SOME OVERVIEW NOTES

1. Age:candidates for reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation are to be high school juniors or seniors. (see yellow section, pg. 2 of this guide)
2. Qualifications for sponsors for Confirmation are the same as for Baptism. (see green section, pg. i of this guide)
3. The major components of the Confirmation preparation program that need planning include:
   • Confirmation Team – white, pg.i/ivory pg.3
   • Confirmation Catechesis – golden rod, pp.l-4
   • Confirmation Retreat – yellow, pg.4/apdx. D
   • Service Projects – blue, pp.l-4
   • Parish Involvement – white, pp.l & 2
   • Parental Involvement/meetings – green, 2 & 3/apdx.E
   • Liturgical Celebrations & Rites – apdx.C
   • Choice of Catechetical Resource Materials – goldenrod, pp.l-4
   • Program Evaluation
4. It is the Bishop's practice to meet with Confirmation candidates prior to the celebration of the sacrament.
5. A variety of pastoral issues or tasks need to be addressed including:
   • varifying candidate's prior reception of Baptism and Eucharist by obtaining Baptism certificate
   • sending notification of reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation to place of Baptism
6. The Bishop ordinarily establishes a Confirmation schedule in January for the Spring of that year. When establishing the schedule the Bishop refers to the schedules from previous years and determines a circuit enabling him to celebrate a number of Confirmations on a given trip.

The following is a checklist and guide for roles in regard to implementing Confirmation. Parishes may choose to adapt according to their own needs.

• Convenes parish staff (and/or advisors) for discussion of Confirmation and decisions regarding process
• Consults appropriate organizations
• Appoints coordinator/committee for the parish Confirmation program
• Celebrates liturgy of enrollment
• Prepares the parish community as a whole
• Coordinates the preparation of the Confirmation liturgy
• May or may not be involved in all of the following to the extent of his time, talent, and decisions made. A minimum involvement is essential in each area, however. He may delegate involvement to others.
• Instruction of Confirmation team/committee/catechists/others
• Issuing of invitation to potential candidates
• Parent/sponsor program
• Interviewing candidates
• Participating in catechesis/retreat/service projects/ reconcillation
• Evaluating the program

• Participates as a member of the parish staff in decisions regarding the Confirmation preparation process.
• May serve as
  • Coordinator of the Confirmation program –Member of the Confirmation team
  • Resource to the team
  • Involvement in any aspect of the program according to time/talent/decisions made

Preferably, if the parish has a youth minister, this person will be delegated to coordinate theprogram and the Confirmation team. That role is described in letter 'E'. If the youth minister is not the program coordinator, he or she may serve as:

• Advocate for the program to the youth
• Advocate for youth to the program and the parish staff regarding the Confirmation program
• Counselor to youth in regard to their decision about Confirmation
• Member of the Confirmation team
• Resource to the Confirmation team
• May be involved in al I other areas of the program according to time/talent/decisions made

• Gives input toward, and participates in, decisions according to the established process of that parish
• Supports program wherever possible with students, parents and faculty
• Participates in the Confirmation program to the extent of time/talent

• Coordinates Confirmation team (see 'F')
• Recruits persons to be on the Confirmation team
• Proposes total schedule of events to team and staff
• Works directly with staff in coordination of all aspects of the program
• Accountable for overall implementation of the Confirmation program
• Responsible for evaluation of the program
• In the absence of a team, insures that all items listed in item 'F' are implemented

• Team is formed/does homework/studies/works at becoming a team of persons committed to one another and the candidates
• Team is announced/introduced to the parish
• Team begins recruitment/invitation phase
• Team finalizes list of candidates for this Confirmation program
• Team impl~ments program for parents/sponsors
• Team implements:
  • Catechesis
  • Service projects
  • Retreat
  • Liturgical celebrations
    • Rite of enrollment
    • Celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation
    • Confirmation celebration
    • Other appropriate prayer and liturgical celebrations
  • Interviews
• Team implements follow up
• Team evaluates
• Team dissolves in favor of the next Confirmation team

This checklist is a guide to implementing Confirmation. Parishes may choose to adapt according to their own needs.