St. Stephen s Catholic Church Confirmation Candidate Information

Transcription

1 Confirmation Candidate Information Please complete this form and return it to St. Stephen s by THURSDAY, December 31. Attention: Chantell Haider, 525 Jackson St. Anoka, MN or Fax Your Son/Daughter s Full Name: Student s Birth Date: Grade: High School: Home Address: City/State/Zip: Father s Legal Name: Mother s Legal Name: Maiden Name: Home Phone Number: Parent s Cell Number: address: Saint Name/Confirmation Name Chosen: Sponsor s Name: Relationship to your Daughter/Son: Sponsor s Address: Sponsor s City/State/Zip: Sponsor s Phone Number: Sponsor s Address: Your Son/Daughter s Baptismal Information: Date of Baptism (Month/Day/Year): Place of Baptism (Name of Church): Location of Church (City/State): Your Son or Daughter s Catechist: Special Needs or Concerns:

2 Your Baptismal Name Your Confirmation Name Our own BAPTISMAL NAMES are often taken for granted, yet parents often spend many hours deliberating when choosing a name for us as newborns or when newly adopted into our family. Sometimes a child is named to honor a relative, and sometimes a child is named after a saint held in high esteem by the family. Sometimes a person has a special nickname used only by close relatives. Whatever the origin of our names, they become part of our history and our identity. Names are important in our religious tradition as well. The prophet Isaiah, speaking in God s name, proclaims to King Cyrus, It is I, the Lord who call you by your name (Isaiah 45: 3-4). After the Resurrection, it was only when Jesus called Mary Magdalene by name that she recognized Him (John 20: 16). Our names are used at our Baptism and become part of our religious history. For many centuries it was customary to use only the names of saints at Baptism, but the Baptismal Rite now permits other names as long as they are not incompatible with Christian Faith. Since Confirmation is now seen in relationship to Baptism, any discussion of a Confirmation name must be placed in the context of the relationship of Confirmation to Baptism. Confirmation is seen as a seal of the faith and grace given in baptism. The current Rite of Confirmation tries to link the celebration of this Sacrament of Initiation to Baptism. Choosing a separate Confirmation name had been a centuries-old custom for those baptized as infants but confirmed later. But this practice emphasizes a separation between the two Sacraments that is at variance with our renewed understanding of the inter-relationship of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation. And although popular in many places, a Confirmation name is nowhere mentioned in either the former rite or the current rite. Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation can be an opportunity for candidates to reflect on what Baptism and union with Christ should mean in their lives. It can also be an occasion for the candidates to reflect on how they should live out their baptismal commitment in the future, imitating the holy men and women of previous ages. From an article by Dennis C. Smolarski, Liturgy Training Publications, April 1999 The Church of St. Stephen suggests that our young people preparing for Confirmation strongly consider using their own baptismal name as Confirmation name. If your baptismal name is a non-faith based name, please do select a Saint s name to compliment your baptismal name and add deeper religious meaning to your entire name. -Fr. Jack Long, Pastor Saint Search Sites For saints canonized during the 1980 s through now, visit Select English as the language and click on the Saints and Blessed tab. For alphabetical listings, patron saint information and a Saint of the Day section, visit Click on Saints tab for more information. For more, visit our St. Paul/Minneapolis archdiocese s website, and enter saints under search. For alphabetical listings, patron saint information and details about each saint, visit

3 Confirmation: Choosing a Sponsor Your sponsor should be someone who is accessible to you and is a good role model, someone whose faith is strong and who loves others, and someone who lives out their Catholic Faith daily. A sponsor is someone who will be a mentor for you as you grow in your own faith. According to Canon Law #893 (Church law), a sponsor must be: 1. A confirmed Catholic leading a good Christian life; 2. At least 16 years old; 3. Someone other than your parent. Your sponsor will be accompanying you to the large group gatherings at St. Stephen s (all large group events are noted on the calendar). These dates/events include: Sunday, December 6, 2014 Sunday, May 1, 2015 The Rite of Intention - 6:00 p.m. Mass The Rite of Blessing - 6:00 p.m. Mass Your sponsor should also be present for: The Rite of Confirmation May 9th, 2015 Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul, MN. If your sponsor cannot be available on all of the dates, you may ask a parent or other important adult to be with you in your sponsor s absence. ******* From: The Catholic Source Book, Harcourt, The Role of the Sponsor: The most important role of a Confirmation sponsor is to walk with you and guide you as you prepare to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in this Sacrament of Initiation. Confirmation sponsors are like spiritual coaches or mentors. They affirm your strengths and point out ways you can grow and become better in the practice of faith. You share your faith journey together. A Confirmation sponsor participates in your preparation and presents you to the bishop or the priest during the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. How to Choose a Sponsor: Choosing a sponsor for Confirmation is an important task. You may choose one of your godparents or you may choose another person. When you think about choosing a Confirmation sponsor, think about choosing someone who is an active, practicing Catholic; someone who is enthusiastic about the Catholic faith; and someone who is easy to talk to and be around. Here are some suggestions to help you as you make your choice: Think about the qualities you want your sponsor to have. Think about people who are good examples for you. Ask yourself if one of your godparents would be a good sponsor. Talk with your parents, other family members, or your catechist about who would be a good choice. Remember, sponsors must be at least sixteen years old. They must be practicing Catholics and have already celebrated Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Talk with the person you select and explain why you chose him or him and what his or her responsibilities will be. [In mid December, your sponsor (as noted on your forms) will receive a packet of information from St. Stephen s similar to much of the information you have received. ]

4 Confirmation: BAPTISM FORM I,, was baptized at (Confirmation Candidate s full name) (Name of Church) located in (City/state) on. (Date) Confirmation preparation provides a time for me to renew my Baptismal promises and to recommit myself to the Catholic Christian Community. Celebration of the Eucharist will be the primary way I experience the continuation of the presence of Christ in my life and live as a member of the Body of Christ. Please bring this to the large group on THURS, December 31, To be completed by ALL candidates, even those baptized at St. Stephen s. If you were baptized at another parish, please attach a copy of your Baptismal record.

5 LETTER OF INTENT TO FR. JACK LONG, PASTOR Please put the letter in an envelope addressed to Chantell Haider, who will record it and submit it to Fr. Jack. Please consider the following points in your Letter of Intent to the pastor: Why do you wish to be confirmed at this time? Identify one thing you have discovered about yourself on this journey to Confirmation. How have you accepted the responsibility to learn more about your Faith? Name a gift you have recognized in yourself as a result of this journey? How will you plan to carry out the Mission/Service of the Church in the future? How has your relationship to the Holy Spirit and the Church changed or been enriched? How would you describe your prayer life? How do you intend to give witness to Gospel/moral values in the future? What is your present relationship to the St. Stephen s Catholic Church (e.g., Are you actively involved in particular areas, etc.)? The letter that you write should be written on formal paper - white, plain or a special stationary if you choose. You should address the letter Dear Fr. Jack and either use your computer to write the letter OR handwrite your letter VERY NEATLY. Examples of what will NOT be accepted: - Notebook paper - Notebook paper torn out of a spiral LETTERS OF INTENT are due April 1st, 2015.