As a parent with young kids, it seems like I’m in a constant rotation of sacrament preparation programs. First it was Baptisms, then First Reconciliations and First Communions, and now I have a batch of kids who are ready to think about Confirmation. Unlike their Baptism, Confirmation is a sacrament they choose to pursue themselves, not something I just sign them up for. I remember when I was around their age, it was another one of those big sacrament years where kids would appear out of the woodwork after lots of years away from spiritual and religious formation. In the (far too many) decades since I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, the program at our parish has changed pretty dramatically. To learn more about this program, I reached out to Heather Orlando, who serves as the Team Lead for Confirmation at Saint Benedict Parish. 

What does the Confirmation program look like? 

HEATHER ORLANDO: This year we are holding the Confirmation sessions on Thursday nights in tandem with The Rise Youth Ministry. We will be meeting for two Thursdays of each month leading up to the end of April. This means that youth already engaged with The Rise can easily attend on those nights. It also promotes The Rise for those seeking Confirmation but are not yet connected to the parish. Each session we will be using video material from The Chosen Confirmation program. The videos are very engaging, and the presenters are all well- known Catholic speakers and personalities from Steubenville Conferences and Catholic social media. We will have two break-out sessions each night that include the videos and small group discussions. We are hopeful that the teens will bring lots of questions and open hearts. 

If you think back to your experience of Confirmation, how would you say this program is different? 

It has been more than a few years since I was confirmed, and I remember it being a very positive experience. I grew up in a pretty great parish. The Chosen Confirmation program is amazing. If the presenter is talking about the early Christians in Rome, they are filming in Rome. It is so engaging to watch, I personally get a lot out of this series. We may only receive the Sacrament of Confirmation once, but we should continue to reflect and even pray for a re-stirring of the Holy Spirit in our lives at all ages. We should always be asking for a strengthening of the gifts that were poured out on us. We need all the gifts to shape our intellect and focus our will to live a life destined for sainthood! 

What’s the time commitment for parents and young people preparing for Confirmation?

We want teens to take this journey very seriously. A part of that is to attend our twice-monthly sessions. It is also important to say that those taking this step should also be attending Sunday Mass and open to regularly going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These are fundamental precepts of our faith. Saying ‘yes’ at Confirmation is in no way an end or graduation, but rather a tangible sign of maturity and acceptance that this amazing Catholic Church is the place where we respond to a loving and relational God who desires us to not ‘go it alone’. Parents don’t just get to be a chauffeur to ‘class’, they should be asking questions, sharing their faith journey with their kids, and praying. It is a smaller commitment than the other extracurricular activities teens are involved in, but I promise the payout is greater than anything else. 

For the young people and adults out there thinking about Confirmation, what advice would you give to them or those around them? 

Coming for Confirmation preparation does not mean you have to be confirmed. It is building the foundation by which you make that decision and ultimately the commitment. But sacraments are not contracts. We get to come – maybe confidently, maybe awkwardly – and ask all sorts of questions. In all of that, the God of the Universe is waiting. He lets us know that he has chosen us way before we even thought of coming. He wants to anoint us with supernatural gifts not only for our personal needs but also so that we can live a life of purpose with him.

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I’m glad to hear how much thought has been put into our Confirmation program and that there’s an opportunity for young people to profoundly encounter Christ. Creating those opportunities can transform lives and continue to renew the Church and lead to a long-term relationship with Jesus. 

For families interested in finding out more about sacramental preparation – Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, or Marriage – you can email our Sacraments Coordinator, Caroline Dubois, at [email protected].