Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation of the Catholic Church, along with Baptism and the Eucharist. It bestows the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens the faithful to be a powerful witness to God’s love and might in word and deed.
Download Contract of Investiture
Download Confirmation Requirements
Click the icons below for additional forms related to those topics.
A sponsor at Confirmation witnesses the commitment to Christ which you are making. Your sponsor helps you to prepare well to receive the Sacrament and to live as good witnesses to Jesus by their prayers, words, and good example.
Choosing a Sponsor
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Cannot be your parents
- One of your baptism Godparents is a good choice
- Must be fully initiated into the Catholic Faith (received Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist)
- Must be a good example of holiness (loves Jesus, attends Mass every week etc.)
- They do not have to be the same gender as you.
On your Confirmation day, the Bishop will call you by your saints’ name. Calling you by a “new name" symbolizes a change, a new life with Christ. Your saint will pray for you from Heaven and be a role model for you throughout your life.
Download Saint Project Instructions
How to Choose a Confirmation Saint
Saint Databases
These websites have lists and categories of saints that you can read more about:
- Biggest and Best List of Confirmation Saints (for girls and guys) - LifeTeen
- Saints & Angels - Catholic Online
- Catholic Saints - EWTN
- CatholicSaints.Info
- Catholic Saints - My Catholic Life
- Saint of the Day - Franciscan Media
To help our students prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, they are asked to take a special interest, and to listen well, as they attend Sunday Mass. After each Sunday, they are to answer the following questions with the help of their parents:
- The name of the priest who celebrated Mass and the parish's name and date.
- What was the Gospel about?
- What did the priest say in his homily?
- Your own reactions, reflections in three sentences or more.
Download Mass Journal Template
Daily Mass Readings
Mass Journal Schedule
- First Sunday of Advent
- Second Sunday of Advent
- Third Sunday of Advent
- Fourth Sunday of Advent
- Christmas (Dec. 24 or 25)
- First Sunday after Christmas
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
- Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
- The Baptism of the Lord
- Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Ash Wednesday (during PREP)
- First Sunday in Lent
Journal Guidelines
- Your journals need to be handed in one package. No loose sheets will be accepted.
- Journals must be done on the provided template or on the computer using the template format.
- Parents should initial each journal as it is completed.
- If you missed one or more of the dates above, simply continue each Sunday until you have 15 completed journals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own binder to hold the journals?
Yes, but you must transfer to the PREP binder before handing them in.
Can I write my journal during Mass?
Try to listen more and write down on lined paper just the key points of the Gospel and Homily. Complete the summaries as soon as you get home. If you are an altar server you should avoid journaling during Mass.
What if I’m not able to get to Mass on one of the dates above?
You can substitute any Saturday afternoon Mass which fulfills your Sunday obligation. This Mass is known as Anticipated Sunday Mass.
Do I need the Sunday Missal to do my journals?
It helps to have a Sunday Missal so you can go through the readings and Gospel before and after Mass. The readings are also online at https://universalis.com/mass.htm
Do I have to use the provided template?
Not necessarily. You may use a computer or lined paper but it must have the exact same format as the template.
Whose name will I write if there are two priests at Mass?
Use the name of the priest who delivered the homily at Mass.
What should I check before handing in my journals?
Make sure it has your first and last name as well as your parent’s initials.
One sure sign of increased maturity is increased responsibility. As you mature in your faith, you will discover increased responsibilities in this area of your life too! It is not just enough that you know about your faith. The question is: How do you put your faith into practice?
The interview questions are designed to assess your understanding and readiness to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The purpose of the interview is not to "pass" or "fail" you. We are here to help you, so if it becomes clear in the interview that there is something important you don't know or understand, we will follow up with you to make sure you do before you receive Confirmation.
Download Confirmation Interview Questions
Fall Interview Questions:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21. Your interviewer may also ask about your saint, why you choose them as well as your sponsor and why you choose them.
Spring Interview Questions:
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Your interviewer may also ask why you want to be confirmed.
The Letter to the Archbishop is due a few weeks before Confirmation (usually in May).
Students
Students in Grade 7 are capable of choosing to be disciples of Jesus, so they will write a brief letter to the Archbishop of Vancouver stating why they want to be confirmed. Writing this letter provides an opportunity to reflect on the Sacrament of Confirmation and express your own desire to receive it. In the letter you may answer:
- Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Do you pray every day? How?
- How did you prepare for Confirmation?
- What saint have you chosen to be your patron and what inspires you about his or her life?
In your conclusion, emphasize the most important reason for your decision to be confirmed. The letter should be a maximum of one page and is intended to provide an opportunity for sincere and honest reflection.
Parents
As the primary catechesis and spiritual shepherds of your children, parents play an irreplaceable role in sacramental preparation. Parents (or guardians) are to write a brief letter to Archbishop of Vancouver Michael Miller stating why they want their child to be confirmed.
Lorenz Somollo, PREP 7 Catechist
Lorenz has been teaching PREP at St. Matthew's for over five years now.
He was very disinterested in PREP growing up, going only because his parents wanted him to go. He had questions and doubts about the faith, but wasn't receiving answers, ultimately leading him to be agnostic for a part of his life.
After seeing a change in his friend's life when they got involved in Youth Ministry, Lorenz decided to give it a shot. By being around so many people who loved God wholeheartedly, he decided to re-examine his questions and doubts. He later reverted back to the faith after finding answers, thanks to St. Thomas Aquinas and other Catholic resources. It led to one conclusion: being Catholic is the most rational thing in the world.
Lorenz became quite active in his faith afterwards. He served in the Youth Ministry, PREP, and CFC-Youth, attended and led various retreats and events, and even attended World Youth Day 2019 in Panama. Through all these things, God has turned his heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
Lorenz serves PREP because he realizes just how important being a Catholic truly is, and wants to help find answers to the doubts and questions the students have.
“The best instrument to evangelize young people is other young people.” - Pope Francis