Confirmation
Welcome! Wherever you on your journey of faith, your family matters to us. We hope you experience the love and support of our community during the Confirmation process. Confirmation is open to everyone in grades 10 and up, and it will be a one-year process.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a sacrament, which is a concrete or visible sign that makes God’s grace especially present to us. As a “sacrament of initiation,” Confirmation is meant to confirm or complete the grace a person receives when they’re baptized. Baptism begins a person’s membership in the church community; confirmation is meant to complete a person’s membership, to help him or her live more intentionally as a disciple of Jesus within the church.
Why get confirmed?
There are a variety of reasons people may seek Confirmation:
What does it mean to be prepared?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which summarizes many of the Church’s official teachings, shares two essential results of Confirmation preparation: The candidate is “prepared to assume the role of disciple” (1319) and embraces “a sense of belonging...to the parish community” (1309). In other words, being prepared for Confirmation means the candidate has already started to take steps as a disciple of Jesus within our local church community.
You don’t have to do this
We’ll be sharing a simple reminder throughout the process: you don’t have to do this. Why do we say this? Preparing for and being confirmed is about a loving relationship with God and the church community, and that can’t be forced. It has to be a free choice. In May, we’ll ask your teens--in the form of a written reflection--how they have prepared to be confirmed, how it has affected them, and if they feel ready to present themselves to the bishop for Confirmation in the fall of 2018, allowing each candidate to demonstrate their integrity and commitment.
Program Requirements
Here are our requirements to participate in the program:
Workshops: All students and at least one parent must attend three workshops (it must be the same parent for all three). The purpose of the workshops is to help your family reflect on your membership in our community. We want you to feel like you belong here and we hope the workshops help with that. You are welcome to attend whichever workshop dates best fit your family's schedule, regardless of which parish you belong to or attend. Workshops begin in January of 2018.
Workshop 1 options:
Confirmation Mass rehearsal: fall of 2018 (date TBA).
Options to enhance preparation and discernment
We offer several opportunities to help your teen prepare for Confirmation. These are optional (there will be no “penalty” for choosing none of the options), but these are highly encouraged. Candidates can choose to participate in:
Confirmation Mass
The next Confirmation Mass will be in the fall of 2018 (date TBA).
Fee
The fee for our program is $100. For links to pay with a debit or credit card, click here for St. Luke and here for St. Joseph. Or, please make your check payable to your parish (“St. Joseph” or “St. Luke”) and mail it to: New Roads Catholic Community, 132 Lexington St, Belmont, MA 02478. Financial assistance is available if needed - just let us know on the registration form.
Ready to register? Click below!
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a sacrament, which is a concrete or visible sign that makes God’s grace especially present to us. As a “sacrament of initiation,” Confirmation is meant to confirm or complete the grace a person receives when they’re baptized. Baptism begins a person’s membership in the church community; confirmation is meant to complete a person’s membership, to help him or her live more intentionally as a disciple of Jesus within the church.
Why get confirmed?
There are a variety of reasons people may seek Confirmation:
- Continue a family tradition
- Mark the completion of religious education
- Gain a sense of being an adult in the church or a good Catholic
What does it mean to be prepared?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which summarizes many of the Church’s official teachings, shares two essential results of Confirmation preparation: The candidate is “prepared to assume the role of disciple” (1319) and embraces “a sense of belonging...to the parish community” (1309). In other words, being prepared for Confirmation means the candidate has already started to take steps as a disciple of Jesus within our local church community.
You don’t have to do this
We’ll be sharing a simple reminder throughout the process: you don’t have to do this. Why do we say this? Preparing for and being confirmed is about a loving relationship with God and the church community, and that can’t be forced. It has to be a free choice. In May, we’ll ask your teens--in the form of a written reflection--how they have prepared to be confirmed, how it has affected them, and if they feel ready to present themselves to the bishop for Confirmation in the fall of 2018, allowing each candidate to demonstrate their integrity and commitment.
Program Requirements
Here are our requirements to participate in the program:
Workshops: All students and at least one parent must attend three workshops (it must be the same parent for all three). The purpose of the workshops is to help your family reflect on your membership in our community. We want you to feel like you belong here and we hope the workshops help with that. You are welcome to attend whichever workshop dates best fit your family's schedule, regardless of which parish you belong to or attend. Workshops begin in January of 2018.
Workshop 1 options:
- Thursday, January 18, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Sunday, January 21, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Monday, January 22, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., 2018 at St. Luke
- Thursday, April 5, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Sunday, April 8 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Monday, April 9, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., at St. Luke
- Thursday, September 27, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Sunday, September 30, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., at St. Joseph
- Monday, October 1, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., at St. Luke
- Teen: a 500-word statement about what the candidate did to prepare.
- Parent: a 500-word statement about how the parent supported the teen’s preparation.
Confirmation Mass rehearsal: fall of 2018 (date TBA).
Options to enhance preparation and discernment
We offer several opportunities to help your teen prepare for Confirmation. These are optional (there will be no “penalty” for choosing none of the options), but these are highly encouraged. Candidates can choose to participate in:
- Drive - a small group experience to share conversation about life and faith with other teens and supportive adults
- Service - share your time and gifts in support of one of New Roads’ ministries
- Worship - attend Mass, be open and start to participate in worship
Confirmation Mass
The next Confirmation Mass will be in the fall of 2018 (date TBA).
Fee
The fee for our program is $100. For links to pay with a debit or credit card, click here for St. Luke and here for St. Joseph. Or, please make your check payable to your parish (“St. Joseph” or “St. Luke”) and mail it to: New Roads Catholic Community, 132 Lexington St, Belmont, MA 02478. Financial assistance is available if needed - just let us know on the registration form.
Ready to register? Click below!
Questions? Please contact Charlie Bates, coordinator of student ministry.
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