Sacred Heart of Jesus Church 2021 Confirmation
will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 2021
at 7:00 PM with reception to follow
Our Celebrant will be Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes 

We have the following points that are usually most questioned—please note that some dates are tentative but we will try to firm these up ASAP.

A meeting with parents and students will be help in early August (date to be determined) following 6pm mass.  The attendance of at least one parent in mandatory, but if both can attend, that is preferred.  This meeting will be both informational and instructional.  

1. Classes will be every Sunday beginning with 6pm mass, followed by class in the Youth Center (next door to the church).  No classes on Labor Day or when the next day is a school holiday.  Also, classes may be bumped because of bad weather (we hope not).
2. Class attendance is mandatory BUT if there is going to be an issue on a particular night please let me know ASAP.  I will work with you if reasonably possible.  
3. Confirmation is scheduled for Tuesday, November 30. Please let us know ASAP if there is a conflict and we will work with you if reasonably possible—we have had candidates who had a conflict that could not be overcome, and we may be able to arrange an alternative (but no promises).
4. Candidates will be presented at 10 am mass on Sunday, November 28 (this date is subject to change).  This is mandatory for the candidates (not sponsors).  Please get with me ASAP is this is an issue.  I’ll work with you if reasonably possible.  
5. Rehearsal for Confirmation will be Monday, November 29 at 6:30 pm.  Candidates must be present.  The sponsor (more about that later) doesn’t have to be present (out of town sponsors may have a hard time making it), but the candidate is responsible for making sure the sponsor knows what to do.
6. We will hold a mandatory retreat on November 14th beginning at 9 am and ending with 6 pm mass. 
8. Each Confirmation candidate will each be interviewed by Father Ed.  This is to assure that the candidate is ready for this sacrament, but it is also a time for the candidates to ask any questions they may have.  Class is also the time for candidates to ask questions.  Candidates are Christian adults and if they didn’t have questions then they are either absolutely brilliant or they aren’t thinking about their faith enough—we want questions from the candidates, either to Father Ed, or to Anthony and me.  If we can’t answer right away we will get them the answer.
9. The candidates need to pick a saint’s name for Confirmation.  More on that to come but start thinking now—what saint interests you, inspires you, and exemplifies the life you want to lead.  The candidates will submit a brief report—this isn’t a graded assignment, but an opportunity for you to learn more about the saint with whom you’ve chosen to share a name.
10. The candidates need to pick a sponsor. Again, more to come, but the sponsor can’t be a parent (the sponsor can be a sibling).  The sponsor doesn’t have to be the same gender as the candidate. BUT the sponsor must be a confirmed and practicing Catholic    We all have family members with whom we are close and who we love dearly, but who don’t practice the faith (at least I do). The sponsor needs to be active in the Catholic faith—if there is someone you want to be a sponsor who isn’t practicing now, maybe this is the time to invite them back home to active life in the faith.  
11. Candidates need to be mindful of their service hours and are responsible for keeping track and getting them done timely.  This is not something I track—it’s up to the candidates. 
12. Candidates need to be regular mass attendees.  Don’t take summer vacation from mass.  We receive the most important sacrament, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at mass---don’t miss this opportunity.