Sacrament of Confirmation List of Forms to Be Completed: 1. Confirmation Candidate Application 2. Confirmation Enrollment Agreement 3. Self-Evaluation of Candidate for Confirmation 4. Parents Evaluation of Child s Readiness for the Reception of Confirmation 5. Parents Pledge of Commitment 6. Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor 7. Letter to Confirmation Sponsor 8. In Search of Me 9. Choosing a Name for Confirmation 10. Candidate Service Project Proposal and Record 11. Baptismal Certificate (to be submitted) St. Christopher the Martyr Parish
Confirmation Candidate Application St. Christopher the Martyr Parish 309 Manson Street, Metairie, LA 70001 504-837-8214 (Please type or print clearly.) Name: (As it appears on your Baptism Certificate) Confirmation name: Date of birth: Age: Month Day Year Church of Baptism: Place of Baptism: City State Zip Date of Baptism: Month Day Year Father s full name: Living: Yes No (As it appears on your Baptismal Certificate) Mother s maiden name: Living: Yes No (As it appears on your Baptismal Certificate) No Mother a practicing Catholic? Yes No Father a practicing Catholic? Yes Parents separated? Yes No Child living with: Present address: Street* City* State* Zip* Mother's contact info: Home Work Cell* E-mail* Father's contact info: Home Work Cell* E-mail* School attending: Grade: Phone: Street City State Zip About Your Sponsor Sponsor: (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss) Address: Street* City* State* Zip* Sponsor s contact info: Home Work Cell* E-mail* Church of Baptism: Practicing Catholic: Yes No Place of Baptism: City State Zip Relationship to Candidate: Confirmation Formation BEGINS in the freshmen year of high school. Completed form must be delivered to the rectory to begin Confirmation Formation. Copy of the Candidate s Baptismal Certificate must accompany form. *Required Contact Information
Confirmation Enrollment Agreement St. Christopher Parish It is my desire to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church. In order to prepare to be confirmed, I agree to: pray regularly, privately, and with my family; participate regularly in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist; attend the preparation classes and participate in them to the best of my ability; use my Talents, Abilities, and Gifts to the best of my ability in some form of Christian service; show love and compassion for others; assume more responsibility for the good order and wellbeing of my family, parish, school, and community. I pray for the help of God, my family, my sponsor, my friends, and my parish community. Name Printed Date Signature Signature of Parent or Guardian
Self-Evaluation of Candidate for Confirmation Before receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important to demonstrate that you understand and accept the graces and responsibilities that come with the Sacrament. Your pastor, parents, and teachers will participate in the determination of your readiness to receive the Sacrament. You must also be part of this evaluation. Since this is your evaluation, please do this in private, without any outside influence or help. Please complete the following statements or respond to the following questions: My name is: First Middle Last I am years old. I attend School. I want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation because I understand that after I am confirmed, I will People will know I have been confirmed when I My parents and sponsor have helped me prepare for Confirmation by (give two examples)
Parents Evaluation of Child s Readiness for the Reception of Confirmation As the primary teachers of your child in the ways of faith, your assessment of your child s readiness to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation is very important. Please fill this out in private and do not discuss it with your child. When you complete the evaluation, please deliver it directly to your child s teacher or to the parish rectory before Confirmation Phase II. We are /I am the Mother Father of Child s name Does your child understand the nature and significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation? Yes No. Please explain: What is your child s motivation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation? Do you feel your child is discovering, developing, and using all of his/her talents, abilities, and gifts from God to the best of his/her ability for his/her own benefit and the benefit of others? Yes No. Please explain. Is your child cooperative around the house? Yes No Does your child volunteer to do things before you ask? Yes No Is your child honest in dealing with you and others? Yes No Does your child give a good example to peers & younger? Yes No Does your child voluntarily attend church on Sunday? Yes No To your knowledge, does your child receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year? Yes No What is your child s attitude about family? Positive Negative What is your child s attitude toward other people? Positive Negative What is your child s attitude about the Church? Positive Negative Signature of Mother Print Name Date Signature of Father Print Name Date Please add any observations or comments you feel may be helpful in evaluating your child s readiness to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation: (Use back of sheet, if needed.)
