What Does a Confirmation Sponsor Do?
Sponsors affirm Catholic Identity and relationship with Christ.
As a confirmation sponsor you will support your candidate in the struggle to live the Christian life. This is not easy, and we continually must strive to do better. This is why regularly receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion sustains us as God gives us the graces we need to live our state in life.
As a mentor of the Christian life, you will challenge the candidate on unchristian attitudes or actions. You will also pray with and for your candidate. This relationship should continue in life well after the celebration has ended.
Suggestions of things you can do: Be able and willing to listen and share your faith experience Give them a call or invite them to lunch or for coffee Invite them to Sunday Mass Send a card or email occasionally Pray for your confirmand every day and invite them to pray for you as well as for their personal needs and concerns Invite them to parish activities and go with them Participate with them in some other ministry in the parish Introduce them to members of the parish Encourage and affirm their growth in the faith Take a road trip together to some different churches to experience what is the same and what is different in different churches. In preparation for any Sunday Mass, read and study the Gospel reading ahead of time and talk about what you feel that Gospel is asking you to do.
Building a Relationship with your Candidate You may feel some anxiety or nervousness, hesitancy, awkwardness but you should also experience growth, enthusiasm, friendship, joy, hope and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
As a sponsor, we hope that you experience: Renewal and deepening of your faith Strong experience of community and belonging Better sense of identity as a child of God and mentor of a child of God
What are some topics that will be covered during Confirmation classes?
During this year the teens will continue using the Chosen program, offered by Ascension Press. Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation this program provides everything candidates need to know to prepare themselves both intellectually and spiritually to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and to become lifelong disciples of Christ. This is a dynamic, small-group focused program that will explore many topics of the Catholic Faith with videos and discussion. More information may be found at https://ascensionpress.com/pages/chosen-sample-lesson- optin. Or for a review of the program you may visit: https://www.snoringscholar.com/chosen-confirmation- program-worth-checking/.
The confirmation candidates started this program last year in 10th grade and will continue the second half of the book this year. On the candidates calendar you can find the topics they will be discussing this year. (order of topics are subject to change) If a sponsor would like a full copy of the chosen book contact Steph Haizel at [email protected].
Please read your sponsor guide as it will help you when you meet with your candidate. Below is an outline of what you can cover when you meet with your candidate (it’s only a guide and remember our teens covered lessons 1-12 last year but they should be able to remember what they learned)
Meeting One: Get to know candidate more and find out where they are with their faith (pg. 33)
Meeting Two: Find out who God is to them and ask who their Confirmation Saint will be (pg. 34) Share with the candidate your faith journey/story.
Meeting Three: Talk about death and eternity (pg. 38). Talk about the sacraments and what the teen feels their vocation is. Pray with them if they don’t know.
Meeting Four: Do a service project with your candidate or ask them what their service projects are (pg. 44). Talk about how to live out a Christian life and what that looks like (pg. 45). Talk about how they are feeling about being confirmed.
Tips when meeting with candidate be authentic and always pray with them during each session.
After receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, the candidates will enter into a period of “Apprenticeship in the Faith” in which they will learn how to live their lives as newly confirmed Christians. We encourage sponsors and parents to continue to show their candidate the importance of faith in every aspect of their life. What are some other resources to help me become a prepared sponsor and to help my candidate grow in their faith?
1) The Bible (e.g. New American Bible, NRSV Catholic Edition) Complete and approved Catholic Bibles have all 73 books and a special statement of approval called an Imprimatur. Each of our students was given the Catholic Youth Bible, so we encourage you to use that when you meet with your candidate to encourage them to look in their own Bible when they need the answers. 2) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) a. http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/index.cfm
3) Catechisms of the Catholic Church: There are several versions of the Catechism that are helpful when looking items up. If you want to know what the Catholic Church teaches on topics like: The communion of the Holy Spirit, what is prayer and why it is God’s gift, what the church actually says about homosexuality or marriage, ect. o Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is the official catechism promulgated by St. John Paul II, arranged by topic. You can use the online version at: http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/files/assets/b asic-html/page-I.html#
o The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is an excellent resource for preparation of catechumens in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and for ongoing catechesis of adults. o You can use the online version at: http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/uscca/files/assets/basic- html/page-1.html# o The YouCat (the new Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) is a condensed version of the CCC aimed at middle school/high school students. It is in the question and answer format to help youth better understand their faith. o There is a YOUCAT Daily mobile app if interested.
