Sponsor Information

It is such a blessing for confirmands to be able to pick a sponsor. They have parents guiding them in the faith, Godparents, and now another person that they can choose to walk with them on their faith journey. This information will be due by  January 31^st.

The requirements to be a sponsor are as follows:

• Practicing Catholic (Someone who lives a life worthy of example for a young Catholic receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, attends Mass weekly, and practices teachings of the Catholic Church)
• Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church
• Must be 16 years of age
• Must not be the father or the mother of the one to be confirmed (Can 893) because they are already the primary catechist of their child.

If the sponsor cannot attend the actual Confirmation Mass, a parent may stand in their place. Please contact [email protected] if the sponsor will not be able to be in attendance.

Confirmation Mass & Rehearsal

Confirmation Dates

• Thursday, April 16 at 7:00pm
• Friday, April 17 at 7:00pm
• Saturday, April 18 at 10:00am

Each date will have a maximum of 65 confirmands at the Mass. Each confirmandi will have up to 10 spots in their pew which includes the confirmandi and sponsor. Pew assignments will be chosen at random. We will livestream each of the Masses. When youth fill out their sponsor and Saint information, you will be able to inform us of your Mass preference and how many spots you desire in your pew.

Click here for the link to inform us of the confirmandi’s Saint name, Sponsor information and Mass Preference which is due by January 31^st.

Confirmation Rehearsal

• Thursday Confirmation Mass: Wednesday, April 15 from 5:30-6:30pm
• Friday Confirmation Mass: Wednesday, April 15 from 7:00-8:00pm
• Saturday Confirmation Mass: Wednesday, April 15 from 7:00-8:00pm

All confirmands and sponsors are required to attend. If a sponsor is unavailable, a parent can take the place of the sponsor for the rehearsal. It is the parent’s responsibility to relay the information to the sponsor prior to the Confirmation Mass.  Friday and Saturday Confirmation Masses will have their rehearsal at the same time.

Confirmation Requirements

Retreat

All 8th graders receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation are required to attend at least one retreat during their Confirmation Formation, and are expected to go to Confession before their Confirmation Mass.

If your 8th grader has not gone on retreat yet, St. James offers two retreats:

• 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat: Saturday, October 11 (10am-4:30pm)
• EDGE Overnight Retreat: Saturday, January 31 – Sunday, February 1

Saint Name

One of the beautiful traditions of the Church is choosing a Confirmation Saint name. Confirmandi are able to choose a Saint that has some significance in their life such as they aspire to be like the Saint. This Saint will also be someone who can pray for them from Heaven and model our lives while here on earth. We have attached a document that may be helpful in discerning and choosing a Saint. This will be due on January 31^st.

Click here for the link to inform us of the confirmandi’s Saint name, Sponsor information, and Mass Preference.

Confirmation Application

St. James EDGE program is very large and vibrant. It can be difficult to address the needs and concerns of each of the confirmandi in such a large setting and with being flexible in attendance. In order for us to get to know each confirmandi, they are required to complete a Confirmation application. After we review confirmandi’s applications, speak with their small group leader if in EDGE, we may reach out to the confirmandi for discussion and/or clarifications. This application will be due January 31^st. Click here for the link to the application.

Letter to the Bishop

As part of the Confirmation process, confirmands will need to write a letter of intent to the Bishop. This letter expresses their desire to be confirmed, and also gives him the opportunity to get to know a little bit about each confirmandi’s faith journey. This is a formal letter. I have attached the guidelines for the letter along with a sample letter. This letter must be typed, printed and turned into the Parish Office or EDGE small group leader by January 31^st. 

Reconciliation

It is expected for youth to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for them to be in a state of grace (CCC 1310). Youth were expected to receive this sacrament before first Holy Communion, and we ask youth to go again before they receive Confirmation. It is so helpful during their time of preparation to do this as well. Confirmands must go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation within their 8th grade year by April 1st. The Church asks each of us to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation yearly (CCC 1457).

8th Grade Confirmation Retreat

Day of Retreat

Please have youth eat a hearty breakfast and bring a water bottle with them on retreat. A pizza lunch will be provided. Snacks will be available throughout the day. Youth are welcome to bring a snack to share with their small group if they like.

Retreat Schedule: Saturday, October 11

Drop Off at SJS Parish Center between 10:15am – 10:25am

Adoration and Confession will be offered.

Pick-up at St. James School at 4:30pm.

If you have any questions until then, please don’t hesitate to contact our Coordinators of Youth Ministry, Dora Mendoza ([email protected]) or Corey May ([email protected]).

Retreat Registration

Chosen Confirmation Program

The requirements of the Sacrament of Confirmation are that confirmandi must be suitably instructed. Both EDGE and Chosen curriculums aim to ensure that confirmandi are suitably instructed. In order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, confirmandi in EDGE need to complete all Chosen lessons either in-person at EDGE or complete make-up work for this year which has been sent to each youth. Those who are new to EDGE this year need to complete their catch-up work which was communicated in August. Hybrid and Homeschool confirmandi must complete an entire Confirmation Preparation program.

All lessons must be completed by March 21st.

Letter to the Bishop

All confirmands will need to write ONE letter to the Bishop this year. Letters are due by January 31st. This should be one page typed, double spaced, size 12 point font, and written in Times New Roman, Arial- Regular, or Calibri.

Letters need to be printed from a Word document (no screenshots), turned into their small group leader at EDGE, or at the Parish Office. Office hours are: Monday – Friday 9:00am-4:00pm.

One of our many diocesan Bishops will be coming to confirm you this upcoming Spring. This is what you have been preparing for over the past three years. You have done many things to show the Church that you are ready to live a life as a confirmed Catholic. The Bishop knows that you have been preparing for this moment, but does not know what you have done in preparation. In this one page, formal letter, you will ask the Bishop for Confirmation and give reasons why you believe you are ready. This is not an e-mail or text message. It is a formal letter. It needs to be written in a certain way. Use this template to write your letter. Make sure that it is proof read by your parents. Keep in mind that the Bishop will read each letter and, in some cases, use parts of your letter in his homily. 

{Insert Date}

Dear Bishop _____ or Dear Most Reverend ________,

{Tell him who you are.}

Examples: I am a student currently completing the third year of confirmation preparation. My name is _______________, and I am a student in the confirmation process at St. James in Arlington Heights.

{Tell him what you want}

Examples: I would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I believe that I am ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

{Tell him what you have done to prepare yourself. You do not have to include everything you have done. Highlight the parts that meant the most to you.}

Include:

• What you learned through your Chosen lessons or Confirmation Preparation Program?
• What you have learned through EDGE or your homeschool program?  
• What you experienced at your retreat?
• What types of service you may have done and what you learned from the experiences
• Whom you have chosen as your sponsor and why
• What Confirmation name you have chosen for yourself and why
• Tell him anything else outside of the process, like attending Mass every week or commitment to daily prayer or faith life at home

{Conclude the letter}

Examples: I am excited about continuing to live out my faith by being fully accepted into the Catholic Church through Confirmation. I am looking forward to this next step in my faith formation.

{Farewell}

Examples: Sincerely, In Faith,

Leave two lines to personally sign your first and last name.

{Type your first and last name}

Contact Us

With all of this information, we hope you know that we are here to serve you and your family. We look forward to how the Lord will work in each of the Candidates lives through this inspiring, fruitful formation. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions and/or concerns.

[email protected]

Dora Mendoza | Coordinator of Middle School Youth Ministry

Corey May | Coordinator of Middle School Youth Ministry

Carly White | Evangelization Team Administrative Assistant