Rite of Confirmation

Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in the 9^th grade. Below are the requirements for Confirmation:

Remote (first year of preparation; 9^th grade):

• Explore the Catholic faith through study of Creed, Liturgy, the sacraments and prayer
• Attend at least 2 social events
• Good class attendance (No more than 4 absences)
• Begin working on service hours (5 hours of parish ministry and 5 hours of community service per year)
• Think about choosing a sponsor
• Parent meetings - dates to be announced
  
  
  

Immediate (second year of preparation; 10^th grade):

• Select sponsor to help with spiritual growth (sponsor forms due in October)
• Write a letter to sponsor
• Good Class Attendance (No more than 4 absences)
• Attend Confirmation retreat (dates to be announced)
• Parent meetings (dates to be announced)
• Personal Interview in March
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Complete service hours by early April (5 hours of parish ministry and 5 hours of community service)
• Confirmation rehearsal
• Sponsor Dinner in January
• Meeting with the Bishop
• 20 Questions
• Confirmation Liturgy
• Attend at least 2 social events

Follow these official church guidelines when selecting a Confirmation sponsor:

• Sponsor must be at least 16 years old
• Sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic (one who has celebrated Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation)
• The sponsor must not be bound by any church penalty and should lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken
• A Sponsor must not be the parent of the one to be confirmed

SPONSOR FORMS ARE DUE OCTOBER 30.

To parents of older Confirmation Candidates:

If your son or daughter starts the program in the second year, he or she will most likely be confirmed in the 11^th grade. Please consult with the Director of Youth Ministry to determine readiness and preparation for Confirmation for any student who begins after the 9^th grade.

Click Here for a list of TYM Classes and Events

Confirmation Forms

Sacramental Sponsor Certificate
Ministry Involvement Sheet - To log community service hours and parish ministry hours.  Please turn these in as you complete them.

Curriculum

St. Thomas More's confirmation process uses the guidelines set forth by the Diocese of Raleigh.

This entails a two year process of catechesis along with one year of mystogogy. The first year of Confirmation preparation is known as the "Remote Year" and usually takes place in 9th grade. The second year of preparation is known as the "Immediate Year" and usually takes place in tenth grade.

The two year catechesis uses the Catechism of the Catholic church as a model for pacing. The remote year curriculum delves into the Catholic faith by discussing what we believe about God and the Church. The immediate year curriculum covers morality and how we are to live as Christians. Also in the immediate year youth will learn specifically about the Sacrament of Confirmation. During this catechesis Liturgy and prayer will be covered more in depth.

We use www.calltodiscipleship.com for remote and immediate year catechesis. We use "Confirmed in a Faithful Community" published by Saint Mary's Press to supplement catechesis for the immediate year.

View the curriculum calendar to see what topics your children are learning about and when.

St. Thomas More youth ministry provides 11^th and 12^th graders opportunities for mystagogy, or continuing education, after their Confirmation. 11^th and 12^th graders are encouraged to attend the W.I.R.E.D. group, which is more discussion-based and typically deals with more practical application of what they learned during Confirmation preparation. Every 11^th and 12^th grader may attend, even if they did not participate in Confirmation preparation at St. Thomas More.

Bishop Burbidge's Confirmation Questions

These questions will be asked by Bishop Burbidge before Confirmation. They deal with some basic Catholic doctrine that Catholics should know.

You can read the questions here.