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How to get started
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The first opportunity a teen has to pursue the sacrament of confirmation is in the 8th grade. Candidates should have completed a year of formation prior to the year when they begin preparation for the sacrament. For example, if an 8th grader comes forward, then he should have completed a year of formation in 7th grade.
There is not a separate registration for confirmation. Teens who wish to consider receiving the sacrament need to be enrolled in the appropriate formation for their grade (8th grade- Fusion; 9th-12th grade- High School Youth Nights)
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The teen drives when to start confirmation preparation. Invitations at youth nights and retreats will be made to the teens inviting them to begin the process. When a teen responds to the invitation, they are asked to sign a commitment card and give it to a core team member.
Upon receiving the card, youth ministry staff members will send the parent of the candidate a link to fill out a form which collects the information needed to begin the process. On that form, we will ask for the name and contact information of the candidate’s sponsor. The parent will also be asked to provide the candidate’s baptismal certificate.
After the baptismal certificate has been provided, youth ministry staff will reach out to the candidate’s sponsor inviting them to fill out an online form which collects the needed information to qualify the sponsor. Sponsors who are not St. Gabriel parishioners will be asked to take a provided form to their parish so that the priest can verify the sponsor is a Catholic in good standing in their parish.
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When all the paperwork is provided from the parent and sponsor, the sponsor will be provided training materials and the directions for Milestone 1. At this time the parent and sponsor will work together to create a schedule for the required meetings. After the sponsor and the candidate complete the milestone, the sponsor will fill out a feedback form indicating the milestone is complete. Upon receiving the form, the sponsor will be sent the information for the next milestone. This process is repeated for all the milestones. For more information about Milestones, click here. The milestones can be completed easily within a school year. The pace of completing milestones is determined by the candidate. The candidate has the freedom to complete the preparation at their pace.
In addition to the milestones, candidates should attend a retreat during the year they are preparing. The 8th grade retreat is October 28-30, 2022. the High school retreat is December 2-4, 2022.
Please note that Milestone 3 covers service where the candidate and sponsor choose a service project to do together. It may be important to start thinking about those opportunities before reaching Milestone 3.
Once they complete all the preparation, candidates will receive the sacrament at the next available date. The rite of confirmation is scheduled in the spring and the fall. (April 29, 2022 at 2PM or October 7, 2022 at 10AM)
Since the process is self-paced, there are no required deadlines by the church.Sample Timeline for staring preparation in the Fall and receiving the sacrament in the Spring:
October- Candidate comes forward and signs the commitment card
October- candidate and sponsor forms are completed and the necessary paperwork is turned into youth ministry staff*
October- 8th graders attend the 8th Grade Brick Retreat (October 28-30, 2022)
November- Milestone 1 and 2 (three meetings in total)
December- Milestone 3 (one meeting and completing a service project together
December- High School teens attend the HS Winter Retreat (December 2-4, 2022)
January- Milestone 4 (one meeting and attending Mass together)
February- Milestone 5 (two meetings- confirmation saint is chosen)
March- Milestone 6 and 7 (one meeting each- 2 in total)
April- celebrate the Rite of Confirmation
*A delay in completing forms and paperwork will prevent your candidate from starting the milestones at the ideal time in this schedule.
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