Confirmandi must write a 1-2 page letter (single-spaced, size 12 font) to Bishop Robert Hennessey, stating their desire to be confirmed and answering the following questions:
- Why do you want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation?
- Which Saint's name did you choose as your Confirmation name? Why this Saint?
- Who is your Confirmation sponsor? What is it about the faith of your sponsor that inspired you to select him or her?
Find assignment instructions and submit letter here.
After asking someone to be your Confirmation Sponsor, please ask them to complete this form and bring or mail it to our parish offices (22 Boston St. Middleton, MA 01949). Forms are due March 1, 2023.
March 15, 6:30-8:00 PM
St. Rose of Lima Church, Topsfield
All teens in Confirmation Year 2 are required to attend.
If a teen is unable to attend, he or she should email Amy at [email protected] to schedule another time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Confirmation.
Before Confirmation, teens will have an interview with either Fr. Dan, Fr. Karlo, or Jeremy Wagner (seminarian). Teens should think of this interview as more of a presentation. During the interview, teen need to:
- Recite 4 Catholic Prayer: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Act of Contrition
Find the words to these prayers here. Be sure you have memorized all of these before your interview.
- Define the words "Sacrament" and "Grace"
This video, this video, and this video will help you understand the definitions below, so you are able to have a conversation about them during your interview.- Grace Definition: a free, undeserved gift from God
- Sacraments Definition: "The seven sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions."
- 5 Key Points:
- Sacraments are efficacious signs of grace - There is something we experience with our bodies/senses in each sacrament and something we experience in our souls in each sacrament. That visible, tangible "sign" helps us understand what is happening to our souls. The sign is not just a symbol; it is "efficacious," which means it has a real effect. The effect on our souls is called grace. Grace is a free, undeserved gift from God.
- Sacraments were given to us by Jesus Christ - we can trace every sacrament back to Jesus and read about when He gave us the sacraments in the bible.
- Sacraments are entrusted to the Church - We receive the sacraments through the Church. Priests, deacons and bishops administer most sacraments.
- Through the sacraments, divine life is dispensed - We receive God's own life within us through the sacraments.
- There are 7 Sacraments - The 7 Sacraments are Baptism, Holy Communion (Eucharist), Confirmation, Reconciliation (Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony (Marriage). Read more about the 7 Sacraments here.
- 5 Key Points:
- Explain what the Sacrament of Confirmation is and why you want to receive this Sacrament
This video, this video and this video may help you with this.
- List the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Knowledge
- Wisdom
- Understanding
- Counsel (Right Judgement)
- Fortitude (Courage)
- Piety (Reverence)
- Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe)
- Share which Saint's name you will take at Confirmation and what you know about this Saint. (where the Saint is from, what they are the patron of, what you admire about this Saint, what miracles are associated with this person, interesting stories about this person's life, etc.)
- Share who you chose to be your Confirmation Sponsor and what it is about the faith of this person that made you select them.
Sign up for an interview time here.
All interviews will take place at St. Rose in Topsfield.
At least one parent must attend the interview with their teen.
Teens in Confirmation Year 2 are required to complete two service projects. The service project requirements are fulfilled through Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy – helping our neighbors in their spiritual and physical needs.
During our February class, we will talk more about service opportunities that teens can participate in through our parishes, but most teens will fulfill this requirement outside of the parish. Teens can use service they are doing for school or extracurriculars to fulfill this requirement, as long as that service fulfills a Spiritual Work of Mercy or Corporal Work of Mercy and upholds the themes of Catholic Social Teaching.
Teens do not have to participate in a large, organized event, though. We, as Catholics, should participate in Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy every day. For instance, one of the Corporal Works of Mercy is to visit the sick. A teen who visits an aging relative is visiting the sick. Similarly, one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to comfort the sorrowful. If a teen comforts a friend in a time of need, that teen is comforting the sorrowful.
