The Confirmation program at Holy Family is a one-year program of preparation open to high school students who are ready to deepen their relationship with Christ and the Church and take on greater responsibility for spreading and defending their Faith.
Confirmation, like Baptism and Holy Communion, is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation within the Church. Confirmation gives us the grace to be "soldiers for Christ" and to take on the mission of bringing Christ to others. Given this understanding, our approach to preparation is multi-faceted: first, we emphasize a personal friendship with Christ and the Church. We emphasize personal prayer and the importance of strengthening oneself through frequent Confession and attendance at Mass. Equally important is on-going catechesis, and during this year catechesis centers around a wide variety of topics, with an emphasis upon an apologetic's (defending the Faith) perspective. Current affairs are frequently brought into class discussions so that the youth can see the pertinence of their Faith to all aspects of life.
Confirmation classes begin in late September, and the sacrament takes place in the spring. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings between 6:30-8:00 PM in the church basement. We begin with a brief social time followed by the large group session. This is followed most weeks by 30-minute small group meetings. Small group leaders are dedicated to helping youth understand the class material more deeply and also helping them grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.
Each year, it has been a blessing and a privilege with work alongside our youth and witness the Holy Spirit working in their lives. God still uses the sacraments to revitalize and renew the Church! For more information on Confirmation preparation at Holy Family, please call Elizabeth Brown at 952-929-0113, extension 17 or contact me through email at browns@usfamily.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How old should my son or daughter be before entering the Confirmation program?
A. The Confirmation program at Holy Family is styled to fit high school aged youth with most students preparing during their freshman year. At this time, we do not accept younger students. Any high school aged youth is invited to begin preparation.
Q. Does our family need to belong to the parish?
A. No.
Q. What is the fee for the year?
A. $100.00 whether in parish or not; financial aid is available.
Q. Why do you require a retreat (or Evening of Recollection) and service projects?
A. The retreats or Evenings of Recollection assist the youth by giving them time away from their daily routine to better focus on prayer and preparation for this sacrament. We very carefully select retreats to use students' time well. We require three service projects (at least two with the parish) to help youth see the importance of their role in serving the Church. Service helps all of us to get outside ourselves and begin to see Christ in those less fortunate than ourselves.
Q. How important is regular attendance?
A. Very! Regular attendance each Wednesday is required except for serious reasons such as illness and family emergencies. Occasionally students will be excused for very special award ceremonies and tournaments. The general rule is that Confirmation preparation should only be undertaken during a year when students are able to make the same firm commitment that they would to school, a sport or a job.
Q. I'm concerned that my son or daughter does not have the maturity or interest in the Faith to make his or her Confirmation this year.
A. I suggest that you require him to begin the program, and let God work on him for awhile! Very quickly, we've found that some of the most reluctant youth have been won over. God has the ability to take even the most stubborn of us and give us great zeal and love. Our job is to never underestimate what God can do.
For this year's calendar (still incomplete), click here.
For a more detailed description of the Confirmation program's Philosophy and Goals, click here.
For Confirmation Program Requirements, click here.