For a printable PDF version, click HERE.

St Edward Church - 10th Grade

Confirmation Checklist, Signups and Details

2020-2021

Dates at a glance:

• January 18 and 19: In-person Reconciliation, signup below

• February 4 @7pm via Zoom and signup: Catholic BioEthics Talk: Using Our Reason to Address Life and Death Issues of Our Time with Boston College Associate Professor of Moral Theology; signup below

• February 9 @6:30-8:45pm: Confirmation Retreat via Zoom, signup below

• February 12: Confirmation Name and Sponsor’s Name Due via Google form below

• February 20: Letter to Fr. Steve Due via email

• February 21, 23 and 24: Confirmation Candidate Interviews with Fr. Steve and Fr. Gregory along with either Deacon Fred, Anna Mae or Mrs. Morisi, signup below

• February 21 or 24 @7pm: Confirmation candidate and sponsor meeting and blessing via Zoom and signup below

• February 26: Christian Service Hours Summary AND Capstone Project Reflection Due

• March 1: Last class, remote students as well 

• March 12 and 13: Confirmation Day...signup below for your day and time

Sacrament of Reconciliation: January 18 and 19, in-person, SIGNUP HERE

All Confirmation students must receive Reconciliation prior to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

Catholic Bioethics Talk: Thursday, February 4 at 7pm, via Zoom and SIGNUP HERE 

Catholic Bioethics Talk: Using Our Reason to Address Life and Death Issues of Our Time with Boston College Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Dr. Daniel Daly. More info about the talk here. Parents welcome, but please use the same Zoom login as you child because of our account limits

Confirmation Retreat: Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 to 8:45 PM, SIGNUP HERE

All Confirmation candidates are required to attend a retreat. If you cannot make the retreat in its entirety, you must make arrangements to attend an alternative retreat. Please

contact Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke immediately if you cannot make the St. Edward retreat.

Confirmation Name: Due Friday, Feb. 12 via this google form

We are NEVER alone on this journey of faith!  Not only does the Lord walk with us, but He has given us courageous examples of the saints; normal people who decided to lead extraordinary lives! It is a tradition in Confirmation to pick a saint name or biblical hero, although it is not necessary. Students, take the time to really think, pray and research about the saint/biblical hero you’ve selected. Remember, you will be SEALED with the POWER of the Holy Spirit with this name! 

If you decide to stay with your baptismal name (either your first or middle name) please do

some research on your saint and perhaps a little bit about why your parents chose it for you

beyond a family connection. 

Saint Resources:

Why Are Saints Important to Catholics: short video

Find Your Saint: guide to consider making a selection

Calendar of Saints: consider looking up your birthday and which feast day is also celebrated

Biggest and Best List of Confirmation Saints

Confirmation Sponsor:  Due Friday, Feb. 12 via this google form

The Church encourages that the Confirmation Sponsor be a Godparent from Baptism. This

choice symbolically strengthens the connection between Baptism and Confirmation. However, it is not mandatory to choose a Godparent, as there are many reasons why this may not be

possible or even desirable.

There are a few requirements, however. Your Confirmation sponsor must be

• A confirmed and practicing Catholic who is at least 16 years old
• May not be one of your parents (though a parent may stand in as a “proxy” if your sponsor is unable to attend the day of Confirmation.)

When choosing your Confirmation Sponsor, particularly if it is not one of your Godparents,

please consider your values, your goals, your strengths and weaknesses. As with the saint you chose, try to ask someone who complements these qualities in you and someone who is an excellent example of what it means to be a Catholic Christian in today’s world.

Letter to Fr. Steve: Due Saturday, Feb. 20 click HERE for instructions.

Answer 3 questions as stated in the instructions and address the letter to Fr. Steve Zukas at St. Edward Church and email it to stedwardff@ejcatholic.org

Confirmation Candidate Interviews: February 21, 23 and 24, in-person, SIGNUP HERE

Informal interviews will take place in groups of 3 students with either Fr. Steve and Fr. Gregory along with either Deacon Fred, Anna Mae or Mrs. Morisi. Students will also have an opportunity to share highlights of their Capstone Project whether completed or in process. 