4) Catholic Radio and Television Sacred Heart Radio Catholic TV Utilizing powerful technology, Catholic TV strives to connect people of faith through relevant, inspiring and prayerful programming. They educate by teaching the Wisdom of God in the Catholic Tradition. http://www.catholictv.org/
Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) EWTN Global Catholic Network airs family and religious programming from a Catholic point of view in English and Spanish. EWTN offers inspiring talk shows, entertaining children's animation, exclusive teaching series, live coverage of Church events and documentaries. https://www.ewtn.com/ Relevant Radio (Milwaukee Station 100.1 FM/1640 AM) Relevant Radio is a not-for-profit radio network and produces 70 hours of original programming each week. Relevant Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year with award-winning hosts, including Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki's "Living Our Faith" radio show. https://relevantradio.com/
Radio Maria 91.3 FM WRMW "Radio Maria" is a broadcast radio station from Peshtigo, Wis. and provides Christian music and program.
This Catholic radio station spans portions of the Rockford Illinois Diocese, as well as the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Archdiocese of Chicago, reaching up to 1.3 million listeners, 24/7. https://wsficatholicradio.org/
*Also the SiriusXM Catholic Channel 129
5) Podcasts: a. https://www.archmil.org/TwoGuys b. Christ is the Answer - Fr. John Riccardo, priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit https://avemariaradio.net/program/christ-is-the-answer/ c. Catholic Stuff You Should Know - Frs. John Nepil, Nathan Goebel, and Michael Rapp, priests of the Archdiocese of Denver https://catholicstuffpodcast.com/ d. The Word on Fire Show - This is Bishop Robert Barron, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Talk: “We Must Go Out” - https://wordonfireshow.com/ e. Fr. Mike Schmitz (look up his name on YouTube) f. https://lifeteen.com/blog/ultimate-list-catholic-podcasts/ 6) Other: Blessed is she podcast, and daily devotional sent directly to your email https://blessedisshe.net/devotions/
How do I set an example as a sponsor during Mass?
Preparing for Mass
Getting ready for Mass includes ensuring you have made time for prayer and are away from distractions. One way is to read the Sunday Mass readings before Mass and to silently pray once you arrive in church. You can encourage your candidate to practice these and other ways to better prepare for Mass and to always observe simple church etiquette.
Dress Code
As a sponsor you are required to attend the Rite of Commitment along with other ceremonies that mark your candidate’s journey to Confirmation. All of these ceremonies are celebrated within the Liturgy of the Mass. The confirmation candidates will be presented to the assembly and should present themselves in appropriate attire for each occasion— especially when presented to the Bishop at Confirmation.
Please set an example that at Sunday we are meeting with the Lord and should be so joyful to spend time with him and receive him in the Eucharist and come dressed nicely.
A little guide to help:
Ladies:
Should avoid plunging necklines, spaghetti straps or halter tops. Should avoid bare stomachs and short skirts or shorts. Dresses, skirts or nice slacks are encouraged. Avoid extra tight clothing Be comfortable but Do not wear pajamas to Church.
Gentlemen:
Try to avoid casual T-shirts especially ones that make you look like you just got out of bed. Try to avoid ripped jeans. Be wary of what is written on your shirt. You should probably change if your shirt would offend others. Anything from khakis or Dockers with a nice shirt to a suit is acceptable. Be comfortable but Do not wear pajamas to Church.
This dress code is to be exemplary for all liturgical celebrations. This means that for Confirmation please dress at least business casual. Thank you!