HFK Youth
Holy Family Kirkland Catholic Parish Youth Ministry and Faith Formation
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the schedule for Confirmation preparation this year?
- What is Confirmation and why should I get Confirmed?
- How did Confirmation get started and where are we now?
- Why are people confirmed at different ages depending on where they live?
- What age to I have to be to be confirmed?
- What about high school seniors?
- What can I do to make confirmation prep a worthwhile experience?
- What else is there to learn even after years of Catholic education?
- Do I have to do a service project?
- Do I have to chose a saint name?
- Will I have to go to confession?
- Will there be a retreat?
- How will my parents be involved in this process?
- Who will be my sponsor?
- Do I have to do this now? Can I wait a while?
- What if I’m not holy enough?
- What if I don’t want to be confirmed?
What is Confirmation and why should I get Confirmed?
- Confirmation
- Is one of the initiation Sacraments, completing your initiation into the church
- Strengthens the Spirit that was given to you at Baptism, at Baptism you were anointed as chosen and now Confirmation strengthens your Baptism
- Unites us more firmly to Christ
- Increases the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
- Bonds us closer with the church
- Gives us strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses to Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly and to never be ashamed of the cross
- Confirmation is not
- Choosing to be Catholic, you’re already Catholic
- The end of your faith journey or your graduation (It’s actually a NEW beginning!)
No one can force you to be Confirmed – it must be something that you choose for yourself. In Confirmation, God is asking you to let Him complete the work He started at Baptism, to seal you in His spirit and let the Gifts of the Holy Spirit fully manifest themselves in and through you. And while it is a choice, because of what God is offering you, Confirmation is much more of a gift to be received – The choice comes in deciding whether or not to receive it.
How did Confirmation get started and where are we now?
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Act 8:14-16
- Jesus sent the Spirit to the Apostles at Pentecost
- The Apostles spread the Word of God, baptized people and imparted the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.
- Baptism and Confirmation are linked as initiation Sacraments for people coming into the church, and you will renew your Baptismal promises at your Confirmation.
- Confirmation solidifies the connection between the 3 initiation Sacraments
Why are people Confirmed at different ages depending on where they live?
Canon law says people can get Confirmed at the Age of Discretion, which is known as 7. It also allows Bishops in each country to decide at what age they want to Confirm. And then in the US and Canada, each Bishop can set the age he considers best for his diocese. The archdiocese of Seattle has recently allowed parishes to start the migration from age 16 down to 7th grade.
We require that candidates be in 7th grade to start our confirmation preparation program.
I recognize that we will most likely have some high school candidates for preparation. Once registration has happened and we have a better idea of the age split there is a possibility that some of the older high school kids will do a more age appropriate group study lead by Colin and Cathleen. We have to see how the age split of registration is before we make this determination. We will do our best to prepare our seniors for a confirmation date this coming spring before they go off to college!
What can I do to make preparation for Confirmation a more worthwhile experience?
The single most important thing you can do for yourself in this process is to be open to it. Some of us come to Confirmation on our own, many at the urging of our parents or because it is what we think we are supposed to do as young Catholic. However you get here, know that if you enter the process with an open mind and HEART, that God will do amazing things for and with you in the months to come. Make a plan for a consistent time in your week to dive into the sessions, and be open to the word of God through scripture. Trust your parents, your parish, your sponsor and God. This is part of your faith journey.
I’ve been attending religion classes or going to Catholic school since I was 3… what else is there for me to learn?
There is always something more for you to learn and you learn and experience differently at every age. The way that you will learn and discuss your faith today will be considerably different from the way you did at the age of 6, or 10 or even just last year. You will encounter new topics, regardless of how much you know. Every time we come back to the same information, we are different people and have the opportunity to engage with it in new ways. The more important thing to remember is that Confirmation is all about the transformation of the heart, not stockpiling facts.
Do I have to do service projects for Confirmation?
Ideally the answer to this is ‘yes’ – however we don’t have a structure for organized service days this year.
Do I have to choose a Confirmation name?
It’s up to you! In the Bible, conversion is often symbolized by a name change. While your parents gave you a name at Baptism to symbolize your new life in Christ, you can choose a symbolic name at Confirmation. However, you should choose a name because you admire some quality of the Saint, not just because you don’t like your name or just like the Saint’s name!
Will I have to go to confession? I haven’t gone in years, what will the priest think?
We do ask that you go to reconciliation as part of the process of preparing yourself to receive the Sacrament. One of the requirements of the Church to receive the Sacrament is that you be in a “state of grace” – which means you are free from all serious sin. If you have not been to Confession in a long time, don’t worry about it! It is never too late to come back to the Sacrament – and the priest will be more than okay with it, he’ll be excited that you’re there!
Do I have to go on a retreat – what will it be like?
Ideally the answer is “yes” because retreats allow us to be open to the Holy Spirit in really powerful ways. However, this year we do not have a retreat scheduled for obvious reasons.
How are my parents involved in this process?
This is something that needs to be your choice, and your parents cannot make this choice for you. They made the choice to have you Baptized, and now it is your choice to receive the gift of Confirmation. At the same time, Parents will be asked to participate by completing a few parent/candidate sessions with you – and hopefully this will be an opportunity for parents to grown in their faith right along with you as you prepare for this sacrament!
Why do I need a sponsor? Who can be my sponsor? What will they do?
Your sponsor fills the role of role model, companion, mentor, and witness for you to the entire church. This year you will meet (virtually or in person) with your sponsor to complete take home sessions. Think of people in your life that you look up to and admire for their faith – and someone that you want to talk with over the next few months as you prepare for confirmation! Visit Who Can Be A Sponsor? for more the nitty gritty details.
Do I have to do this now? Can I wait a while?
If you are still trying to decide, I suggest that you look at the schedule, think about it, talk about it with your parents, and pray about it. You should enter in to it willingly – otherwise you might not get anything from the process. It is true that you can be Confirmed later, but the gift is here, waiting for you right now. I suggest giving it a try. You don’t have to commit to getting Confirmed right away but the process should help you know whether it is right for you at this time in your life or not! And starting the program does not commit you to Confirmation – at any time, if you have concerns or questions, or feel like this is not the right time for you to be Confirmed, you can talk to Cathleen and she will help you discern if you should continue or not.
What if I don’t feel holy or good enough for this?
If we waited until we were perfect, none of us would ever get Confirmed! God’s love is a gift, we don’t earn it. We have the choice to accept or reject the gift. This is not a graduation from faith, it is a step in the journey!
What happens if I choose not to be Confirmed?
You will not be punished or rejected by the Church. You may experience tension at home, but Cathleen and your sponsor will help you talk to your parents about your decision, if you wish. Again, we would love for you to come to the meetings, open yourself to the process and pray for God to show you His will.
HFK Youth 