The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation.
Those Confirmed are strengthened in their faith, and commissioned to proclaim the Good News (Gospel) selflessly and courageously.
Sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Confirmed are empowered to live lives worthy of their Baptismal calling.
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Preparation for this Commission begins with the family, which serves as the "domestic church." The family home is where children first learn about God and witness the lived example of their parents who serve as the primary teachers of the Catholic faith.
In the Diocese of Rochester, those beginning their 8th grade year of education are eligible to take the next step in their faith journey, by pursuing the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Preparation for this sacrament is a two-year process beginning no sooner than the fall of eighth grade year.
Two parts make up the preparation for Confirmation:
Proximate Preparation is the preparation that takes place over the course of two years prior to the final and Immediate Preparation.
The Diocese maintains several requirements for this period of Proximate Preparation:
- Consistent and regular Mass attendance
- 25 hours of classroom instruction (whether through Catholic school or in-person faith formation)
- At least one (minimum) five-hour retreat
- Formation for Parents
- Regular opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
These requirements can be found in the Policies for the Administration of the Sacraments, Bishop Salvatore Matano, #3.3.1. https://www.dor.org/wp-content/uploads/Sacramental-Policies-Diocese-of-Rochester.pdf
Immediate Preparation is the preparation that takes place immediately prior to the celebration of the Sacrament.
The Diocese maintains several requirements for this period of Immediate Preparation:
- Consistent and regular Mass attendance
- Classroom instruction (Catholic school and in-person faith
formation alike)
- At least one (minimum) five-hour retreat
- Formation for Parents
- Regular opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- A meeting with pastoral staff to ensure readiness
These requirements can be found in the Policies for the Administration of the Sacraments, Bishop Salvatore Matano, #3.3.1. https://www.dor.org/wp-content/uploads/Sacramental-Policies-Diocese-of-Rochester.pdf
“Immediate Preparation At the end of the process of proximate preparation, evaluations for readiness to celebrate Confirmation should attend to all proximate preparation components and the candidate’s own personal development. Readiness for Confirmation shall not be judged solely on the basis of one one program component (e.g. the service project , the retreat). However, regular attendance at Holy Mass must be an essential component of the program.” (Policies for the Administration of the Sacraments, Bishop Salvatore Matano, #3.3.2).
For more information or to register, please contact Tyler, Pastoral Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] or call the office at (585) 271-7240.
We look forward to talking with you soon!