Summary 2016

Requirements for Admission to Confirmation Preparation:

• Registered member of Mary Queen Parish
• Candidate is 9^th grader or older
• Has completed First Reconciliation and First Communion
• A history of religious education and weekly Sunday Mass attendance

How to Register:

1. Complete the following:

· Registration form with $50.00 formation fee.
· Sponsor Covenant Form
· Church of Baptism notification card
· Copy of candidate’s Baptismal Certificate if NOT baptized at Mary Queen. It is VERY important that baptismal certificates are turned in as soon as possible!

2. These forms are available on the Mary Queen Church website and in packet form at the Formation Kickoff in the school gym on the morning of August 16^th or August 23rd Copies will also be available in the Parish office from 9am -3pm Monday – Friday and The Mary Queen School office 8am – 2:30pm.
3. Submit this information to Angie Allen by dropping off at the Parish office or Mary Queen School by September 13^th.
4. Contact Angie Allen at (859) 278-7432 ext. 248, if you have further questions regarding registration.

Confirmation Kickoff:
Our Confirmation Kickoff will be held on Sunday, September 13, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm in Mary Queen Church. Parents, Sponsors (if selected) and candidates will meet in the church from 4:00pm – 5:00pm. Candidates only will remain for the kickoff activities including dinner from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

Program Overview:
Class will be held every Sunday night at Mary Queen from 6:45pm – 8:30pm. The Confirmation Class Schedule for the year will be posted on the Mary Queen church website. It will be updated as needed throughout the year to contain the most up to up-to-date information.

We will be using Matthew Kelley’s DECISION POINT Confirmation program. DECISION POINT is a unique program that faithfully presents the Church’s teaching in an engaging, accessible, and relevant way. Small group activities provide an opportunity for the youth to get to know each other and make the material more applicable to their lives.

Each youth will be provided with a DECISION POINT workbook and Bible which will be used both in and out of class time. Please ask your child questions about his/her classes.

CLASS ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: Class attendance is mandatory. More than 2 unexcused absences will be an indication that the confirmation candidate may potentially need to consider confirmation for the following year instead. If your child is not able to attend the class, contact your teen’s small group leader as soon as possible, preferably at least 24 hours in advance. (You will be contacted by the small group leader after the kickoff and provided contact information.) If your child misses a class you will be contacted by his/her small group leader to discuss how to make up the work. If your child misses two classes unexcused, you will be notified by the youth sacramental prep coordinator to discuss the possibility of delaying confirmation until next year. Remember that this is a very special year in your child’s life, and there will be none other like it!! To assist you in discerning what an excusable absence is, here are some examples:

Excusable Absences:
1) Illness
2) Unforeseen life/family circumstances and events (family crisis or transition, death in the family, etc.)
NOTE: excessive excused absences could also be a reason for delaying confirmation.

Unexcusable Absences:
1) Regular team/ sports practices
2) Homework (should be completed prior to Sunday night)


PARENT INVOLVEMENT: You can join your child on this journey in several ways. One is to sign up on to receive the same films they are watching in class in your inbox twice a week (Every Monday and Thursday) from the DECISION POINT website at:
http://dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation/for-parents-and-sponsors/
This will enable you to talk to your teen about their DECISION POINT experience and also nurture your own spiritual journey. Topics include the Sacraments, decision making, relationships, prayer, finding your personal mission, etc. This can be a transformational experience for your whole family. It is truly a great opportunity for you to re-engage with your faith and to grow along with your Confirmation candidate.
Another way to participate is to volunteer your time to assist with the programs or the events and activities that will be scheduled through the year. (All parent volunteers must receive VIRTUS Certification. Go to virtus.org to schedule a training session.)
Parents are highly encouraged to sit in on a few (or all) of the confirmation classes. (Last year, one of the parents that attended some of the classes was so impressed he ended up coming the entire year!)

Retreat: A retreat experience is an important and exciting aspect of Confirmation preparation. On January 9, 2016 we will have a Confirmation retreat for the Candidates and their sponsors at Mary Queen from 10:00am- 3:00pm. This will be a special retreat for the candidates with a special speaker, small group sharing, games, prayer, reconciliation and a special speaker. Attendance is mandatory.

Selecting a Sponsor:
The candidate should select a sponsor by October 25, 2015.
Confirmation sponsors “bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the minister for anointing, and will later help them fulfill their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit whom they have received.” (Rite of Confirmation, 5) The requirements for sponsors are: 16 years old, practicing and Confirmed Catholic. (See Canon Law 893 and 874) First choice should be the Godparent(s) at Baptism (Canon Law 893 ^2). If this is not possible, (i.e. they are no longer living or no longer a practicing Catholic) another acceptable sponsor can be chosen. Sponsors are strongly encouraged to attend classes, service and other events with their Candidate.

