STEPS IN THE PREPARATION PROCESS FOR CONFIRMATION AT HOLY FAMILY FOR 2023-2024

1. Regular attendance at weekend liturgy – Celebrating the Eucharist is at the heart of our lives as Catholics and essential when preparing to receive a sacrament.  
2. Two years of formal religious education are required prior to receiving the sacrament. This is an Archdiocesan Policy.  To fulfill this step teens are asked to

• Participate in our Teen Faith’s Flame Program – teens can join an in-person small group facilitated by a Catechist and Peer Ministers or complete the online program.  Please register by August 30, 2023. The first Teen Faith event is a kickoff mass at 11am on September 17, 2023.
• Teens attending a Catholic High School, are welcome to join a FLAME small group, but are not required to do so. 

3. Teens wishing to be Confirmed must be baptized Catholics. This is required by Canon Law.

• Please submit a copy of your teen’s Baptismal Certificate to the Parish Office, by September 15, 2023.

                 * If you were baptized at Holy Family all we will need is the month & year the baptism took place
                 * If your teen was baptized in another parish, please contact that parish and obtain a copy of their baptismal certificate.

4. Those wishing to be confirmed must be a registered parishioner in a Catholic parish (Archdiocesan Policy). Please have this step completed by September 15, 2023.

• If you are registered at a parish other than Holy Family, we will need a letter verifying that fact from your home parish.
• Registering at Holy Family is a simple two-step process. For more information, contact Sue Geegan, sgeegan@holyfamilyparish.org.  

5. Parent-Teen Presentations – The confirmation candidate and at least one parent will attend two presentations during each year of preparation.  

• During 2023-24 both FLAME I and FLAME II candidates and at least one of their parents are asked to attend the following sessions.  Sponsors are welcome but not required to attend.
• First year candidates and their parents will meet Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 – 5:15-6:45pm
• Second year candidates and their parents will meet Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024  at 7pm for the, “Be More” presentation by Fr. Terry

6. Participation in The Rite of Welcoming by all First Year Confirmation Candidates, their families and the Confirmation Sponsor (if available).  Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 at the 11:00 am Mass

    

7. Participation in the Third Scrutiny by ALL Confirmation Candidates, their families and the Confirmation Sponsor (if available). Sunday, Mar. 17, 2024 at the 11:00 am Mass

    

8. Each Confirmation candidate is asked to engage in 20 hours of community service, per year.
9. Confirmation candidates are asked to participate in a retreat each year of their preparation. In-person and digital formats are available.

• Second Year Candidate Retreat, Nov. 11-12, 2023 – Woodstock, IL

                    *  There is no online format for this retreat

• First Year Candidate Retreat, Jan. 13-14, 2024 – Woodstock, IL

                    * There is an online format for this retreat however in-person participation is strongly encouraged

    Catholic High School Students – Participation by teens in retreats offered by their Catholic High School will

       fulfill this step. Teens must document their participation by completing the simple Retreat Participation

       Form (available on Holy Family’s website).

     Juniors and Seniors attending Public Schools are asked to attend the Kairos Retreat

• February 16-19, 2024 – Woodstock, IL

10. Attendance at one of the Pizza with the Pastor sessions (once during Year II – Dates to Announced)
11. Sponsor-Candidate Activities Confirmation candidates and their Sponsors are asked to complete five

      (5) short activities over the two-year preparation process, two (2) in Year I and three (3) in Year II.

      These are available online.

STEPS IN THE PREPARATION PROCESS FOR CONFIRMATION FOR TEENS ATTENDING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AT HOLY FAMILY 2023-2024

*Catholic High School Students are asked to register for the Confirmation Program by August 30, 2023

1. Two years of formal religious education are required prior to receiving the sacrament. This is an Archdiocesan Policy.

• Teens attending a Catholic High School, are welcome to join a FLAME small group, but are not required to so.

2. Regular attendance at weekend liturgy – Celebrating the Eucharist is at the heart of our lives as Catholics and essential when preparing to receive a sacrament

3. Teens wishing to be Confirmed must be Baptized Catholics. This is required by Canon Law.

• Please submit a copy of your teen’s Baptismal Certificate to the Parish Office, by September 15, 2023
• If you were baptized at Holy Family all we will need is the month and year the baptism took place
• If you were baptized in another parish please contact their parish office and obtain a copy of their baptismal certificate.

4. Those wishing to be Confirmed must be a registered parishioner in a Catholic parish (Archdiocesan Policy) Please have this step completed by September 15, 2023.

• Registering at Holy Family is a simple two-step process. For more information, contact Sue Geegan, sgeegan@holyfamilyparish.org.

5. Parent-Teen Presentations – During 2023-24 both FLAME I and FLAME II candidates and at least one of their parents are asked to attend the following presentations.  Sponsors are welcome but not required to attend. 

• First year candidates and their parents will meet Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 – 5:15-6:45pm
• Second year candidates and their parents will meet Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 at 7pm for the, “Be More” presentation by Fr. Terry

6. Participation in The Rite of Welcoming by all First Year Confirmation Candidates, their families and the Confirmation Sponsor (if available).  Sunday, Oct 25, 2023 at 11:00 am Mass

7. Participation in the Third Scrutiny by ALL Confirmation Candidates and their families.  Sunday, Mar 17, 2024 at 11:00 am Mass

8. Each Confirmation candidate is asked to engage in 20 hours of community service, per year.

9. Confirmation candidates are asked to participate in a retreat each year of their preparation. Participation by teens in retreats offered by their Catholic High School fulfills this step. Teens must document their participation by completing the simple Retreat Participation Form

           If a Catholic High School teen would like to participate in Holy Family’s Confirmation retreats they are welcome to do so.

