While nothing can truly replace the experience of attending a session, there is a makeup option for each session. We will speak with each family individually if you are missing too many sessions.

Makeups

Most of the fees pay for the materials we use at our sessions. Other expenses include but are not limited to refreshments, books, speaker stipends, resource materials, and props.  To save on time and paperwork, we felt it would be advantageous to simply charge once for both years.

It is the policy of all Holy Family Faith Formation Ministries to have all of our Catechists comply with the Guidelines prescribed by our Archbishop and the Parish Safeguard the Children Committee, including Livescan fingerprinting and Virtus certification. For more information, please visit the Holy Family Safeguard the Children webpage linked below.

Safeguard the Children

Confirmation is not about what we can make the teens learn. It is about discovering faith, sharing faith with others, and fostering households of faith.  Our hope is for parents to become so strong in their own faith and knowledge that they naturally share their faith with their children and bring faith into their family’s everyday moments.

We believe making disciples is the primary function of the Confirmation preparation process.  A few years ago a group of committed parents, catechists, and youth ministry people gathered to make plans for a meaningful and enriching Confirmation program.  Over and over again, we read, discussed, and discovered the following: if you want teen disciples, work with the teens AND their families.  Discipleship begins at home.

The challenge we present to our households of faith is to live the faith, even behind closed doors at home, day in and day out, in a dynamic way so that their children and teens will “catch it” from their families, as well as from their sponsors and from this community of faith. In addition, these few sessions will support their efforts and further equip them as parents/guardians to pass  on the faith in the most effective way possible.

Parents who would like their teens to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation make a commitment to their teen, to the parish community, and to themselves to be a part of this preparation period. This includes:

• Keeping your teen and all those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation in prayer,
• Attending at least eight sessions (four each year),
• Helping your teen participate in a Liturgical Ministry, and
• Volunteering as you’re able.

If you’re interested in volunteering in any way, please contact Ray at rhernandez@holyfamily.org.

View an interesting video on the domestic church

Not long ago, it was a custom to adopt a saint’s name at Confirmation.  This was done in order to adopt the saint as a special heavenly patron and/or to honor a saint to whom one had a special devotion. In short, the purpose was to give the candidates an opportunity to develop his/her understanding of and reliance on the Communion of Saints. However since the changes in the Rite of Confirmation, the Church has encouraged returning to the older tradition of not picking a new name at Confirmation.

The idea is to link Confirmation to Baptism.  Therefore, the candidates are encouraged to use their baptismal name. Usually during the first family interview, we ask the teens to spend some time looking up their baptismal name and looking into the saint they are named after (if any).  Some people are named after a popular saint, others are names after the “saints” in one’s family.  Whatever the case, each candidate is encouraged to look to that saint for guidance and inspiration.

The use of the baptismal name on the occasion of Confirmation better expresses the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation. If a special Confirmation name is taken, it must be the name of a recognized saint (such as St. John, St. Martha, St. Teresa, Blessed Junípero Serra) or an acceptable recognized Christian name (such as Faith, Charity, Prudence). Individual teachers must guide their students in the selection of a Confirmation name, and those names are to be approved in advance. Only full names are to be used, e.g., “Joseph, Robert, Barbara, Gabriela;” not shortened names such as “Joey, Bobby, Barbs, Gabby.”