wishing to be Confirmed must be attending Mass every Sunday and developing strength in the 4 Holy Habits: Keeping Sunday holy and attending Mass; Daily prayer; Friday Penance; regular Confession. Parents are expected to model these 4 habits and encourage them in their students.
During their 9th grade year students will be offered two courses, one in the Fall and another in the Spring. Each will be 75 minutes per week for six weeks. In the Fall, they will study “Foundations of Being Catholic; Our Baptismal Promises”. Parents should attend these six Fall sessions with their student. After Christmas, “Confirmation, Spirituality, and Morality as a Catholic” will be offered for 6 weeks. Sponsors are welcome and encouraged to attend classes with their Confirmandi. All course sessions take place on Wednesdays, from 5:45-7:00pm. Location TBD. Registration can take place either online, or in person at the Parish Offices. Registration forms will be available at all the Church entrances after July 15.
In addition, students should attend a retreat at some time during their 9th grade year. A retreat will be offered by our RE staff during the Spring, and information on other retreat possibilities will be made available. At any given retreat, they should attend Mass and Confession, as well as any other activities the retreat offers. After they have attended the retreat of their choice, they will turn in a report on all they have experienced.
Lastly, at the beginning of both their 8th grade and 9th grade year, each Confirmation student is expected to make a Parish Commitment. A Parish Commitment is committing to at least one parish ministry for the school year. Examples would be: altar server, choir, lector, usher, visiting the homebound on a regular schedule, etc. For a complete list of possibilities, please contact our Parish Office.
Information on Sponsors will be included with the registration form. Baptismal certificates, Confirmation name forms and Sponsor forms should be turned in by November 1 of the 9th grade year. We will also offer a Sponsor retreat later in the school year. Confirmation will take place in the Fall of 10th grade year. A date will be set in the summer before 10th grade.
If you have a high school student who was not confirmed as a 10th grader and wishes to be confirmed now, they are welcome to join us in Confirmation courses to prepare and be confirmed the following Fall. If they are uncomfortable being with the younger students, please contact us at the Parish Office (608-752-7861) and we can certainly make other arrangements.
Note: This option is ONLY for those not confirmed in 10th grade.
Confirmation Courses:
Foundations of Being Catholic; Confirmation, Spirituality and Morality
Our Baptismal Promises as a Catholic
October 5 January 11
October 12 January 18
November 2 February 8
November 9 March 1
November 16 March 8
November 30 March 15
Sponsor Retreat
Wednesday, February 8 5:30-7:00pm in the Parish Hall
Foundations of Being Catholic; Confirmation, Spirituality and Morality
Our Baptismal Promises as a Catholic
October 5 January 11
October 12 January 18
November 2 February 8
November 9 March 1
November 16 March 8
November 30 March 15
Sponsor Retreat
Wednesday, February 8 5:30-7:00pm in the Parish Hall