Confirmation Program
COORDINATORS: MARY BRITANAK
DAN WADDINGTON, & STEPHANIE D.
732-269-2208 ext. 128The Confirmation Program at St. Barnabas Parish is based on the Youth Ministry model of small group activity and learning. The goal of the program is to aid middle-school teens in the decision to be confirmed. It is not mandatory that every person be confirmed in eighth grade, but rather, a person desires confirmation to become fully initiated in the life of the Church. This means that instead of being "done" with FaithFormation, the Confirmand is beginning a lifelong relationship wiht Christ, and our parish community.
Gatherings are held on Monday nights for 7th graders and Tuesday nights for 8th graders. All gatherings are and there are mandatory parent gatherings several times during the year. We ask that at least one parent or guardian attend to show not only support, but how important this step is to their son or daughter.
There are requirements that each candidate for Confiramtion is responsible for. They are: A report on the Saint that they will be taking the name of,
at least 15 hours of community service, and a letter to, or interview with the Pastor to show their understanding of Confirmation, and thier desire for, and readiness to receive the Sacrament.
The candidate must also be involved in the liturgical and Sacramental life of the parish.
Each person confirmed must choose a Sponsor. A Sponsor is chosen because of their witness to living thier faith, and journey. A Sponsor, by Canon Law, must be:
1. At least 16 years old.
2. Have been fully initiated in the Cathollic Church.
(Received Confirmation) and
3. Be a practicing Catholic. Able to obtain a certificate of eligibility from
his or her parish.
No exceptions may be made from these requirements. There is a
Fee. However, no one will be denied entry to the program due to inability to pay.
Our teens are asking to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church and thus are required to practice the faith they want to espouse. We ask that they attend Mass weekly. During each gatehring the leader will discuss the Sunday Gospel with the teens and ask them to share on the Question of the Week. This question is something we ask families at home in preparation for each gathering. All candidtes are asked to keep a Mass Journal. At the end of Mass each week a sticker with the question of the week is handed out to be placed in the journal. This allows us to be able to inform the Bishop that our teens are in fact practicing their faith as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, which confirms their faith. The first precept of the Church is to attend Mass each week and the Third Commandment (both of which they are learning this year) asks us all to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day. In a program as large as ours this is our way of knowing the participants are taking all this seriously. It is also wonderful to hear the faith sharing that goes on about the Question of the Week. Many questions arise that are not necessarily in our cirriculum.
In brief the teens are required to fullfill the following:
-To attend Mass and Class
-To keep a Mass Journal
-To choose a sponsor and have their sponsor obtain a sponsor certificate from their parish
-To choose a Confirmation Name and write a report on a saint
-To write a letter to our pastor, Fr. Kevin Keelen, with reasons they are requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation
-To attend a Confirmation Interview with parents or guardians
To complete at least 15 hours of Community Service
Thank You and God bless you!
