Welcome to the Confirmation Preparation Portal!
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- What is Confirmation?
- Important Dates
- Event Calendar
- Service Experiences
- Sponsor Information
- Reflection Letter
- Confirmation Name
- Documents
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Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)
Confirmation, along with Baptism and Eucharist, is one of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. These are the sacraments that lay the foundation for our life in Christ. The Catechism tells us that "the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For 'by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed'" (CCC 1285). Confirmation seals us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that we may receive the graces to best serve Christ and His Church.
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March 1, 2022
Register for Confirmation Preparation
All teens (ages 13-17) who wish to be confirmed in 2022 are asked to register for confirmation preparation. Click here to register.
April 1, 2022
Sponsor Contact Info Submitted
All candidates are asked to please submit the name and contact info for their confirmation sponsor. You can submit the sponsor's name and contact information here.Register for Life Teen
(Recommended, not required)Life Teen is designed to give the candidates a Catholic community to live out their faith in their high school years. 8th-grade Confirmation candidates can begin attending Life Nights (every Sunday from 6:30-8:30 at St. Malachy) as early as February 20, 2022! You can register for Life Teen here.
May 1, 2022
Clifton Strengths Assessment
Every confirmation candidate who has registered will receive an email with a unique Clifton Strengths code. Every candidate is asked to take the Clifton Strengths assessment. Each code is unique to the candidate so please do not share it.
September 1, 2022
Sponsor's Form Submitted
Every sponsor should complete and return this paper form. Additionally, all sponsors not registered at Archangel Gabriel Parish are asked to obtain from their home parish a letter of good standing and submit it the Archangel Gabriel Parish Office:ATTN: Patrick Neve
5718 Steubenville Pike
Robinson Township, PA 15136For more information regarding confirmation sponsors, please see the "Sponsor Information" tab on the left of this page.Baptism Certificate for Candidate
For candidates who were baptized in a parish other than Holy Trinity, Saint John of God, or Saint Malachy, please obtain the baptism certificate from the parish where the candidate was baptized and submit it to Patrick Neve (see address above).
October 3, 2022
Letter of Absence (Submit to child's school)
Our Confirmation Retreat will take place on November 8, 2022. Please submit this letter to your child's school so their absence is excused. PA state law requires schools to excuse absences for religious activities like this one.Parent Letter to Child (Submit to parish)
Information will be sent to parents about the letter at a later date. Please submit to Patrick Neve (see address above).
November 1, 2022
Submit Confirmation Name
All candidates are asked to submit their confirmation name using this online form. To learn more about choosing a confirmation name, please see the "Confirmation Name" tab on the left of this page.Service Experience Response Feedback
You can find more information on the "Service Experiences" tab.Reflection Letter (written by the candidate)
After they have gone through the formation process, each candidate is asked to submit a reflection letter. Instructions can be found on the "Reflection Letter" tab.
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July 15 - July 17A Steubenville Conference gathers thousands of high school students (rising 9th through graduated 12th) from across the country at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. Seeing so many peers on fire for their faith is a powerful experience for many teenagers. If you want your teen to have an experience like that, contact pneve@archangelgabrielparish.orgRead More
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Read MoreSaturday, July 23
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Read MoreSaturday, August 13
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Read MoreSunday, September 18, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Read MoreSunday, October 16, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Read MoreTuesday, November 8, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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Read MoreSunday, November 13, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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November 18 - November 20The Pittsburgh Fall Retreat brings together high schoolers from all over the diocese for a weekend. There are engaging talks, fun games, and time for dynamic prayer. Teens who go on the Fall Retreat often look back on it as a transformative moment in their lives. You don't want to miss it! All Confirmation candidates are encouraged to attend the Fall Retreat! If a candidate is unable to make the retreat on November 8th, they are asked to attend the Fall Retreat. To register or more information contact Patrick NeveRead More
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Service Experiences
Confirmation candidates are asked to find three service experiences. Service experiences can be any length of time. This replaces the practice of "service hours."
Please have your child consider their Clifton Strengths themes of talent when selecting their service experiences. To access the service experience response form, click here.
Questions to consider when reflecting on your service:- What are some of your thoughts and feelings looking back at your service experience?
- Out of your top three themes of talents, which did you notice most during the service experience?
- How did you notice that talent playing out?
- How do you think this service experience helped you share the good news that Christ became man, died, and rose from the dead?
Need help thinking of service experiences?
