High School Confirmation
-
Evangelization & Catechesis
Learn more about mission of the Department of Evangelization & Catechesis here.
-
Contact Us
-
christine-chowsttaustin.orgAdministrative Assistant for the Dept. of Evangelization & Catechesis -
amy-allertsttaustin.orgInterim Pastoral Associate for Evangelization and Catechesis
-
-
-
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Confirmation, Baptism and Eucharist form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected.
High School Confirmation is offered for eligible 9th -12th Grade Students
Guidelines before beginning Confirmation Preparation
St. Theresa Catholic Church offers preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation in accordance with Diocese of Austin guidelines. We invite catechized high school students to receive Confirmation as early as grade 9. Generally, catechized means (at minimum) receiving 2 years of comprehensive catechesis immediately prior to Confirmation. This can include enrollment in a Catholic School or participation in a church catechesis class.
Students can start St. Theresa PreConfirmation classes as early as 7th Grade. Our Pre-Confirmation classes begin this year on September 15, 2019 (10:20-11:20am) and September 18, 2019 (Wednesdays 4:20-5:20pm). For information regarding enrollment for PreConfirmation classes, please visit our Middle School Catechesis Page.
Application 2019-2020
*Applications will be available on this page, August 2019.* The candidate and the parent/guardian are each required to submit an online application. After submitting both applications, you will receive a response within a week confirming your registration with a link for payment and a link to the Medical Release form, also required for participation in the preparation process.
Why is there an “application” for Confirmation? Does this mean not everyone who applies will get Confirmed?Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation is not a decision to be made lightly. The application allows both the teen and their parent/guardian the opportunity to discern if Confirmation is something they truly want and are ready to prepare for. It also gives Confirmation Team the chance to get to know our teens and their families before beginning the process and enable us to serve our unique candidates as best as possible. It’s important to remember that this isn’t like a job interview or scholarship application; there are no right or wrong answers, so there is no need to worry! If we are concerned at all about someone’s readiness to prepare for the Sacrament, we will open a dialogue with the teen and his/her family before making any kind of decision.
Fees
The fee for Confirmation preparation will be $100 (this does not include the retreat fee, TBD). No candidate will be turned away for inability to pay; please contact us confidentially.
The fee will be waived for a candidate if his/her parent and/or sponsor volunteers to be a Small Group Leader.
Parent Meeting
All parents of Confirmation candidates will be required to participate in a 2-hour parent meeting intended to both inform and prepare parents for their role in the Confirmation process.Sponsor Training
Sponsors will need to be selected early in the prepration process and all sponsors will be expected to participate in a 2-hour training. All sponsors will need to complete a Confirmation Sponsor Covenant Form (to be provided). Local sponsors are encouraged to participate as small group leaders in the preparation process.
Confirmation Preparation Schedule
The Confirmation Preparation Schedule will include dates for a retreat, service projects and small and large group gatherings. Once the schedule is finalized, it will be posted on this page and families will be notified.St. Theresa Rite of Confirmation Mass
The Diocese of Austin will draw up the Rite of Confirmation Mass schedule for all parishes. Once we have received a date from them for 2019-2020 we will share it with all families in the Confirmation program.
St. Paul Street Evangelization
See video below to learn more about St. Paul Street Evangelization or visit St. Paul Street Evangelization online.
Jesus summons us to his missionary service just as we are: weak in faith, with all our doubts, hesitations, and faults, and sins. He sends us as his messengers to an unbelieving but spiritually hungry world not because we are fit, because we are not. Rather he calls us so that he may make us fit. In sharing with others, the faith that is in us, our own faith is deepened and strengthened. Jesus does not call the equipped, he equips the called.-- Fr. Larry Covington Homily on the Ascension of The LordVolunteers
Adults are encouraged to consider volunteering to be a part of the Confirmation Core Team and as retreat chaperones. Volunteers must be compliant with our diocesan Ethics and Integrity in Ministry requirements. We need a sufficient number of both male and female volunteers, especially for the Confirmation Retreat. If you'd like to join the team, please submit the form found here. Thank you!
Who can be a sponsor?
Confirmation sponsors are chosen to witness the Catholic faith to the person being Confirmed. They must be at least 16 years old and a practicing Catholic. This means that the sponsor, if married, has been married by the Church and is practicing the faith in an active, sacramental way and living a life in harmony with the teachings of Christ and his Church. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be a sponsor. The parent of a candidate may not be his or her sponsor.