The Sacrament of Confirmation is a vital step in your child’s faith journey, strengthening their relationship with Christ and the Church through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As fathers, mothers and caretakers you are the first and most important teacher for your child/children. No Catechist or priest, no matter how effective, can replace the influence you alone have on whether your child has a living faith in God, in the Catholic Church, and in the Sacraments.
St. Raphael Confirmation Program Requirements
- Attend and fully participate in all scheduled class meetings. Participation is very important, we want the Confirmation students actively engaged in the discussions, prayers, icebreakers, etc. They should complete all work assigned to them by their Catechist.
- Attend Mass weekly as a family. Attending class does NOT replace the obligation to attend mass on a weekly basis.
The Obligation: Catholics are bound to participate in Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation, according to Canon Law.
This obligation is rooted in the Fourth Commandment and the Church’s understanding of the importance of the Eucharist and the Lord’s Day (Sunday).
The precept of the Church aims to ensure that the faithful fulfill the moral law to worship God, rest from work on Sunday, and engage in activities that promote spiritual growth.
- Confirmation Record Form should be returned no later than November 21st, 2025.
- Confirmation Name Form returned by January 30th, 2027. The Confirmation or Saint name can be any Saint that is recognized as such by the Catholic Church. Research on the history of the saint should be done so that the saint chosen is meaningful to the Candidate.
- Confirmation Eligibility Sponsor Form should be turned in as soon as the Candidate chooses a sponsor, no later than January 30th, 2027. The Candidate’s Sponsor should be chosen within the first month of the program so they can be involved throughout the Confirmation journey. The parish seal of the sponsor’s parish must be present on the form unless the sponsor is a member of St. Raphael’s.
- Saint Project/Paper completed at the direction of the Catechists. Most Catechists will spend 1 or 2 class times writing the papers as a group. This needs to turned in by the May 1st, 2027
- Letter to the Pastor should be written as soon as the Candidate feels confident enough to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. This will need to be turned in by May 1st, 2027.
- Attend a Mandatory 1 day retreat with their Sponsor or another Confirmed adult if the Sponsor is not available, either in September or February during 9th grade preparation. Exact dates for the Confirmation Retreats will be confirmed and passed onto families as soon as the dates are scheduled. The Confirmation retreat is a vital part of the Confirmation journey. If your family
- has a major conflict not including sports, school activities, or other club activities please contact Michele Kmety for other options which may include attending a retreat at another parish. If we are unable to come up with a suitable alternative Confirmation may be deferred until they are able to attend a retreat.
- Complete 15 hours of community service over the two year preparation. Families are encouraged to participate in the service project with the Candidate. There are many community opportunities that are available: Feed My Starving Children, Hesed House, Nursing Homes, yard work for a neighbor. We will also offer several opportunities to help out here at the parish. When we have opportunities available, Michele will send out an email with the event details. These opportunities are filled on a first come first serve basis. Please find the form to record the service hours on the next page. Please do not turn in the form until all 15 hours have been completed by the Candidate.
- Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once each year during preparation.
- The Candidate and their Sponsor will need to attend rehearsal, this will typically take place the week of Confirmation. If the Sponsor is unable to attend due to living out of state or other circumstances beyond control, a proxy must stand in for rehearsal.
Due Dates
| Confirmation Record Form | November 21, 2025 |
| Confirmation Name Form | January 30, 2027 |
| Sponsor Certificate of Eligibility | January 30, 2027 |
| Saint Paper | May 1, 2027 |
| Letter to the Pastor | May 1, 2027 |
| Service Hour Form | Upon Completion of all 15 Hours |
Confirmation Service Form
A form is provided to each candidate. 15 hours of community service must be completed over the two-year preparation period. Each service opportunity should be recorded on this form. The Candidate should complete a minimum of at least 4 different service experiences. When the 15 hours of Service are completed, the form should be turned into your child’s Catechist or the YFF Office.
Confirmation Record Form
A form is provided to each candidate. This form needs to be filled out completely and accurately. Information on this form will go into your child’s permanent record. Please return to the YFF Office no later than November 21, 2025.
Choosing Your Confirmation Sponsor
The selection of a Confirmation Sponsor is an important step in your journey to Confirmation and should be undertaken seriously and prayerfully. A sponsor should be someone whom you admire as a practicing Catholic, someone you would feel comfortable going to with questions about faith. Your sponsor is a role model whom you ask to stand by you in your faith journey and help you grow as a Christian. As an outward sign of their spiritual commitment to you, your sponsor will stand with you when you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. There are important steps in that selection
process:
- Choose your Sponsor:
- Pray about whom you would like to be your Sponsor. Talk to your parents and/or other trusted adults about your options but remember that the choice is ultimately yours.