Parents Pledge of Commitment My child,, is a gift from God. At my child s Baptism, I accepted the responsibility of bringing my child up in the practice of the faith. I understand that I am the primary teacher of my child in the ways of faith and that my involvement is indispensable in teaching my child the richness of our Catholic faith. I understand that the staff and teachers of the St. Christopher School and the parish Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and Confirmation Formation programs help me to fulfill my responsibility. I pledge to them my full support. I commit to the following: I will bring my child to Mass on Sundays and holy days and celebrate the Eucharist with my child at Mass. I will make sure that my child attends all classes and activities, arrives in time to be ready when the class or activity begins, and completes all assignments. I will be actively involved in my child s religious formation, particularly in preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. I will confer with my child s teacher at least once a month about my child s participation and progress in formation to receive the Sacraments. I will participate in the sacramental life of the parish as a witness of my faith to my child. I will help my child, by word and example, to learn the beliefs, teachings, and basic prayers of the Catholic faith. I will pray for my child and with my child during this time of faith formation. I will, with God s help, continue sharing the gift of myself and the gift of faith with my child, with our family, and with the parish community. I will, by word and example, encourage and support my child to give time in Christian service. Parent Date: Parent Date:
Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor Name of Candidate: _ A person who sponsors a candidate for Confirmation is very special. They serve as a model of Catholic faith and participate in the preparation of the candidate for Confirmation. This involves attending the activities for sponsors and the Confirmation ceremony. A sponsor: Is preferably, but not required to be, one of the sponsors/godparents who was present at the Baptism of the candidate (Canon 893~2). Must be a baptized and confirmed, practicing Catholic. Must be at least sixteen (16) years of age (Canon 874~2). May not be the parent of the candidate, although parents may present the candidate to the bishop or his delegate in the absence of the sponsor (Canon 874~5). May be of either sex. It is preferable to choose someone who can be present when you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you choose someone who cannot be present (lives out of the area or out of the country), another person may stand in for the sponsor at the ceremony, but that person must meet the same requirements to be a sponsor and must attend the meetings required for the sponsor. About My Sponsor Name: (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss) Address: Street City State Zip Contact information: _ Home phone Work phone Cell phone E-mail address Church of Baptism: Name of church City State Zip Church of Confirmation: Name of church City State Zip Practicing Catholic: Yes No Relationship to Candidate: The reason I chose my sponsor: Candidate s Signature: Date:
Letter to Confirmation Sponsor From St. Christopher the Martyr Parish Confirmation Formation Team Dear Sponsor of a Candidate for Confirmation: You are a very special person to a young candidate for Confirmation in our parish. You have been asked to serve as their sponsor. We thank you for accepting this important role. It is an honor to serve as a sponsor. It is also a responsibility. A sponsor helps a maturing Catholic to know, love, and serve God in this world, by loving and serving our neighbors, so we can all be happy with God for eternity. A sponsor: Is fully initiated into the Catholic Church through Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation; Is reasonably informed about the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church; Is willing to serve as a strong and long-lasting Christian influence for the candidate; Assists the candidate in identifying all God-given talents, abilities, and gifts and in confirming his or her commitment to Christian life; Supports the candidate in preparing to assume the role and duties of an adult Catholic; Helps the candidate in choosing and carrying out a commitment to a service project; May be either male or female, but may not be a parent of the candidate. We cannot give to someone else what we do not have ourselves. In order to help someone else keep God s commandments as Christ has taught us, by loving God and our neighbor, we must do that ourselves. A sponsor must have an authentic faith based on the doctrines and teachings of the Church. If your faith makes you ready to accept the responsibility of sponsor, please provide the following information about you: (The information can usually be obtained from the church where you were baptized.) Name: Date of birth: Address: Contact information: Home phone Work phone Cell phone E-mail address Church of your Baptism: Date of Baptism: Church of your Confirmation: Date of Confirmation: I am a registered and active member of Parish Street City State Zip Phone I am not registered as a member in a parish at this time. I attend Mass at Parish 1 2 3 4 times per month. I understand and accept the responsibilities of Sponsor for Name of Child to be Confirmed Signature of Person to be Sponsor Date Please send the completed form to: Deacon Jerry Martinez, J.D., M.Th. Director of Religious Education St. Christopher the Martyr Parish 309 Manson Street, Metairie, LA 70001
Candidate s Name: In Search of Me (An Interview about My Growth) Directions: Using the following questions as a guide, interview your parents, guardian, or grandparents about your early years. Note a few phrases or sentences that will help you remember what was said. (Use back of sheet and more pages if necessary.) Person(s) interviewed: Date: Mother Father Both Guardian Grandparent 1. What are some of the circumstances or events you remember about my birth? 2. How did I get my name? What other names did you think about? 3. What was my favorite toy when I was a baby? How did I get it? 4. What do you remember about my first day of school? 5. Do you remember anything special about one of my early birthdays? 6. What special talents, abilities, or gifts do you think I have? 7. What do you recall as the silliest or funniest thing I have done? 8. If I could change one thing in my life to be a better person, what would that be? 9. What do you hope for me? 10. Do you think I am ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation? Complete and return to your teacher before Confirmation Phase II
Choosing a Name for Confirmation The first question asked of our parents at our Baptism was, What name do you give to your child? It is an important question. Our parents responded with the name they selected to identify us to our family, our Catholic community, and our world. They accepted the responsibility of bringing us up in the practice of our faith. As we approach Confirmation, we prepare to accept our share of the responsibility for the constant formation of our faith that will continue for the rest of our lives. We also have the privilege of selecting a name that reflects the special relationship we seek with God and our commitment to have a mature knowledge of Jesus and the courage to be like Him. The name we choose for Confirmation should be one of a recognized saint in the Catholic Church. It may be the name we were given at Baptism. If the name we were given at our Baptism is not that of a recognized saint, a new name should be chosen. Our parents and teachers can help us learn about saints who have lived their lives guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Select a saint who can be a model and patron for you as a mature, adult Catholic. Focus on the attractiveness of the life of the person, not on an attraction to the sound of the name. What saint do you choose? Now, write a brief essay (at least 250 words) about the saint you chose. Touch on: The birthplace, family, early life, and occupation of the saint. The obstacles, struggles, and shortcomings the saint faced in life. The three most important ways in which the saint responded to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. How the saint died and the day set aside to celebrate the life of the saint. The saint s three most important attributes or accomplishments. How the saint is an example to us of how to be like Jesus. What I want to do in my life to be like this saint. N.B.: This should be your own original material. Do not copy directly from a book or Internet page. Candidate s name: First Middle Last
Candidate Service Project Proposal and Record Name of Candidate: First Middle Last Description of Individual Service Project: Person to be served: Address of person served Phone number of person served: Candidate s signature: Parent s signature: Date: Approval I have reviewed the proposed service project and grant approval. Teacher: Date: Verification I am pleased to verify that the above-named Candidate for Confirmation has provided the service described above for the dates and time indicated below: Total Time served: Hr. Min. Comments: Recipient of service: Signature Date