Preparations for the Confirmation Masses
- Novena: Be sure to start your novena of prayer (bright pink handout from our final class) a little over a week before the Confirmation Masses.
- Begin on Friday, March 28 if you will be Confirmed on Saturday, April 5
- If you forgot to start your novena on time, please begin today!
- Clothing for Candidates and Sponsors: Students do not need to wear white. They can wear white or any color of church-appropriate, modest, special-occasion clothing.
- Suggestions for Women: nice dress, or blouse with dressy slacks or skirt; low heels or flats recommended
- Suggestions for Men: button-down shirt with collar & tie; nice slacks; nice sweater, vest, sport or suit jacket recommended
- All: NO gym shoes, jeans, or hoodies. Hats should be removed in church. You will not be asked to wear a red graduation gown over your clothes.
- Offering: There will be envelopes distributed at the rehearsal for the Confirmation Mass offering to be taken in the collection on Saturday by student ushers. The suggested donation is $25 from the Sponsor(s), and $25 from the family of the student(s) being Confirmed. Or you may use GiveCentral: https://www.givecentral.org/customizable-online-giving/182/event/29801
- Candles: You do not need a candle for the Confirmation Mass. If your Sponsor or family want to give you a candle for prayer, or other religious items such as a Bible or rosary, they can bring them to get blessed at the end of the Mass. Do not bring them up with you during the Mass when you go with your Sponsor to get anointed or for Communion.
Rehearsals on Wednesday, April 2
- 6 p.m. at St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie St.
- for the English-only Mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday
- includes 8th Graders from St. Matthias School and English-speaking RE students (Byrne, Cancel, DeJovine, Mejorada, Neville/Murray, Ortiz, Rodriguez, Ronan and Stronsky Families)
- 7:30 p.m. at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave.
- for the bilingual Mass in English and Spanish at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday
- includes 8th Graders from Queen of Angels School and bilingual and Spanish-speaking RE students (Familias Aguilar/Jaimes, Benitez, Bucio/Flores, Bucio/Zetina, Calle/Matute, Carmona/Bailon, Carrillo, Crespo/Reyes, Garcia/Cruz, Garcia/Perez, Garfias, Herman, Hernandez/Garcia, Hernández/Vaca, Martinez/Jazo, Mata, Mendoza, Mondragon/Monterrosas, Munoz, Patiño/de Jesus, Perez-Zetina, Ponce/Coss, Romero/Bautista, Sierra/Lopez, Solache/Marin, y Zetina/Vaca)
- each student being Confirmed should attend and also bring their Sponsor(s) – if the Sponsor(s) cannot attend, a parent or other adult from the family should accompany the student
- please arrive a few minutes early so we can begin on time
- Students and Sponsors will receive a stick-on nametag to wear during the rehearsal. It is important that this nametag be visible when students go up to practice getting anointed, as this is how Father Jason (standing in for the bishop) will know your Confirmation Name (in really big print) to call you by.
- Please place the nametag on or close to your right shoulder so it can be seen easily.
- Parents standing in for absent Sponsor(s) should wear the nametag(s) for the Sponsor(s).
- Students will NOT need the textbook, journal, or Bible at the practice or Mass. They are yours to keep!
- The Catholic Youth Bible is a wonderful tool for continued prayer and spiritual growth after Confirmation. There are many articles and guides to help you understand how God is speaking to you today through the Sacred Scriptures.
- The textbook is a good handbook for the teachings of the Catholic faith.
- The journal makes an excellent journal for reflecting on your faith journey now and in the future.
Confirmation Masses on Saturday, April 5
General Information for Both Masses
- Who should attend?
- Candidate (young person getting Confirmed)
- Sponsor or Sponsor(s) / Padrino(s) or their proxies – please contact Ms. Hohner if the Sponsor(s) cannot attend and will need a proxy desginated in their place
- Immediate family – parents and siblings
- Other guests including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents from Baptism, family friends, and the Spouse and/or children of your Sponsor(s)
- Because of having the gift of two Confirmation Masses this year, it is not expected that we will place a limit on the number of guests per student or per family. Each church holds about 600 people.
- Please arrive 30 minutes early so everyone is there when we are scheduled to begin the Mass
- Nametag: Students and Sponsors will receive a pin-on nametag to wear during the Mass. It is important that this nametag be visible when students go up to get anointed, as this is how Bishop Perry will know your Confirmation Name (in really big print) to call you by. Please place the nametag on or close to your right shoulder so it can be seen easily.
- Photos and Videos:
- During the Mass, you may only take non-flash photos from your seat. We suggest that photography or video-recording be entrusted to family members who are not the youth being Confirmed or their Sponsors.
- After the Mass, Bishop Perry will be available for photos with Candidates. There will be a group picture and then guests can line up for photos with the Bishop. Please take your own group or individual photos with the Bishop.