- Make sure that your Sponsor meets the following requirements. These are requirements set forth by the Catholic Church, not our parish and so exceptions cannot be made to any of the following:
- A sponsor must be Catholic who actively practices the faith.
- A sponsor must be at least 16 years old and already be Confirmed.
- If married, the marriage must be valid according to Church law.
- A sponsor may not be the parent of the candidate.
- A sponsor need not be the same gender as the candidate.
- A sponsor will support the candidate in their commitment to the Catholic Church.
- Ask your Sponsor:
- After making your choice, ask! Be sure to explain to your Sponsor why you have chosen him/her.
- All sponsors must complete the Certificate of Eligibility (found on the next page) and have it signed and sealed by their parish. This form should be given to your Sponsor as soon as you choose him/ her. Please do not wait, once the form is completed it will need to be turned into the YFF Office. This must be turned in by the end of 8th grade preparation.
Choosing a Confirmation Name
When you are confirmed you will be given the option to choose a separate Confirmation name. Although there is no obligation to select a Confirmation name that is different from the name you were given at Baptism, you should choose the name of a canonized saint for your Confirmation name.
Importance of Names
Your parents probably spent many hours thinking about what they would name you. Your name may have been chosen to honor a relative or a saint who is revered by your family or culture. While it is customary to use the names of saints as baptismal names, the Church now permits other names at baptism as long as they are not incompatible with the Christian faith. However your baptismal name was chosen, it is now part of your history and identity.
A Confirmation Name
Taking a new name at Confirmation can be can be symbolic of a new or deeper stage in your faith life. There are several Scripture stories of people whose names changed after they experience a conversion: Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul. Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation is an opportunity for you to reflect on how you want to witness to the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. If you choose a name other than your baptismal name, look to saints and holy people who are truly witnesses of faith for you.Choose the name of a saint you admire and whom you want to be your patron
Confirmation Saint Report
As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints. We believe that the saints in heaven are examples for our life, intercede for us, and can help us to be strong disciples of Christ. You have a choice to keep your baptismal name. If you use your baptismal name, it must be the name of a saint or someone who has been beatified. You may also choose to add a name, to signify your new and deeper awareness of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. If the choice is made to add a new name, it must be the name of a saint or someone who has been beatified. In either case, it should reflect a saint whom you admire and would like to imitate. The chosen saint will become the name listed as your Confirmation Name in official Church records.
Letter to the Pastor
Each Confirmation Candidate is required to write a personal letter to the Pastor requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Safe Environment
St. Raphael Parish cares about all children and their safety is of the utmost importance. We know child abuse causes children to suffer emotional scars for many years. We all want our children to be treated with love, care, and respect. As part of its ongoing mission, the Diocese of Joliet requires that all Parish staff members and volunteers who work with children participate in a workshop called “Protecting God’s Children.” The workshop informs them about the permanent harm done to children and also teaches ways to prevent child abuse. It is designed to provide the facts about child abuse and hopefully motivate people to action in preventing abuse. In addition to participating in the “Protecting God’s Children” workshop, all volunteers are required to complete a standard application that includes a release of information to allow for background checks. Volunteers are required to read and operate by the “Standards of Behavior for Those Working with Minors.”
Also, all Catholic schools and parish Faith Formation programs in the Diocese of Joliet must offer instruction for children regarding the prevention of child sexual abuse if it is not offered at the public schools. However, such instruction is offered by the public schools in Districts 203 and 204, and therefore our program does not offer such instruction.
Medications
The Medical Form you completed at the time of registration is kept confidential in the Youth Faith Formation Office, and the catechist is made aware of any concerns. If your child’s medical record needs updating at anytime during the year, please inform the office as soon as possible. If your child needs to take a medication during class, we ask that if possible it be taken right before or after class. If this is not possible, it is necessary that the Permission to Administer medication Form be completed and returned to the office before the medication can be administer. Note that any medication to be distributed during class time must be given to the child’s catechist at the start of class, and will only be distributed by the catechist.
Youth Faith Formation Facebook Page
Parent Resources
- Photo Opt-out form
- Internet Safety Guide
- Practice Advice for Parents on Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
- Understanding and Preventing Child Abuse
For more information, contact:
Michele Kmety, Director of Children’s Faith Formation
(630) 615-7642 or mkmety@st-raphael.com
Marge Coronado, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
(630) 615-7614 or mcoronado@st-raphael.com