Ascension Catholic Church | First Eucharist / Reconciliation

	Confirmation Ascension Catholic Church celebrates the Rite of Confirmation in the 9th grade on a day convenient for our bishop. This year, it will take place on May 8, 2011. Classes begin on August 29, 2010. Please contact Matt Spence at 254-1595 x3075 or mattspencesenior@gmail.com for more information. Confirmation Requirements Mass Attendance Candidates are expected to attend Mass on Sunday. Opening Day & Enrollment Rite -- August 29th 2010 There will be a mandatory sacramental preparation opening day and enrollment rite to begin the Confirmation preparation process. This will take place on Sunday afternoon, culminating with the Enrollment at the 5:30 PM Mass. Parents are expected to attend. Sponsors are invited. Retreat Candidates must also attend a weekend retreat. Opportunities will be available in both the fall and the spring. Any candidate who is unable to attend either of the retreats offered by Ascension will be required to make it up prior to receiving the Sacrament. This can be accomplished by attending a comparable Confirmation retreat at another parish in the Diocese and must be pre-approved by the Confirmation coordinator. *10/15-10/17, 1/8-1/9, 2/11-2/13 Sacramental Preparation Sacramental preparation for Confirmation candidates will consist of 10 meetings from September through March. All meetings are mandatory and each absence must be made up through attending two youth ministry Sunday night meetings. Upon the third absence, both candidate and parents must meet with the Confirmation coordinator and the pastor. A plan-of-action will be formulated at the meeting and must be followed in order for the candidate to receive Confirmation. Any more than four absences removes the candidate from eligibility for the sacrament for that year. Wednesday dates of sacramental preparation sessions are: 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/23, 4/6. Community Service Community service will be performed during the preparation process. The number of hours and variety of opportunities will be discussed during the preparation process. Participation is mandatory and if possible, sponsors and/or parents are invited to join the candidate. Sacrament of Confirmation and Rehearsal Rehearsal for the sacrament will take place on Wednesday, May 4th prior to the sacrament. Attendance is mandatory. If a sponsor is unable to attend, a parent or guardian must attend in their place. The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 11:30 AM*. January retreat is run by the Diocese and space may be limited Confirmation FAQ How do I sign up for Confirmation? Confirmation signup is handled through the Religious Education office, using the same form as K-8 Religious Ed. Forms can be found online or in either the main church office or the RE office. Who is eligible for Confirmation? Any young person entering or having already completed the 9th grade and who is already baptized and has received First Communion and First Reconciliation. When does the Confirmation preparation begin? Confirmation preparation begins on Sunday, August 29th. There is an Opening Day and Enrollment, required for both candidates and their parents. Sponsors are invited as well. Who can be a Confirmation sponsor? Any practicing Catholic who has already been Confirmed and is 16 or older (other than parents) is eligible. All sponsors are required to provide proof of eligibility through their home parish. How many meetings will there be? In addition to the Opening Day, there are 10 preparation sessions, a weekend retreat and the Confirmation rehearsal. Each is mandatory. The Wednesday dates are: 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/23, 4/6 and are the same time as religious ed (6:30-7:45 PM.) What happens if I miss a meeting? Candidates who miss a meeting are required to make it up by attending two Sunday night youth ministry meetings. Three missed meetings will require a meeting with the Pastor and Confirmation Coordinator and the formulation of a "plan-of-action" that must be followed in order to receive the sacrament. What about the retreat requirement? There are three weekend retreat options (10/15-17, 1/8-9, 2/11-13) for candidates to choose from. Candidates must attend one of these three retreats in order to be eligible for the sacrament. Are there community service requirements? Yes, candidates are expected to perform a minimum of 8 hours of community service and are encouraged to do so with either their sponsor and/or parents. When will the sacrament be celebrated? Celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 8th, 2011 at the 11:30 AM Mass. There will be a MANDATORY rehearsal on Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM. Does attendance at MCC exempt the candidate from any of the requirements? No. Parishes, not schools, are the sole providers of sacramental preparation.