Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative
Holy Family & St. Irene

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Teen Confirmation Preparation

- When teens receive the sacrament of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Boston, it is frequently offered within a faith formation ministry. In the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative, prerequisite discipleship formation precedes immediate Confirmation sacramental preparation. Together, this is Faith Formation.
  
  Usually Confirmation takes place at the conclusion of these preparations in the spring. Anyone in grades 8 and higher who seeks to commit himself or herself to being a life-long follower of Jesus is encouraged to prepare for Confirmation.
  
  Teens attending Catholic Schools should speak with Tony Carbrello, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, about participating only in the immediate Confirmation sacramental preparation process, though the teen would be encouraged to participate throughout all of the collaborative's Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.
- Step 1 Request to Receive the Sacrament
- Step 2 Sponsor and Name Information, Retreat RSVP
- Step 3 Conclusion of the Preparation Process (available spring 2027)
Confirmation Preparation Overview
Preparation Process
- PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
  
  Steps to Register for Confirmation:
  Prerequisite - Attend scheduled faith formation sessions and complete Home Faith Reflections (online forms) to make up missed sessions. All teens receiving Confirmation are expected to complete the specific sessions related to Confirmation preparation.
  Step 1: Request to Receive the Sacrament, Recap of Faith Journey
  Step 2: Provide information of confirmation name, confirmation sponsor, and choose a Confirmation Retreat
  Step 3: Conclusion of the preparation process, and questions for a concluding conversation with Tony about Confirmation preparation. (link available spring 2027)
  All teens preparing for Confirmation should:
  Schedule meetings with Tony for Confirmation Conversations. These conversations are meant to discuss where each teen is at in his or her own faith journey, and happen once near the beginning of the process and also in the time immediately prior to receiving Confirmation.
  Participate in opportunities for ministry and mission
  Attend one Confirmation retreat
Confirmation Mass
- Confirmation Mass 2027
  
  Confirmation Mass 2027 for both Holy Family and St. Irene candidates will be held on Friday, April 30 at 7:00pm, at St. Bernard Church of Holy Family Parish. Candidates and sponsors should arrive at 6:15pm.
  
  A Confirmation rehearsal for candidates and sponsors is held beforehand (day/time to be determined). The rehearsal may be be followed by a dinner for candidates and sponsors, organized by the group of teens who will receive Confirmation in the spring of 2028.
  
  Logistics at the Confirmation Mass:
  Candidates and sponsors will sit together in reserved pews, with most pews in the church available as open seating for family, friends, and guests.
  Due to the timing of the Confirmation Mass, candidates and attendees are advised to have some food prior to attending.
  There should be no gum, drinks, or food in the church.
  Please note that St. Bernard Church is air-conditioned.
  Parking is somewhat limited in the parking lot behind the church. Additional public parking is located around the Church. Please allow extra time to arrive, park, and get to Church.
  
  What Should I Wear for Confirmation?
  
  Candidates for Confirmation and their families often ask about what clothing is appropriate for the ceremony. It is suggested that you think of what you would wear for Easter Mass, than be one step more dressy.
  
  For Everyone:
  
  Hair should be prepared to keep the forehead open, as the Bishop will be making a cross with oil on the forehead. Please do not wear a hat, as even dress hats often get in the way.
  
  White is often worn as a symbolic connection to baptism, linking the sacraments of initiation. However, wearing white is not required.
  
  Guys’ Details:
  Suits are fine, sport jacket is good, neither is necessary.
  Nice pants, can be khakis, but no jeans, no cargo pants.
  Collared shirt, better if it’s a dress shirt.
  Ties are fine (with appropriate content).
  Dress shoes – no sneakers.
  
  Girls’ Details:
  Comfortable dress shoes, but with no big heels, as they are too easy to trip on.
  Skirts and dresses are fine, but not required, and please be mindful of modesty.
  Conservative makeup.
  Flowers are fine.
Age Requirements
- CONFIRMATION RECEPTION AGE
  
  Phases of Reception Age in the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative:
  2026-2027 School Year and after: teens in Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
  Age of Confirmation Reception to be Phased In Through 2027
  In January 2024, Cardinal Sean O’Malley (then Archbishop of Boston, now retired) announced that the age for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Boston would be changing from around age 16 (or 10th grade) to around age 13, or 8th grade. Many factors led to this decision: to decrease the gaps between the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation); to increase and strengthen the role of families in the faith formation of their young teens; and to make the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation available to more young people at a critical time in their adolescence. Many studies show that teens today are making decisions to associate - or disaffiliate - with a faith tradition in early adolescence.
  
  The Archdiocese of Boston is allowing each parish / collaborative to phase in the Confirmation reception age as they think is best in their community. After much discussion, we have decided in the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative to take a gradual approach, in order to best ensure that our teens have a good foundation of discipleship as they receive God's grace in the sacrament of Confirmation.
  
