“Connecting Beyond Confirmation”
- Tracks A and B together: Monday, February 23, 2026 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall
Icebreaker: Spiritual Gifts Inventory (15-20 min)
Upon arrival, catechists should check in with their table’s candidates and together proofread the lists of Confirmation Names for each table’s candidates. It will be used later in class to practice the Anointing with Oil dialogue with each candidate.
Candidates then complete the Spiritual Gifts Inventory to help them figure out what gifts they have to offer the church and the world.
Opening Prayer (5 min)
Personal prayer in the style of Alpha (new session in our parish beginning this week!)
- “Come, Holy Spirit!”
- “Sorry….” What do you need to ask God’s mercy for?
- “Thank you…” What are you grateful to Jesus for doing in your life or in our world?
- “Please…” In what ways do you need the Holy Spirit to help you or our world?
- “Come, Holy Spirit!”
Sing and (re)learn “Ven, Oh Espíritu / Come, Holy Spirit” (Lorenzo Florian) which will be the opening hymn for at least one of our Confirmation Masses. We also sang this way back in September at our first class of the year!
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3cAXWfmJsI
The Rite of Confirmation (15 min)
We will review the responses and procedures of the Rite of Confirmation using the center pages of one of last year’s Confirmation Mass programs, the 2025 bilingual program booklet, or an earlier version similarly bilingual. (Not all students will be in the bilingual Mass, but using the bilingual Mass program booklet to practice allows for unity of instruction.)
- Practice Presentation of Candidates (calling full names alphabetically by Mass; candidates, listen for yours and stand at your place!)
- Practice Renewal of Baptismal Promises
- Practice interaction with Bishop (each catechist, in the place of the bishop, practices dialogue with each candidate using proof list of Confirmation names)
[Confirmation Name], be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Peace be with you. AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT.
Video: It’s NOT Graduation (5 min)
(from the V-Cat Video Catechism)
If you get Confirmed, then be Confirmed and live Confirmed.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGCom6oiMXw)
Discerning Parish Involvement (45 min)
At their tables, students complete the Parish Involvement Questionnaire (parish give and take) to see what types of ministries they may wish to serve in and be served by.
Panel Discussion: Ministry Fair
Youth guests and a few catechists represent various parish ministries, with an emphasis on the opportunities open to H.S. and post-Confirmation youth in parish liturgical ministries:
- Communion Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) (youth Madeline Herman, with Mrs. Melissa Richlen) — share the Eucharist with others by inviting them personally to receive the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass
- Lectors (youth Elizabeth Richlen, with Ms. Rachel Hohner) — proclaimers of the Word and leaders of Prayers of the Faithful
- Music Ministry (youth Philip Kyle, with guest Mr. Ethan Valentin) — singing in the Adult Choir or playing an instrument for parish Masses
If time allows, this panel may be concluded by brainstorming some other ways to stay involved in parish life, to live out one’s Catholic faith in the parish community. This could include attending Sunday Mass with your family or on your own; joining in teen-specific efforts like Teen Triduum retreat during Holy Week or future Small Faith Communities open to youth; praying; donating; continuing in a previous ministry such as altar serving in a new way like becoming a Master of Ceremonies; serving at events; etc.
Novena, Reminders and Closing Prayer (10-15 min)
Confirmation Novena:
A novena is a prayer over 9 days, like the disciples awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit between the Ascension (40 days after the Resurrection) and Pentecost (50 days after Passover). Many families pray a novena together when a loved one dies or in honor of a beloved saint or for the Divine Mercy (Good Friday to the Sunday after Easter Sunday).
Our Confirmation Novena 2026 handout will guide you in your daily prayer from Friday 2/27 to Confirmation day Saturday 3/7. For each day, there is something short to read, a short prayer to pray, and some small action to do. It is totally doable! You may need to set an alarm or a reminder for each day to help you not forget to do it.
Reminders:
- Fr. Jim Kaczorowski Loving Service Award application due 3/28, do not wait until the last minute to request recommendations!
- rehearsals (practices) Wednesday 3/4, bring your Sponsor or a parent
- 6pm at Saint Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie
- 7:30pm at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside
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Apparel for Candidates & Sponsors: dress nicely (not too casual), modestly (not too revealing or flashy) & appropriately for church (not a walking advertisement)
- Women: nice dress, or blouse with dressy slacks or skirt; low heels or flats recommended
- Men: button-down shirt with collar & tie; nice sweater, vest, sport or suit jacket recommended
- All: NO gym shoes, jeans, or hoodies; in the church, hats come off and and headphones come out of our ears
You are NOT expected to wear white or put on a graduation gown over your clothing. You certainly CAN wear white, or red like the bishop and priests that day, but any color is fine.
- Among all we will be doing to get ready for our Confirmation — our class assignments, making sure we have nice clothes to wear, welcoming family visitors from out of town — let us not forget to be “in the moment” and be fully present to the experience as it is happening, at our Confirmation. Others with us can record videos or photos or communicate with absent loved ones, but Sponsors and candidates should have their phones away and their focus on prayer and what is happening right now.
Homework:
- Journal page 57
- you can use the rest of your journal for continued reflection after your Confirmation, as suggested in the Novena handout
- make sure your Sponsor (or parent/other adult) knows to come to the right Rehearsal (Practice) on Wednesday, March 4
- set an alarm or calendar reminder to pray your Confirmation Novena each day, Friday 2/27 through Saturday 3/7
Prayer:
“Go, Make of All Disciples” verses 1, 2, and 3
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrHmgGJrMI8)
Option to add personal prayer in the style of the Hallow app Lent40 Challenge for Lent 2026, but there will probably not be time!
- In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- “Empty me….” What do you need to remove from your life this Lent to be a better disciple of Jesus?
- “Fill me…” What Gift(s) are you hoping the Holy Spirit will particularly strengthen in you at Confirmation?
- “Use me…” How do you want your Spirit-led actions to improve our world?
- In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.