Confirmation Classes have Begun

Please contact the Youth Ministry Office if you need more information.

          Small groups meet together 8 times at your leader’s home.  And as a large group, we will meet at the church 3-4 times.  In addition, there is one retreat and one small group service project.  See the schedule of dates you received in the registration packet for more details.

Q.      Do I need to attend all the meetings?  What if I miss one. . .or two. . or three. . . ?

          Yes, you are required to attend all small and large group sessions, as well as the retreat and service project.  If you miss a small group session, you will be given homework from the chapter in your book to be completed and returned to your leader(s) at the next meeting.  If you miss more than 2 sessions, large or small, you will be asked to speak the Director of Youth Ministry before continuing classes.

Q.      How will I know who my class leader is?

          Your leader(s) will contact you either by phone and/or email.

Q.      How many service hours are required?

          Individual service hours are not a mandatory part of the St. Catherine Confirmation preparation.  We will always encourage you to be involved in the service projects that Youth Ministry is offering, but you do not need to log service hours.  We only ask that you help your small group plan a service project and participate in it.

Q.      Where do I get my book for Confirmation?

          Your leader(s) will give you all the materials you need for class at your first session.  It would be good to bring something to write with to class.

Q.      When do I have to know who my sponsor is and what Confirmation name I chose?

          The Sponsor form is due by Nov. 15^th and the Confirmation Name form is due by December 1^st.  You may turn them in to your leader(s) or to the Youth Ministry Office.

Q.    Sum it up.   What are all the requirements?

        Requirements are to attend all small groups sessions, all large group sessions, the small group service project, and the retreat.  You will also be required to choose a Sponsor and a Confirmation Name, write a letter to Monsignor Doherty, and have a meeting ("interview")  with a staff member before being Confirmed.  After January 1st, we will ask that you receive a current copy of the candidates baptismal certificate (if not baptized at St. Catherine of Siena) to turn in to the Parish.  If any of the above work or meetings is missed, you are required to complete the assigned make-up work.

Q.      How do I get more involved at St. Catherine?

          Youth Ministry events are not mandatory for Confirmation.  BUT- they are SO MUCH FUN!!!  You will be missing out if you don't check them out!  All high school students and their friends are welcome to all the youth ministry events!  You do not need to be a St. Catherine parishioner to attend Youth Ministry events.  There is no sign-up, you just show up! 

Watch the bulletin and the website (www.stcatherinechurch.com) for more details.  Just note: Some events, especially social events, require permission slips and to sign-up in the youth ministry office, since space may be limited.  But many, like the monthly Mass with Youth and GodSpace events are for you to just show up! 

Any time you have questions, please call the Youth Ministry Office: 847-426-2217!

Confirmation Session Dates for 2009-2010

September 2009

19-20 Confirmation Registration after masses

26-27 Confirmation Registration after masses 

October 2009

18- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 1

November 2009

1- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 2

*15- Sponsor Name Forms Due

19 (Thursday) Large Group Session with Speaker Nancy McKnight (and sponsors) 7-8:30 pm in church

December 2009

*1- Confirmation Name Form Due

6- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 3

January 2010

10- Confirmation Classes attend GodSpace as their small group meeting (Lesson 4) (Sunday 7-8:30 pm in the school gym)

31- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 5

* Turn in your child’s baptismal certificate (see important note below)

February 2010

21- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 6

NEW***  February 28th from 7-8:30 pm:   Large group speaker: Theology of the Body, Fr. Loya, with parent (mandatory large group session)

March 2010

6- Confirmation Retreat with Sponsor (or a parent if sponsor is unable to attend)  (Lesson 10)

7- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 7

21- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 8

April 2010

15 (Thursday) Large Group Session with Speaker Nancy McKnight (and sponsors) 7-8:30 pm in church

18- (week) Confirmation Classes meet for Lesson 9

 Baptismal Certificate Policy

We must have every candidate’s baptismal certificate on file before he/she can be Confirmed.  (If your child was baptized at St. Catherine’s, you do not need to turn in a certificate.)  You will need to request an official certificate from the church at which your child was baptized.  However, these official certificates are only valid for a six month period.  Since Confirmation will be sometime in the spring of 2010, we cannot accept any baptismal certificates  prior to January.  If you turn one in, it will expire too soon, and you will be asked to request another one.   Please do not turn any certificates in prior to January 2010.

Confirmation is not an end;

it’s a new beginning.

The FINAL Registration for Confirmation preparation will be on

October 7th* from 7-7:30 pm in the School Lunchroom. 

Classes will begin October 18th. 

* Anyone registering after October 7th will be charged a $20 late fee.

Confirmation Registration 2009-2010

Who?             Confirmation preparation classes are open to all baptized students who are entering grades 9-12 and have not yet been confirmed.

What?            Confirmation preparation is set up as several small home-based group sessions at the catechists house as well as large group sessions held at church.  The purpose of these classes is to learn more about the Sacrament of Confirmation & the Holy Spirit in order to receive the Sacrament next spring.

Where?          Small group sessions are held in the leader’s home and large group session are held at St. Catherine of Siena

When?           Due to busy schedules, we have set-up our program to let you have a choice of which night works best for your schedule.  Please see the attached registration form for more information.

Volunteers?  Yes!  We welcome all volunteers from parents who can commit to a one-time event or who are interested in leading a small group.  See below for more info about adult leaders.  Volunteers do not have to have students in the program to participate.

How Much? The cost for the program is a onetime fee of $75.00. This fee covers student materials, catechist materials and training, etc. Payment should be made at the time of registration. Checks should be made out to: St. Catherine of Siena YM. The St. Catherine of Siena policy is that no one will be excluded from any program or activity because of an inability to pay or to pay on time. However, such arrangements must be made with the Pastor or Youth Minister beforehand.

Reconciliation can be celebrated at any Catholic parish.

Here is our schedule for your convenience:

Tuesdays and Fridays                    After 7 am mass                   St. Catherine of Siena Church

Saturdays                                          3:15-3:45                               St. Catherine of Siena Church

Or By Appointment                                                                          St. Catherine of Siena Church

When Catholics receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation we have the opportunity not only to be forgiven, but also to receive advice from the Priest in living a better Christian life. It is a source of conversion and spiritual growth for us. It is a wonderful way to enter into the Sacrament of Confirmation.

For young people who have not attended religious education classes for seventh and eighth grade, we ask that they take one year of classes before entering into the Confirmation program. These classes will provide the students with crucial information and education and will help them prepare for the Confirmation program. Sign-up in the Religious Education office or the Youth Ministry Office.