Preparation for the Sacraments of First Communion & Confirmation

In regard to sacramental preparation, a candidate must be at the age of discretion, seven years of age or above and must meet the following requirements:

• Be baptized and not previously confirmed
• Must be Catholic (children baptized in another denomination must make a Profession of Faith)
• Must be properly instructed (ie: attending mass, going to scheduled faith formation sessions, and living a holy life that is pleasing to God).
• Must be capable of renewing their Baptismal promises
• Must have previously been prepared for and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (ordinarily occurs in Second Grade)

Candidates will be allowed 1 absence for the year. If they miss more, then the family will be responsible for make up sessions.

Candidates will be prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Eucharist.

Both sacraments will be celebrated in the same Sacred Liturgy.

Candidates must bring in a signed bulletin from a priest or deacon from the weekend masses  and turn them in at the next scheduled Family Faith Formation session.  (If you visit another parish from out of town, please have the priest or deacon sign that bulletin.)

Parents

Parents have a right and a responsibility to be intimately involved in preparing their children for sacraments and are to be models for their children in the life of Faith (ie: attending mass regularly, participating in scheduled faith formation sessions, going to scheduled retreats and classes with your child(ren) when appropriate).

Parents discern the readiness of their children to prepare for and celebrate the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist in consultation with their pastor or his delegate.

Parents, who due to extraordinary circumstances cannot assume their role in preparation of their child for the sacraments, may designate another adult to fulfill this responsibility. (Discerned in dialogue with pastor or designate.)

Pastors

“Pastors of souls, and other members of the Christian faithful, according to their respective ecclesiastical function, have the duty to take care that those who seek the sacraments are prepared to receive them by proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, attentive to the norms issued by competent authority.” Canon 843 § 2

Sponsors

Every candidate should have a Confirmation sponsor. Candidates may have more than one sponsor, however only one should be designated as the liturgical sponsor who presents the candidate for confirmation. It is desirable that baptismal godparents, as extensions of the spiritual family, continue this role at Confirmation.

Sponsors should be actively involved in the child’s life of faith-before, during, and after Confirmation.

Qualifications
Must be at least sixteen years old; May not be natural or adoptive parents of the confirmand; must be fully initiated into the Catholic Faith (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist); must be leading a life in harmony with the Faith; must be free of any canonical impediment. RC 5-6; Canon 874, 892-893; CCC 1311; RCIA 10.2