Confirmation
GRADES 9 and above
Our goal is to make Confirmation preparation available for anyone who desires this Sacrament. A participant in the program has to be in the ninth grade or older. We welcome students, adults, anyone who has previously received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Our program is “continuous” you may enter it at any time. Accomodations are made for disabilities. To enter our program, you need to register and you need a sponsor. After you register, you and your sponsor attend our four Confirmation Preparation Sessions. You may take the sessions in any order. We also ask that you attend a retreat. Once you have completed these steps, the Confirmation coordinator or a parishioner will meet with you to conclude the preparation process with an interview. Finally, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Cathedral in St. Paul. (Students have to be in 10th grade or above to Celebrate the Sacrament.) The following is an outline of the guidelines for this Sacrament based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a Sacrament that completes our initiation process into the Catholic church. It is a process that involves various experiences. These experiences include:
Guidance Godparents, sponsors and parents help candidates practice love of neighbor, bear witness to the faith, turning readily to God in prayer and keep their hopes set on Christ. Setting them out on their spiritual journey. The church helps guide candidates through the celebration of the liturgy and inviting them to get involved in the life of the parish.
Leadership Over time, the parish community leads the candidates in a life of faith, worship and charity belonging to the people of God.
Instruction The parish Faith Formation program assists parents, Godparents and sponsors, in instruction that enlightens faith, directs the heart toward God, fosters participation in the liturgy, and nurtures a life in accord with the spirit of Christ.
Reflection Candidates need to have time for interior reflection (rather than instruction) intended to enlighten their minds and hearts. We base our sessions on these guidelines and the Rite of Confirmation itself. Following this paragraph are the steps (A-D) for our Confirmation Preparation process.
A. Confirmation Candidates register and select a sponsor. We suggest guidelines for selecting a sponsor. Please fill out a Sponsor Form.
B. Candidates and sponsors attend the following sessions (in any order, no need to sign up for the session, just show up.)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
Reviewing our Baptism, we talk about the sign of the cross, the symbols
of water and light and how they relate to Confirmation.
Sign of the Cross Worksheet
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit gifts our lives, how can we understand the Spirit and
discern the Spirit in our lives?
Holy Spirit Worksheet
ANOINTED WITH OIL
We are anointed to do the work of Christ.
Anointed with Oil Worksheet
UNITY
The Sacrament of Confirmation leads us to Eucharist. With the Spirit of
Confirmation, we recommit ourselves to our parish community and
to go forth to love and serve others.
Unity Worksheet
C. Candidates should attend a retreat that offers opportunities for reflection, prayer and discussion. We recommend a retreat offered through National Evangelization Team (NET), Together Encountering Christ (TEC), Dunrovin Retreat Center, or our own Guardian Angels Spiritual Directed Retreat. Other retreat experiences may be substituted (please see coordinator). For more on dates and retreat information click to see a summary word document.
D. Finally, Candidates meet with the Confirmation coordinator or a parishioner to wrap up the preparation process (we call this the interview). Please direct questions and comments to Heidi Tousignant 651-738-2223 ext. 137 or heidi@guardian-angels.org
SCHEDULE FOR 2008 (please note change in date for July session)
We have a date for the Fall! Thursday, October 9 at 7pm. More information will be distributed.
Sponsor Guidelines
Sponsor Form
Retreat Information and Registration
Sign of the Cross Worksheet
Holy Spirit Worksheet
Unity Worksheet
Anointed with Oil Worksheet
Candidate Form for celebrating Confirmation November 2008