Confirmation Candidate and Sponsor Meeting and Blessing: February 21 or 24 at 7pm

via Zoom and SIGNUP HERE 

Whether your sponsor will be able to travel to Medfield and join the ceremony or not, this is an opportunity for Candidates and Sponsors to come together at this brief meeting and blessing.

Christian Service Hours Summary and Reflection: Due Tuesday, Feb. 26

Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of service and write a reflection on their experience. A full description of their service commitment is HERE. 

Capstone Project Reflection: Due Tuesday, Feb. 26

The theme for the Capstone project was either “Finding Christ in Others...Finding Christ in Me” OR “Living The Greatest Commandment”: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’   - Matthew 22:36-39

Please write how your project relates to either theme. If you have not communicated why your project cannot be completed by Feb. 26, please reach out to Anna Mae and Dn Fred to discuss.

Mass/Gospel Reflections: Due Monday, March 1

“What would Jesus do?”...how could we know unless we learn about Jesus through the Gospels and hence grow in relationship with Him. Share and create your personal Padlet: write a short reflection (what spoke to you? How does it/can it relate to your life?) on the Gospel readings each Sunday starting on Oct. 25. Enter your Padlet HERE if you have not already done so. Have at least 15 done. 

CONFIRMATION DAYS: Friday, March 12 or Saturday, March 13 (not March 21st). Because of state and local limitations and adhering to social distancing safety protocols, we must spread the 98 students and families over 6 ceremonies. Each candidate is allowed a MAXIMUM of 4 attendees, which INCLUDES the Confirmation candidate. Please SIGNUP HERE

We are thrilled and grateful to have been part of your student’s faith formation journey this year. It continues to be a blessing! And thank YOU for your continued support.

Please reach out with any questions.

Peace and blessings,

Anna Mae and Dn Fred

Overall Requirements for Confirmation:

1. Completion of Faith Formation Program: Grades 1-10
2. Weekly Mass Reflection 
3. Meetings: Parent/Student Info and initial interviews
4. Projects: mini (Year 1 and 2) and Capstone (Capstone Year 2)
5. Attendance at the Retreat
6. Christian Service: 12 hours total (Years 1 and 2 combined)
7. Reconciliation
8. Interview and Letter to the Pastor (Year 2)
9. Confirmation Name (Year 2)
10. Sponsor Selection (Year 2)

To view the Faith in Action Calendar for service opportunities, click HERE

*Christian Service Hour’s Requirement:

Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. -Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

At the heart of service is a passion to help people and a desire to change the world for Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Christian Service Requirement is to help our students to see Christ in “the Other” and prepare  them to take on a greater responsibility for the mission and ministry of the Church. 

“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” -Matthew 25:40
 

Number of Hours Needed: 12 Hours Total (Year 1 + Year 2)

• 6 hours within the parish and
• 6 hours with corporal works.

General Notes:

• Hours must be completed within each program year.
• Reflection Sheets must be submitted along with the Christian Service Journal Log.
• Money may not be earned for service.

• The adult that supervises must sign off on each service project completed.

• Service projects must comprise of a combination of BOTH:

1. Two Greatest Commandments/Our Father/Creed 
2. Meetings and/or Google Classroom “lessons”: online journals (current topics/social justice), check-ins
3. Projects: Saint Project
4. Weekly Mass Gospel/Homily Reflection

The Church sees 3 roles for Confirmation Sponsors:

• A role model in the faith
• A companion on the candidate’s faith journey 
• A witness for the candidate before the Church

Each candidate must choose a suitable sponsor. A sponsor should be an important part of your preparation for Confirmation. A Sponsor must:

• Be at least 16 years of age
• Be fully initiated into the Catholic Church (having received: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)
• Be a regular, practicing member of the Catholic Church
• Not be a parent
• Could be the confirmandi’s Godparent who has remained close with the family

“We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”  -Hebrews 12:1

We are NEVER alone on this journey of faith!  Not only does the Lord walk with us, but He has given us courageous examples of the saints; normal people who decided to lead extraordinary lives!

It is a tradition in Confirmation to pick a saint name or biblical hero, although it is not necessary.

Students, take time to really think, pray and research about the saint/biblical hero you’ve selected.

Remember, you will be SEALED with the POWER of the Holy Spirit with this name!