High School Confirmation
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Evangelization & Catechesis
Learn more about mission of the Department of Evangelization & Catechesis here.
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Contact Us
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christine-chowsttaustin.orgAdministrative Assistant for the Dept. of Evangelization & Catechesis -
chase-crousesttaustin.orgDirector of Youth Ministry -
amy-allertsttaustin.orgPastoral Associate for Evangelization and Catechesis
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High School Confirmation
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 Confirmation preparation as early as 7th Grade to receive the Sacrament in 9th Grade. Our Middle School Youth Ministry sessions began this year on September 15, 2019 (10:20-11:20am). For information regarding enrollment for this Pre-Confirmation requirement, please visit our Middle School Catechesis Page.
Applications 2019-2020
*APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED.* The candidate and the parent/guardian are each required to submit an online application. After submitting both applications, you will receive a response within 1-2 weeks confirming your registration with a link for payment and a link to the Medical Release form, also required for participation in the preparation process. Both applications were due by September 22, 2019.
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, which is 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 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 an online 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. All students will be required to attend Sunday 'Super Sessions' which will incorporate small group discussions. If your family has availability conflicts for the Sunday sessions, please contact Chase directly about possible accommodations.
3-6 p.m. Sundays Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 3 (Ends with 5 p.m. Mass!)
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 the Office of Worship for Spring 2020 we will share it with all families in the Confirmation program.
Volunteers
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.