WHO IS INVITED?

To be in the Confirmation Preparation Program, a teen must be in 8th grade or older.  The preparation program at St. Francis usually begins in the Fall of the 8th grade and continues through the school year and into the following Fall.  The Celebration of Confirmation is at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids during the Fall of 9th grade. 

Older teens attend a program on Tuesday evenings (English) or Sunday afternoon (Spanish), where children and teens meet weekly and parents attend once each month.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO BE CONFIRMED?

¨ Regularly attend one of the following programs to learn more and grow closer to God and the Church:

Sunday morning 8th grade class at St. Francis (weekly) - English

Sunday afternoon Spanish Family Program (weekly)

Tuesday evening (weekly) - English

English Family Program

Corpus Christi Catholic School

Holland Christian School

Catholic Central or West Catholic High School

¨ Fully participate in the Confirmation Preparation Program

      as outlined in this brochure

¨ Be open to the adventure of hearing God calling you into a deeper relationship.

WHAT DOES THE CONFIRMATION PREPARATION PROGRAM INCLUDE?

¨ Four Confirmation Sessions

Session #1 (Teens and Parents) 2009

Sunday, October 18 at 2:00 p.m.. (English and Spanish) or

Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 p.m. (English)

Session #2 (Teens & Sponsors) 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2:00—3:30 p.m.  (English and Spanish) or

Tuesday, February 2, 6:30—8:00 p.m.  (English)

Session #3 (Teens & Sponsors) 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2:00—3:30 p.m.  (English and Spanish) or

Tuesday, March  23, 6:30—8:00 p.m.  (English)

For teens attending the Spanish Family Program, Confirmation sessions will be held during class time, and parents and/or sponsors will join the teen for those sessions.

Session #4 (Teens, Parents, and Sponsors)

This session will be scheduled when we learn the date of the Fall Confirmation in Grand Rapids.  .

For teens attending the Spanish Family Program, Confirmation sessions will be held during class time, and parents and/or sponsors will join the teen for those sessions.

¨ Two Retreats  (The first will be held during the 8th grade year; the second will be in early Fall of 9th grade year, immediately prior to the Celebration of Confirmation.)

Retreat #1:  February 27th  2009, 8:30 a.m.—7:30 p.m.

Catholic Central High School ~ Grand Rapids

Cost:  $25.00

Retreat #2:  This retreat will be an overnight retreat.  The date will be set when we know the date of the Fall Confirmation.

¨        CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION

Date to be announced in late summer, 2010

(The date is set by the bishop’s office.)

Cathedral of St. Andrew

Celebrant:  Bishop Walter Hurley

If you have any questions about this process please contact:

The Office of Youth Ministry

(616) 392-6700 ext 108 or dpatzy@stfrancisholland.org