High School Confirmation 

St. Matthew offers a two-year Confirmation Formation program.  Students may begin this formation beginning with their Freshman year of high school.  Teens must be active with Life Teen in order to sign up for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This includes active participation in our High School Faith Formation sessions (Life Teen) for an entire year. *Attending half the year, just a few times, or just being signed up does not translate into active participation. Once a teen completes their formation year, we invite them to sign up for the second year of Confirmation Preparation, Purpose.
 

Why does it take two years to prepare for Confirmation?

The primary requirement for any person to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation is simply to be baptized. However, the Code of Canon Law also states that one should be "suitably instructed, properly disposed, and able to renew one's baptismal promises" (Canon 889 § 2).

 To do our best to help parents “suitably instruct” teens, we require an initial first year to help firm up a foundational understanding of the Catholic faith. In addition, the format for our High School Faith Formation (Life Teen) helps teens to not only gain knowledge of the Catholic Faith, but also encounter Jesus Christ through interaction with the Youth Ministers, other adult volunteers and their peers. This relational interaction helps teens become “properly disposed” to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. 
 

1st Year Process (Formation Year)

Participation in weekly High School Faith Formation (Life Teen) sessions is required in order for teens to begin the two year preparation. Teens are eligible to begin the first year once they enter the 9th grade. This first year is focused on giving teens a solid foundation in the Catholic Faith. Attendance is taken and reviewed at the end of the year.  If participation is lacking then the teen must fulfill his or her obligation the following year before being allowed to enter the Sacramental preparation process.

Weekly High School Faith Formation:  Life Teen, Sunday evenings 7:00 - 9:00 PM

2nd Year Process (Sacramental Year)

Once teens have entered the 10th grade and have had active participation for an one entire year in our weekly High School Faith Formation sessions (Life Teen) teens are eligible to move into the 2nd year phase. Confirmation sessions run from September to May and include a retreat. Teens should maintain good attendance during the 2nd year preparation. They will be asked to complete an activity for each missed session, and may be asked to repeat the process, if not completed, or if absenses are excessive. Also, attending a Confirmation retreat is a mandatory part of the Confirmation process. If a teen cannot make our retreat, it is the family's responsibility to find and arrange an alternate retreat.  We will help you find one within the Archdiocese.

Weekly Purpose Confirmation Sessions meet on Sundays 5:30 - 7:30 PM
 

Items needed at the beginning of the 1st Year:

- Baptismal Certificate

- 1st Communion Certificate

Contact  Tracy Garcia, Confirmation Coordinator, with any questions about the Confirmation Preparation process.