Sacrament of Confirmation | Saint Ambrose Catholic Community

Saint Ambrose Confirmation Preparation 2023-2024

Confirmation preparation takes place for one year prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Since raising children in the faith is the primary responsibility of the parents, we at St. Ambrose will accompany each candidate and family to the best of our ability.¹

Expectations:

Sunday Mass: Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.
Register: Registration begins in July.
- Forms available in the parish office, online on the confirmation page, or email David.
Inquiry Meeting: Parents and Candidates (grades 9 – 12) attend the Confirmation Inquiry Meeting on Sunday, September 17, 9:45am-10:15am at St. Ambrose in the Church. We are available for questions afterwards.
Formation: Join for all of the four family sessions. Starting in the church with the whole family, we will break into respective faith formation levels. Parents will receive formation as well. Sponsors are welcome.
- Sunday, October 15th, 9:45-10:45am
- Wednesday, January 17th, 6:30-7:30pm
- Wednesday, February 21st 6:30-7:30pm
- Sunday, March 17th, 9:45-10:45am
Required Paperwork: Complete the required Confirmation paperwork. This may be submitted beginning September 17 through January 17.
- One online form:
  - Verify the reception of the sacrament of baptism. Either:
    - Confirming candidate was baptized at St. Ambrose.
    - OR if the candidate was baptized at another church, turn in their baptismal certificate. Send in the physical original to us (we will return it to you) or call the church of the baptism and have them send it to St. Ambrose.
  - Sponsor Selection. Needs to be a confirmed, practicing Catholic who is not a parent.
  - Saint Name/Confirmation Name Selection
- Letter to Father Peter
Retreat: One weekend retreat the year you plan to be Confirmed. (Last year’s 2022-2023 confirmation retreat counts.)
- Confirmation Retreat: December 1-3. This is our main retreat.
  - Form due October 25th along with Camp Victory Activity Waiver
- Other options need to be approved by David including but not limited to: Steubenville Conference, Extreme Faith Camp, Winter Faith Camp.
Rite of Sending: Candidate, Parents and Sponsor (if able) participate in the Rite of Sending Mass at St. Ambrose on Sunday, March 17th at 11:00am.
Sacrament of Confirmation: The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred at the Confirmation Mass Tuesday, April 9th, 7:00pm at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Optional:

We highly encourage all youth preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation to commit to being involved in the Youth Ministry. The primary ministry for those seeking Confirmation are:

High School Youth Groups Wednesdays
Monthly Extreme Faith Nights on Fridays
Lifeline Events
Winter Faith Camp
Extreme Faith Camp
Steubenville Conference

For more information on additional opportunities, see our Youth Ministry page or reach out to David.

Paperwork and Forms:

Confirmation registration form typically due by August 1. Mail in or submit to the parish office. Cost $100.
Retreat form and check due by October 25. Mail in or submit to the parish office.
Complete the online retreat activity waiver for the camp host by October 25.
Complete online form for Baptism verification, Sponsor and Saint selection by January 17.
Letter of Request for Confirmation to the Pastor due by March 17. Mail in or submit to the parish office.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I dive into my faith more if I want to learn or uplift my family?

Obviously, joining an adult small group or youth group would be the best way to feed your soul and pour out to your family.

Additionally, there are many resources to glean from:

–Ascension on YouTube has amazing videos, many of which feature Fr. Mike Schmitz, a priest in Duluth.
–Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike is a brilliant podcast walking through the whole Bible in 365 days with enlightening commentary.
–FORMED has faith-based series and movies.
–USCCB has daily Mass reading and helpful resources.
–Ascension has the whole gambit of Catholic prayers.
–Person and Identity is a beautiful Catholic ministry tackling hard questions like transgenderism and gender ideology.

Why did the Confirmation program change?

We found the former way of walking teens through mandatory small groups and large groups did not cultivate an openness to our Lord, so we shifted our focus to the family. Parents, as the spiritual head of their household, are charged with the souls of their children; we want to come alongside the parents and the whole family in the journey of faith. As much is it would seem cool and comfortable to send teens into a program and spit out saints, it does not work that way–and for good reason! Our Lord loves us so much as to let us freely choose to follow Him or not. We want to give you and your family the same opportunity to choose while lessening the burden of the confirmation program.

What if we cannot make one of the family events?

No worries. We understand life gets full. Simply send David an email and we may be calling to follow up you. Otherwise, there is no materials to make up for missing the event.

Are you serious about the going to Sunday Mass thing?

Yes. Sunday Mass is about giving what is due to God. The Lord asks us to join Him in His banquet born out of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Father Mike Schmitz has a great explanation in his video.

This is my second year of confirmation preparation. Do I need to do all the same things as those entering for their first year?

Yes, we ask you attend everything. The exception may be if you already went on a retreat with us last year, your first year, then the retreat expectation has been fulfilled. If you did not go on retreat with us last year, your first year, we ask you join us for the retreat.

The retreat date does not work for me. What do I do?

Examine other options on the NET Ministries page. You will need to register and let David know that you are choosing another option.

What do I do with my sponsor? Do we need to meet?

We encourage you to spend time with your sponsor, share how your life is, where you are at in their faith. Pray for each other as well, especially the sponsor for their confirmation candidate.

What if my sponsor lives far away? What if they cannot make the Confirmation Mass? Can they be my sponsor?

Yes, they can be your sponsor even if they live far away. We ask you keep contact with them throughout preparation and intentionally have conversations with them. If they cannot make the Confirmation Mass, someone may stand in as their proxy. For example, you choose your uncle in Virginia to be your sponsor. You have regular conversations with them. Your uncle is unable to attend the Confirmation Mass, you can ask your older brother or your grandma, who have received the sacrament of confirmation, may be the proxy for uncle at the Confirmation Mass.

Will there be a Confirmation rehearsal? What about the information?

No, we will not have a Confirmation rehearsal. We will relay all the information by sending it out over email or posting on this page in the Spring.

For more information, please contact:

David Flynn
651-768-3022
[email protected]

“The right and duty of parents to give education is essential, since it is connected with the
transmission of human life; it is original and primary with regard to the educational role
of others, on account of the uniqueness of the loving relationship between parents and
children; and it is irreplaceable and inalienable, and therefore incapable of being entirely
delegated to others or usurped by others.” – Usccb.org “Rights and Duties of Parents.” ↩︎

Saint Ambrose Confirmation Preparation 2023-2024

Paperwork and Forms:

Frequently Asked Questions:

For more information, please contact:

The Saint Ambrose Way

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