Check out these ideas based on the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Register for Life Teen to take part in Summer of Service Events
Life Teen (our high school youth ministry) will have several service projects over the summer for Confirmation candidates to take part in. Register to make sure you get updates!
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Forms for Sponsors
Submit your Sponsor's Information
Sponsor Eligibility FormHow to Choose Your Confirmation Sponsor
No one journeys through life alone. We walk with many people within the Christian community. We form close ties with certain people who demonstrate in their lives what it means to be a Catholic.
A sponsor at Confirmation is someone who stands with you before the community, presents you to the Bishop, and witnesses the anointing with chrism.
Your sponsor’s influence on your life continues after this celebration. The sponsor you choose should be someone you can turn to for help and guidance as you continue the journey of faith in the years ahead.
The sponsor should be more than simply a good friend. Is this person someone whose maturity can provide you with good example? Can you relate to this person, talk with them, ask them for guidance? Are they free and willing to spend time with you?
As you discern who to ask to be your Confirmation sponsor, an ideal person to consider is one of your baptismal godparents.
Confirmation sponsors:- Are selected and designated by the candidate
- Have the ability and intention of carrying out their responsibilities
- Are at least sixteen years old
- Are Roman Catholic
- Have received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- If married, they are married in the Catholic Church
- Attend Mass and receive the sacraments regularly (outside of pandemic)
- Are not the parent of the candidate
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Reflection Letter
Each candidate for Confirmation is asked to write a letter reflecting on the sacrament. A helpful guideline for drafting this letter is found below. Please neatly handwrite or type your letter.
Feel free to include any of these elements:
- Address the letter to Fr. David Poecking.
- Introduce yourself, give your name, and other details you want to share. Specifically, mention you are a candidate for confirmation.
- Describe how you currently live out your Catholic faith and how you plan to live out your faith in the future. How do you pray and how often? What gifts has God given you to help you live out your faith? How might God be calling you to bring others into a relationship with Him?
- Describe your confirmation saint and why you chose them.
- Describe your sponsor and why you chose them.
- Describe why you want to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
- Sign the letter "Sincerely," followed by your signature.
The Precepts of the Church
If you want to start living out your faith regularly, but don't know where to start, consider starting with the Precepts of the Church. These precepts date back to the 16th Century and you can find them in the Catechism paragraphs 2041-2043.
The precepts are like a launchpad. They provide a place for us to begin our lifelong mission to follow Jesus and make disciples. They also serve as a guardrail, making sure we don't miss out on the power of the sacraments.1) I will attend Mass and rest from working on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
Holy Days of Obligation happen throughout the year, sometimes on weekdays:Mary Mother of God January 1 Ascension Thursday 40 days after Easter Assumption of Mary August 15 All Saints Day November 1 Immaculate Conception December 8 Christmas December 25
2) I will receive the sacrament of Penance at least once per year.
3) I will receive the Eucharist at least once during the Easter Season.
To receive the Eucharist:- Fast from food for one hour before receiving.
- Believe that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
- Be free from serious sin.
4) I will observe days of fasting and abstaining from meat.
Fasting reminds us “My food is to do the Will of the one who sent me.” (John 4:34). Abstaining from meat reminds us Christ sacrificed His flesh for us.- Fasting days include Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (ages 18+)
- Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. (ages 14+)
5) I will provide for the needs of the Church.
Even as a teenager, you can contribute to our community by giving your:- Time: Give time out of your day to serve at the Church.
- Treasure: Give money or other material goods you have.
- Talent: If you have a unique skill or expertise, use it at the Church.
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Confirmation Name
Your name gives you an identity; it tells others who you are. When you were born, your parents chose your name. (If you do not know your parents’ reason for selecting your name, ask them about it.) At your Baptism, you were called by name and became a child of God. Your first name is your Christian name and indicates you are a member of the Church Christ established 2,000 years ago. Throughout your entire life, including your life forever in heaven with Jesus, you will be known by this Christian name.If you wish, you may use the name given to you at Baptism as your Confirmation name. In fact, this is recommended. Confirmation is a continuation of what began in Baptism, therefore choosing the name given to you at Baptism is a very good choice. However, you may choose a different name as your Confirmation name.
Click here to submit your confirmation name.
Your Confirmation name should be the name of a saint. Pick a saint you can identify with, someone you would be comfortable praying to and praying with. You will want to learn about their feast day in the Church and something important about their lives. You should also be able to say why you chose this saint and this name. If you are having difficulty deciding on a Confirmation name, pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and talk to your parent or sponsor.