- The livestreams of the Masses will remain on the parish’s YouTube channel to watch later or share with relatives and friends who could not travel to the Mass because of distance or illness.
- Suggested donation for the collection:
- $25 from the family (including the candidate being Confirmed)
- $25 from the Sponsor(s)
- Envelopes will be provided at the rehearsal
- Link to donate online via GiveCentral
- Candles: You do not need a candle for the Confirmation Mass. If your Sponsor or family want to give you a candle for prayer, or other religious items such as a Bible or rosary, they can bring them to get blessed at the end of the Mass. Do not bring them up with you during the Mass when you go with your Sponsor to get anointed or for Communion.
Specific Information for the
10 a.m. Mass at St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie
- Please arrive at 9:30 a.m. so everyone is there when we begin at 10 a.m.
- Mass Roles for Students (parts for SMS students are still being assigned):
- Welcome (English only): Tom L.
- [First] Reading in English (Jeremiah 11:18-20): Maya L.
- Prayers of the Faithful (Universal Prayer / Petitions / General Intercessions): Sophia S. (intro & 1-3), Cristian S. (4-7)
- Flower Bearers (main altar x2, Mary altar): Natalie B., Jillian D., Abby R.
- Collection Ushers: Lukas D., Anthony D., Marco M., Geonathan M., Xavi O., Brigid R.
- Gifts Bearers: Nick K., Kyla M., Grace O., Savannah P.
- Mass Roles for Catechists, Parents and Siblings:
- Eucharistic Ministers: Melissa Richlen, Nicole Pacholski, and Joe Rosales?
- Altar Servers (5): TBD per Father Michael
- St. Matthias Church is wheelchair accessible through the ramp entrance off Claremont Ave.
- Whatever your family celebration plans are that day, please plan to remain at the church until at least 11:45 a.m. Again, do not plan to leave the building before 11:45 a.m.
- The morning Mass is expected to last about 1.25 hours, but may be longer or shorter depending on how much quality time the Bishop spends with each candidate and Sponsor(s) at the time they go forward for the anointing with chrism (specially blessed oil) and the length of the Homily.
- Plan on spending time at the reception (about 30 minutes) in the church and vestibule after the Mass to
- Take photos with the bishop, including waiting in line
- Enjoy light refreshments at a reception provided by St. Matthias School
Specific Information for the
1:30 p.m. Mass at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside
- Please arrive at 1 p.m. so everyone is there when we begin at 1:30 p.m.
- Mass Roles for Students:
- Welcome/Bienvenida: Lucca N.-S. (English) and Gianna C. (Spanish)
- [First] Reading in Spanish (Jeremías 11:18-20): Heidi G.
- Prayers of the Faithful (Universal Prayer / Petitions / General Intercessions): Teddy G. (intro & 1), Camila M. (2), David F. (3), Ayslin R. B. (4), Rubi H. (5), Sophia S. (6), Ady G. (7)
- Flower Bearers (main altar x2, Mary altar, Guadalupe): Ella G., Lizzy G., Mariella H., Frankie S.
- Collection Ushers: Eli B., Sophie B., Joe F., Brandon P., Baz S., Collin V. T.
- Gifts Bearers: Nico C., Sophie D., Vera R., Melanie Z.
- Mass Roles for Catechists, Parents and Siblings:
- Eucharistic Ministers: maybe Matt or Madeline Herman, Kristen Komara or Ryan Van Tiem, and Emily Thompson?
- Altar Servers (5): TBD per Father Michael
- While Queen of Angels Church is normally wheelchair accessible through the ramp and elevator, you have sincere apologies that the church elevator is still Out of Order and will in all likelihood not be repaired and inspected before Saturday’s Mass. Loved ones unable to climb the stairs and join us in church are invited to join via livestream (information below).
- Whatever your family celebration plans are that day, please plan to remain at the church until at least 3:45 p.m. Again, do not plan to leave the building before 3:45 p.m.
- The afternoon Mass is expected to last about 1.5 hours, but may be longer or shorter depending on how much quality time the Bishop spends with each candidate and Sponsor(s) at the time they go forward for the anointing with chrism (specially blessed oil) and the length of the Homily.
- Plan on spending time at the reception (30-45 minutes) downstairs in Holy Family Hall (church basement) after the Mass to
- Take photos with the bishop, including standing in line
- Enjoy light refreshments at a reception hosted by Religious Ed volunteers
LIVESTREAMS FOR THE MASSES
The livestreams for the April 5 Confirmation Masses will be broadcast on our parish website and YouTube channel (Queen of Apostles Chicago) and posted to our main parish Facebook page (@qofachicago) on the day of the Mass. Please use these links to make sure you are checking the right page. On Facebook there are many similarly named churches/parishes and even unofficial pages (not run by our parish staff) showing the same church.