  Candidates for Confirmation will be expected to have past experience in Faith Formation before they begin Confirmation Preparation.
  
  Additional resources from Archdiocese of Boston:
  Archdiocese of Boston Confirmation information
  Frequently Asked Questions for Parents about Confirmation
Confirmation Retreat
- Confirmation Retreat
  
  Retreat Dates: Sat. Feb. 6 and Sun. Feb. 6, 2027
  Teens should arrive at 2:30pm on Saturday, be picked up at 9:00pm on Saturday, return at 9:30am on Sunday
  Families are invited to attend closing Mass at 1:30pm
  Retreat ends Sunday at 2:30pm, after Mass
  Location of Retreat: St. Thecla Retreat House, 77 Dudley Road, Billerica (just off Rt. 4)
  Emergency Contact Number: 978-667-5580 or 978-369-7442 x223 (Tony office number)
  Transportation: Families are expected to bring their teen to/from the retreat location each day
  Adult Leaders Needed*:
  Chaperones to attend retreat
  Meal preparation assistance
  Sign Up through flocknote in email messages
  Cost: No cost - an additional fee was collected with your Faith Formation registration
  Forms: Permission Slips are needed for retreat
  Packing List:
  Comfortable, casual, modest clothes
  Clothes for possible outside free time (coats, hats, etc.)
  Snack or drinks for community snack table
  Reusable water bottle for teen to use
  Please leave your cell phones/digital music players at home. Cell phones will be collected at the start of the retreat.
  Basic Retreat Outline:
  Fun activities led by Peer Ministry team
  Witness Talks by Peer Ministers and Adults
  Opportunities for prayer and spiritual reflection
  Opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation
  Closing Mass (families invited to attend)
  
  * All adult volunteers must have completed the Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) program and have a current CORI on file with the collaborative.
Confirmation Sponsors
- Resources for Confirmation Sponsors
  
  Confirmation Candidate-Sponsor Discussion Booklet
  
  This resource, adapted from other sources, provides four topics of conversation for candidates and sponsors:
  Depending on God
  Values and the Christian Life
  Prayer Life
  Commitment
  
  When a candidate and sponsor meet together (in person, virtual, etc.) to discuss faith as part of the process to prepare the candidate to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, the Coordinator will benefit from being notified. This online form below will take less than one minute to complete:
  
  Confirmation Sponsor Conversation Form
  
  Requirements for Confirmation Sponsors
  
  The Code of Canon Law (Church Law) specifies the requirements for serving as a sponsor at Confirmation (Canon 893) are the same as those for godparents at Baptism (Canon 874): a sponsor may not be the parent of the person being confirmed, a sponsor must be at least 16 years old, a sponsor must be fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) in the Catholic church, a sponsor should live a life of active faith in the
  Catholic Church, and if married a sponsor needs to be in a marriage recognized as valid by the Catholic Church.
  
  It is preferred that a baptismal Godparent will be the Confirmation sponsor, although ultimately the choice of sponsor is that of the candidate, who may choose someone who meets the qualifications above.
  While it is preferable that sponsors attend the Confirmation liturgy, it is possible to have a “proxy” stand in for the absentee sponsor (this "proxy" could be a parent). This has always been the case, but has been more common due to the pandemic.
  
  Confirmation sponsors will be communicated with directly by the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Tony.
Confirmation Names
- Choosing a Confirmation Name
  
  Your name gives you your identity. It tells others who you are. When you were baptized, your parents chose your name.
  
  It is a common custom, though not required, for someone to choose to be Confirmed under the name of a Saint or figure from the bible at the time of their Confirmation. This occurs in the bible when a significant change happens in a person: Abram becomes Abraham, Jacob becomes Israel, and Saul becomes Paul, to name a few.
  
  How you use this Confirmation name is up to the candidate, though it would be the name by which a candidate is presented to the Bishop during the Rite of Anointing portion of the sacrament of Confirmation.
  
  Below are a couple of websites listing many saints, to enable your choosing a name. Past generations had to look at books.
  
  Catholic.org
  Franciscan Media
Informational Videos about Confirmation
- Tony offers the following videos for information, perspective, and some humor. Enjoy!
  
  The first video (from the Diocese of Syracuse) explains some of the meaning behind the sacrament of Confirmation, but also gives plenty of visual examples of teens coming forward to be anointed by the Bishop. In our case, Bishop Reed will ask for only a name and offer peace to the candidate – there will be no handshake or conversation before or after the anointing.

Teen Confirmation Preparation

Age of Confirmation Reception to be Phased In Through 2027

Resources for Confirmation Sponsors

Requirements for Confirmation Sponsors