Phone: 301-739-0390 Fax: 301-739-7082 church@saintmarysonline.org
224 W. Washington St. Hagerstown, MD 21740
REGISTER NOW FOR CONFIRMATION!
St. Mary’s Confirmation Preparation 2023 Calendar: Sundays 10:15am-11:15am in the School Cafeteria (AKA the Pasarelli Room)
DECEMBER
18 Confirmation Class
25 NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Merry Christmas
JANUARY
1 NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Mary, Mother of God & New Year
8 Confirmation Class-- MOVED TO DIFFERENT Classroom
15 Confirmation Class
22 Confirmation Class
29 Confirmation Class: Retreat Prep Day
FEBRUARY
5 NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- MOUNT2000 Retreat!
12 Confirmation Class
FEBRUARY
19 Confirmation Class: Sponsor/Candidate Sheet DUE!
28 Confirmation Class- Saint Presentations Part 1
MARCH
5 Confirmation Class- Saint Presentations Part 2
12 Confirmation Class
19 Confirmation Class
26 Confirmation Class
SCHEDULE YOUR CONFIRMATION INTERVIEW THIS WEEK (It will be for May 2nd-May 12th)- Students need to schedule an appointment with Fr. Cibelli to answer the questions that are included in this packet!
Students need to go to: https://www.saintmarysonline.org/contact and click on “book now” and select a time for “Confirmation Interview”
APRIL
2 Confirmation Class/ Bishop Letters Due
9 NO CONFIRMATION CLASSES- Easter Sunday!
16 Confirmation Class
23 Confirmation Class: ALL PAPERWORK IN!
30 Confirmation Class: Prepare for Interviews with Father Cibelli
MAY
2nd-12th Interview Week! (This should have been scheduled in March!)
7 No Confirmation Classes: First Communion day for many families!
14 No Confirmation Classes: Happy Mother’s Day!
16th-19th Make Up Confirmation interviews (if you do not pass on the first try)
21 LAST Confirmation Class- Confirmation Ceremony Walk through!
23 (Tue)7:00pm Confirmation Rehearsal (Sponsor MUST ATTEND!)
24 (Wed) 5:30pm CONFIRMATION CEREMONY with Bishop Parker. (Be there at 5pm!)
Take Note . . .
The process of Confirmation preparation is meant to be supplemental to what you are already doing at home, while seeking to introduce candidates to their Catholic peers. As a family, this is a great time to deepen your relationship with God as your son or daughter prepares to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
“Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators.” ~Pope Paul VI
From the Rite of Confirmation . . .
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. Through Christ our Lord.
The Effects of Confirmation
(CCC 1303)
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace by:
- Strengthening our identity as children of God
- Uniting us more firmly to Christ
- Increasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
- Giving us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith as true witnesses of Christ
By Confirmation, Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off the “aroma of Christ.” -CCC 1294
Requirements
These are not intended to be “hoops,” but they are mile-markers that indicate the progression of the Confirmation candidate. The candidates MUST:
o Have been Baptized (A Baptismal Certificate MUST be provided if your child was not Baptized at St. Mary’s)
o Have a sincere desire to be confirmed.
o Attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis.
o Have a basic understanding of the pillars of our faith.
o Attend class weekly and complete make-up work for any classes missed.
o Complete the candidate interview process with Fr. Cibelli
o Write a letter to Bishop Parker, who will be confirming you.
o Complete AT LEAST 4 DIRECT service hours
o Select a sponsor and complete the sponsor sessions (parents cannot be sponsors—please see sponsor guidelines).
o Select a saint name
o Attend A Retreat
REGISTER NOW FOR CONFIRMATION!
Choosing a Sponsor
And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch… was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:27-31
Sponsors act as spiritual role models and guides for the candidates while they prepare for Confirmation. They should also take care that the confirmed person behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations inherent in this sacrament (Code of Canon Law 892).
In order to be a sponsor a person must be (from Code of Canon Law 874-this means there are NO EXCEPTIONS):
- Baptized, received First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church.
- If married, married according to the laws and teachings of the Catholic Church.
- If single, not cohabitating with someone without the benefit of Marriage.
- Regularly attend Holy Mass ever Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.
- Receive the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year, as necessary.
When choosing a sponsor, your teen should begin with prayer, asking God for His guidance in making this important decision. A good starting place for your teen to start are:
- Baptismal godparents
- A relative
- A family friend
- Your candidate’s teacher
- An active parishioner she may admire.
No matter who your child chooses, it should be someone the he feels comfortable talking to about spiritual matters and a person he looks up to as a spiritual role model. This person is not someone you choose FOR your child.
Choosing a Saint
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. -Hebrews 12:1-2
Every candidate is asked to take the name of a recognized saint or blessed. This saint will serve as a model of holiness for the candidate to encourage them to “persevere in running the race” (Hebrews 12:1). Candidates do not have to take the name of a new saint if their first or middle name is that of a recognized saint, but they can if they want to. Saints can be chosen based on a particular devotion the candidate has and can be of the opposite sex. Candidates should make this decision with prayer and consider saints that they have a particular connection or devotion to. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!
Saint Presentation
You will present information about your Confirmation Saint in class. There are two parts to your presentation: a poster highlighting your Saint’s life and a typed report about your saint. Below are the requirements for each component of your project.
Saint Poster
Saint Report
