Dear Parents of the seventh grade students,

We are starting our Confirmation program using Dynamic Catholic's Decision Point.

The goal of the program is to offer your child a powerful, life-changing experience as he or she prepares to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is our hope that Decision Point will not only offer your child a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith, but will also win over their heart at this critical time in their life. The program has been carefully designed to address and answer your child’s fundamental questions about life, and to challenge him or her to embrace a life of faith.

Let’s face it—our world is full of distractions and detours that can easily set a young person on the wrong path. Nothing can take the place of a strong faith in God: not friends, money, or education. It is our faith that gives us our identity and our direction in life. The Church recognizes that you, as parents, are the primary educators of your children in matters of faith and morals—and the Chosen program offers you a unique opportunity to join your child as he or she journeys through the Catholic faith.

Thank you for your time and interest in this important stage of your child’s spiritual development.


The Candidates

Candidates are those in their adolescent years. The adolescent years are viewed as an ideal age when they can examine who they are and how they want to commit their life. A formative process is needed so they can explore who they are in relationship to Christ and their parish community of faith. Young people do appreciate how living traditions, which shape personal relationships, call forth personal sacrifice while challenging them to grow in justice, service, and love for others. They view this as a worthy calling to which they are willing to commit their lives.

Adolescents, by virtue of Baptism, already should be welcomed and active members of the parish community. Immediate preparation for Confirmation in the adolescent years should serve to intensify “this sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community” (CCC #1309). With the support of parents, sponsors and the larger faith community, the candidates should be mentored in such a way that their gifts can both enrich and be enriched by the Church. In this way they will assume greater apostolic responsibilities of the Christian life (CCC #1309).

Confirmation is a celebration involving the whole parish and formation is a journey of faith within one’s community. All candidates for this sacrament should be prepared together. They are not to be divided according to Catholic school or parish religious education classes.

QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES

Each baptized Catholic has the right and the obligation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Candidates may request the Sacrament if they:
- Are baptized and able to renew baptismal promises.
- Exhibit a desire to grow in the faith life and knowledge of the Church.
- Participate in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Eucharist.
- Are willing to commit to active involvement in the parish Confirmation catechesis.
- Are willing to respond to the call to Christian service.
- Are willing to continue to learn and grow in faith following Confirmation and throughout
their lifetime.
- Have attained the age of fourteen (14) or older at the time of celebration of the Sacrament. Any exception to this age must be granted by the Bishop through the pastor.

A record of regular attendance at religious education classes in a Catholic School or PRE program is needed before a candidate can be enrolled for Confirmation preparation.