For both service projects, teens should write a one-page reflection (12pt font, double-spaced) on the Spiritual or Corporal Work of Mercy they fulfilled. Reflections should include:
- what you did, when you did it, and where you did it
- which of the Corporal or Spiritual Works of Mercy you fulfilled
- an explanation of how the person(s) you ministered to benefitted from your efforts
- where you saw God’s presence during your act of service
- what you learned about yourself, others, or God through this experience
For full instructions or to submit a reflection, click here.
Weekly Mass attendance is required. Teens should sign in every time they attend Mass at St. Rose or St. Agnes. Sign in sheets are located at the entrance of the churches.
Sunday Mass Schedule:
- St. Rose of Lima, Topsfield
- Saturday: 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, & 6:00 PM
- St. Agnes, Middleton
- Saturday: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM
Whenever teens attend Mass at another church, they should submit a Mass Reflection.
Confirmation Candidates are required to attend one rehearsal. Candidates can attend either rehearsal, regardless of where they will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sponsors should attend with their candidates. If a sponsor cannot attend, a parent may attend in their place.
Rehearsal Options:
- May 7, 7:00-8:00 PM - St. Rose, Topsfield
Following 6:00 Sunday Mass - May 11, 6:00-7:00 PM - St. Agnes, Middleton
Confirmation is currently scheduled for:
- Friday, May 12, 5:30 PM - St. Agnes
- Saturday, May 13, 10:30 AM - St. Rose
- Saturday, May 13, 12:30 PM - St. Rose
Teens can select a Confirmation ceremony when they submit their Letter to Bishop Hennessey.
Arrival: Confirmandi and Sponsors should arrive 30 minutes before their Confirmation ceremony and check in with Amy Kostak.
- After a quick review with Amy, ushers will seat Confirmandi, sponsors, and guests. Confirmandi will sit with their families.
- Confirmandi should sit on the aisle seat, with sponsors next to them and parents after that. Other guests can fill the rest of the pew or sit in overflow seating in the back of the church or hall.
- All Confirmandi and guests should stay outside until instructed to enter the church by an usher. (If it is raining, we will gather in the church hall.)
Guests
- Each family will have 1 pew to fill. You can comfortably seat about 6-8 people in each pew.
- If you have two or more children receiving Confirmation at the same ceremony, you will be allowed 2 pews.
- Additional friends and family may sit in the back of the church or overflow seating in the church hall on a first-come basis.
Live-Stream
Masses at St. Rose will be live-streamed for loved ones to watch at home at https://agnesandrose.org/live
Unfortunately, St. Agnes does not have the ability to live-stream.
Ladies:
- Dress, skirt, or dress pants with a nice top
- Dresses/skirts at or below the knee
- No crop tops, no short skirts, no shoulders exposed (wear a jacket or cardigan if needed)
- White is preferable, but not required
Gentlemen:
- Button down shirt (tucked in)
- Tie
- Dress Pants or Khakis
- No rips, no stains, no jeans
- Dress shoes
Confirmandi will not wear gowns this year.
The length of a Confirmation Ceremony is based on how many candidates are being confirmed at that time and how long the bishop speaks during his homily. Typically, Confirmation ceremonies are about 45 minutes long. If you are making reservations or planning a party after Confirmation, you should factor in about 15 minutes more for photos after the ceremony.
Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before their Confirmation ceremony. That means candidates will be at the church for about 1.5 hours.
If your sponsor is unable to attend at the last minute, you will need to find another sponsor who meets all of the requirements of a Confirmation sponsor. The Church does not allow for a proxy to stand in for a previously chosen sponsor. A parent cannot be a sponsor.
If you cannot find a sponsor in time, Amy Kostak or one of the Confirmation class leaders can step in.
Review the requirements of a sponsor on the Confirmation Sponsor Form
If you need to change your sponsor, please email Amy Kostak at [email protected] AND Jackie Chiumiento at [email protected].