• Second Year Candidate Retreat, November 11-12, 2023 – Woodstock, IL
  There is no online format for this retreat

• First Year Candidate Retreat, January 13-14, 2024 – Woodstock, IL
  There is an online format for this retreat. 

10. Confirmation candidates and their Sponsors are asked to complete five (5) Sponsor-Candidate Activities over the two-year preparation process. Contact Maureen Cochran for the online link at mcochran@holyfamilyparish.org.

• Two (2) FLAME I Sponsor-Candidate Activities
• Three (3) FLAME II Sponsor-Candidate Activities

Confirmation Preparation for Public High School Juniors and Seniors Who Have Not Been Confirmed

Please contact the Teen Faith office, to discuss the options available for juniors and seniors who are baptized and not yet confirmed to enroll in this special Confirmation option.

Preparation for juniors and seniors includes:

1. Regularly attend liturgy – Celebrating the Eucharist is at the heart of our lives as Catholics and essential when preparing to receive a sacrament.
2. Submit a copy of your Baptismal Certificate to the FTF Office by November 30.

• ·        If you were baptized in a parish other than Holy Family, please contact that parish and obtain a copy of your baptismal certificate.
• ·        Teens wishing to be Confirmed must be baptized Catholics. This is required by Canon Law.

1. Be a registered parishioner in a Catholic parish (Archdiocesan Policy)
2. Attend Parent-Teen Presentation – Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 – 5:15-6:45pm

•       The candidate and at least one parent should attend. Sponsors are welcome but not required to attend.

1. Participate in The Rite of Welcoming – Sunday, Oct 15 at the 11:00 am Mass

•       The candidate, their family and if available the Confirmation Sponsor should attend. 

1. Participate in the Third Scrutiny – Sunday, Mar 17 at the 11:00 am Mass
   • the Confirmation Candidate, his/her family and the Confirmation Sponsor (if available).
2. Engage in 20 hours of community service and turn in complete service log.
3. Attend a Kairos retreat  Holy Family is offering this retreat on Friday, Feb 16 – Monday, Feb19, 2024 – Woodstock, IL If the teen has been on a high school “Quest” or CRUX retreat before, that would qualify as well.

1. Attend a Pizza with the Pastor – 2023-2024 dates TBD. A discussion with Father Terry about Confirmation in a small group setting.
2.  Attend faith formation classes – A schedule and dates will be planned for the candidate which may include the following:

• ·        Attend Faith on Fire Meetings – see schedule here: https://www.holyfamilyparish.org/faith-on-fire/
• ·        Attend Kairos 4th Day Meetings after having attended the Kairos retreat.
• ·        Meet with the Teen Minister, Patty McCarthy

1. Complete all the necessary Confirmation Forms – scroll down to Forms at: https://www.holyfamilyparish.org/celebrating-the-spirit-2/
2. Complete Sponsor-Candidate Activities – The candidate with their Sponsor needs to complete 5 short activities available online.

Confirmation Preparation Cheat Sheet

PROOF OF PARISH REGISTRATION – Those wishing to be confirmed must be a registered parishioner in a Catholic parish (Archdiocesan Policy). Please have this step completed by August 30, 2023. For instructions on how to register at Holy Family or how to document registration in another Catholic Parish, see the Steps in the Preparation Process for Confirmation at Holy Family.

BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE SUBMISSION – September 15, 2023 – (all candidates)

RITE OF WELCOME – Sunday, Oct 15, 2023 at the 11:00 am Mass

First Year Candidates and Public High School Juniors and Seniors seeking Confirmation.

SPONSOR INFORMATION WORKSHEET due date

Those being confirmed Spring, 2024 if you haven’t done so already, please submit your worksheet by October 1, 2023.

Those being confirmed Spring, 2025, please submit your worksheet by Jan. 21, 2024

FLAME I RETREAT – Jan. 13-14, 2024, in Woodstock, IL

FLAME II RETREAT – Nov. 11-12, 2023, in Woodstock, IL

PARENT-TEEN PRESENTATIONS

First year candidates and their parents will meet Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023-5:15-6:45pm

Second year candidates, Public High School Juniors, and Seniors seeking Confirmation will meet Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024-5:15-6:45pm

LETTER OF INTENT TO PASTOR – Sun Feb 25, 2024 (Only second year candidates)

CELEBRATION OF THE THIRD SCRUTINY – Sunday, Mar 17, 2024, 11:00 am Mass (all candidates)

CONFIRMATION NAME WORKSHEETS are due on April 2, 2024 (only second year candidates)

SERVICE LOGS – Due Sun April 14, 2024 (all candidates)

CONFIRMATION LITURGY RSVP – Due Sunday, April 14, 2024 (Only for those being confirmed Spring 2024)

CONFIRMATION REHEARSAL – Thursday, April 25, 2024-6:30-8pm

CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION – Sunday, April 28, 2024- 2:00PM

Sponsor/Candidate Conversation links were sent via email. If you need to re-request the links, please email mcochran@holyfamilyparish.org

Letter Of Intent (Letter to Father Terry) Online Form
Sponsor Information Worksheet | Online Form
Confirmation Name Worksheet | Online Form 
Confirmation Liturgy RSVP|Online Form 
Baptismal Certification Submission
Service Log 
Retreat Participation Form

For teens that have made the decision to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation, the components of Celebrating the Spirit are

• Baptismal Certificate on file with Ministry office
• Two years of FLAME classes (FLAME 1 and 2)
• Twenty hours of community service during each year of FLAME
• FLAME 1 Retreat
• FLAME 2 Retreat
• 5 Sponsor/Candidate Conversations over the two years of formation
• Pizza with Pastor (once during the second year of FLAME)