Parents cannot be their own child’s sponsor.

IF THE SPONSOR IS NOT THE SAME PERSON AS THE GODPARENT OR DOESN’T ATTEND MQ, the Parish Verification at the bottom of the Sponsor Covenant must be completed. This will ensure that they are a practicing Catholic in good standing which is required to be a sponsor. (See Canon Law 893 and 874)

The candidate must select a sponsor and have them complete the Confirmation Sponsor Covenant form and submit it by October 25, 2015.

Letter to the Bishop:
Letters to the Bishop are due January 31, 2016

Each student is expected to write a letter to the Bishop. This activity encourages the candidate to reflect on why he/she wants to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and by articulating it in their own words, they also take ownership of this important step in their faith life.

Guidelines for writing the letter are include in the confirmation packet and are posted on the Confirmation page of the Mary Queen website.

Service Hours:
To be completed by March 20, 2016
Because we don’t EARN the sacrament of Confirmation, an emphasis on service to the community is an effort to reinforce our children to help others. The service hour component of the Confirmation program allows families to broaden their experiences – learning new things about our community and recognizing Christ around us.
There are 10 service hours required. All Confirmation Candidates will be required to serve a 2 hour shift at the Fall Festival October 9-10, 2015.

Youth Activities:
Candidates are to participate in two Parish youth activities outside of Confirmation sessions in order to build community with other youth within the parish. More information on this will be made available during the Confirmation sessions.

Selecting a Saint:
The Confirmation Candidate can choose a Saint name to use during the Rite of Confirmation. However, this is not required. There will not be an assignment associated with choosing to do this. The candidate will however explain why they chose this name in their Letter to the Bishop. This Saint name will not be recorded in the parish records or on their certificate. It will be a choice shared between the candidate, their Saint and the Bishop.

Reconciliation:
It is important that Candidates receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before Confirmation. There will be special opportunities to do so before Confirmation. It is highly desired for the Sponsor and parents to receive the sacrament as well. At Mary Queen, reconciliation is offered every Saturday afternoon from 2:30-3:30pm.

Day of Confirmation:
Confirmation will be on April 17, 2016 at 5:30pm. Candidates to arrive in the church classroom AB by 4:00pm.
Girls: must have shoulders covered, a modest neckline and hemline, no jeans and wear dress shoes.
Boys: no jeans or tennis shoes and should wear a dress shirt with tie (jacket is optional).
No gum chewing.
Red is traditionally the symbolic color for Confirmation. Any color is acceptable to wear.
Programs will be printed which outline the order of Mass and can be taken home for a memento.
A group photo will be taken after the Mass and will be available to purchase. Order forms are forthcoming. The Bishop welcomes individual photos taken with him after the Mass.
Certificates will be available immediately following the Mass in the gathering area.
There will be a cookie and punch reception in the gathering area immediately following the Mass.

Additional requirements and guidelines for Confirmation put forth from the Bishop’s office can be viewed by going to: www.cdlex.org – click on Religious Education and click on the document “Confirmation Preparation Guidelines.” You can also view four other documents pertaining to celebrating Confirmation by going to: www.cdlex.org – click on Worship Office and scroll down to the heading of “Confirmation” on the right hand side.


How to access Confirmation documents online:
Go to Mary Queen Church website- http://cdlex.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=313
Click on Religious Formation & Education on submenu on the left side of the page.
Click on Sacramental Formation on submenu on the left side of the page.
Click on Confirmation on the submenu on the left side of the page. You are now on the Confirmation page where all documents are found.

The DECISION POINT web site has the class materials available online including the student workbook and all videos at: http://dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation


Journey to Confirmation Process……

• Register for Confirmation by 9/13/15
• Attend Confirmation Kickoff September 13, 2015; 4-5pm with Parents in Mary Queen Church; Candidates only from 5 – 8pm, dinner included.
• Attend Sunday Mass and Confirmation sessions
• Select a sponsor by October 25, 2015
• Attend Retreat with Sponsor January 9, 2016
• Complete Letter to the Bishop by January 31, 2016
• Complete and submit service hours by March 20, 2016
• Attend two MQ Youth activities of your choice
• Reconciliation
• Attend Confirmation practice- date TBD
• Confirmation Day!!!!!- April 17, 2015, 5:30pm