Welcome to the Confirmation Preparation Portal
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- What is Confirmation?
- Calendar
- Register
- Check List
- Sponsor Information
- Service Experiences
- 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 initation. 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.
Learn more about the sacrament of Confirmation here!
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1. Register for Confirmation Preparation
December 20, 2020
All teens (ages 13-17) who wish to be confirmed in 2021 are asked to register for confirmation preparation no later than Sunday December 20, 2020. Click here to register.2. StrengthsExplorer Assessment
January 6, 2021
On Monday December 21 every confirmation candidate who has registered will receive an email with a unique StrengthsExplorer code. Every candidate is asked to take the StrengthsExplorer assessment no later than Wednesday January 6, 2021.
3. Sponsor Contact Info Submitted
January 10, 2021
By Sunday January 10, all candidates are asked to please submit the name and contact info for their confirmation sponsor. You access the form here.4. Sponsor's Form Submitted
March 5, 2021
Every sponsor must complete and return this paper form. Additionally, all sponsors not registered at Archangel Gabriel Parish must obtain from their home parish a letter of good standing and submit to the Archangel Gabriel Parish office. Sponsors are asked to have all forms and letters submitted by March 5, 2021. For more information regarding confirmation sponsors, please see the "Sponsor Information" tab on the left of this page.
5. Baptism Certificate for Candidate
March 5, 2021
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 send to the parish office no later than Friday March 5, 2020.
6. Service Experience Response Feedback
May 1, 2021
All candidates are asked to complete three service experiences by May 1, 2021.7. Submit Confirmation Name
May 1, 2021 or seven days prior to confirmation, whichever comes first
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.
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Submit your Sponsor's Information
Sponsor Eligibility Form
Choosing Your Confirmation SponsorNo 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 up for you before the community, presents you to the Bishop, and witnesses the anointing with chrism.
But the sponsor’s influence in 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 to be a part of your life? 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.
Requirements for Confirmation sponsor are:- Be selected and designated by the candidate
- Have the ability and intention of carrying out their responsibilities
- Be at least sixteen years old
- Must be Roman Catholic
- Must have received Eucharist and Confirmation, and if married, must be married in the Catholic Church
- Attends Mass and receive the sacraments regularly (outside of pandemic)
- Cannot be a parent of the candidate
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To access the service experience feedback form, click here.
Questions to consider when processing service experiences:
- What are some of your thoughts and feelings looking back at your service experience?
- Out of your top three 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 Gospel?
Need help thinking of service experiences? Check out these ideas based off of the Corporal Works of Mercy.
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Choosing Your 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, christened to become a child of God. Your first name is your Christian name and indicates your membership in the Catholic community. Throughout your entire life, and including your life forever with God, you will be named by this Christian name.If you wish you may use the name given to you at Baptism as your Confirmation name. In the past few years this has become the recommended practice for choosing a Confirmation name. The reason behind this is that 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. If you decide to choose a different name, it should be associated with someone you respect and admire. Many Confirmation candidates select a name from a parent or grandparent, recognizing a growing bond of love within the family.
Click here to submit your confirmation name.
Your Confirmation name should be the name of a saint. It should be someone with whom you can identify, someone you would be comfortable in praying to and praying with. You will want to learn 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!