REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION IS NOW CLOSED

2024-2025 SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

It is our pleasure to invite you to prepare your child for the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Benedict Parish.  Please read all of the information on this page before starting the registration process.

PLEASE NOTE:

This year, all Sacrament of Confirmation dates will be available for all families to pick from.

Confirmation dates and retreats will not be based on the school your child attends.

There is a limit of 100 confirmandi registrants per session so you are encouraged to register early to get your preferred date/time.  Once a session is full, no other participants can be added to the list.

Families may bring up to 8 guests per family to the Confirmation liturgy.

100 confirmandi plus 8 family members per child, plus parish staff and volunteers puts the celebration close to 1000 attendees which is above the seating capacity of the church.

It is required that your child be baptized Roman Catholic.  Have an uploadable copy of your child’s baptismal certificate before you begin the online registration process. 

All baptismal certificates are checked for validity by the parish office.  For any discrepancies or exceptions (ie. validity of baptismal certificate, required Declaration of Faith, etc.) you will be contacted by our parish office and your registration will remain tentative.

All Confirmation Liturgies and retreats will be held at St. Benedict Parish.

The 2024 dates for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation and the corresponding retreat dates are as follows:

Confirmation Liturgy Dates at St. Benedict Parish:

Confirmation	Confirmation Liturgy	Liturgy Time	Retreat Date	Time
Session 1	Saturday November 9	10:00 am	Saturday October 19	9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Session 2	Saturday November 9	1:00 pm	Saturday October 26	9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Session 3	Saturday November 23	10:00 am	Saturday November 2	9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Session 4	Saturday November 23	1:00 pm	Saturday November 16	9:00 am – 2:00 pm

The Session you select for Confirmation is automatically associated with a retreat date.  Your child will be expected to attend both specified dates, without exception.  They will be rehearsing at the retreat with the same Confirmation group which they will be registered with.

In emergent cases of illness, death of a loved one, or another sacrament i.e., marriage, or ordination where an accommodation is necessary, each exceptional case will be reviewed by the parish office and pastor. (stbenedictmilton@hamiltondiocese.com).

OVERVIEW OF CONFIRMATION RETREAT ITINERARY

Below is a general overview of the Confirmation Retreat format for each session:

8:30-9 AM           Arrival

9 AM                     Welcome & Introductions

9:15 AM               Formation, Reflection, Prayer & Activities

11:15 AM            Lunch

12 noon               Eucharistic Adoration & Sacrament of Reconciliation

1 PM                     Rehearsal

2 PM                     Departure

The parish is providing pepperoni or cheese pizza.  Please bring a refillable water bottle as there is a refilling station in the Parish Hall and Narthex.

If your child has strict dietary requirements, please pack your child’s snack or meal.  The parish is not equipped for complex dietary requirements.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:30 am – Closes Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 4:00 pm

Registration is online through the St. Benedict Parish website only.  (No paper registrations will be accepted.)

REGISTRATION STEPS:

• Read and review all pertinent information on the parish website before beginning registration online.
• DEADLINE/CUTOFF: Please submit your online registration no later than Wednesday October 16, 2024.
• Review the available session dates on the website.
• Select a Confirmation Session for your child.  Each Confirmation date is automatically associated with a Confirmation Retreat date which includes confession and a rehearsal.
• Have ready a copy of your child’s valid baptismal certificate in PDF format which will be required to upload within the registration form.
• Use the registration link to complete the Confirmation registration form and submit the fee.
• Upon submission of your online registration, please SAVE A COPY, screenshot and/or PRINT your confirmation email and have it available on the day of your child’s confirmation at the church.

There is a $40 administrative fee.

Only students with completed registrations with the supporting documentation shall be confirmed.

If you were unable to contribute the $40 cost of registration at the time of online registration, feel free to use this link to contribute, HERE

If your child has special need requirements that you are unable to provide accommodation for, please contact the parish office.  The Confirmation liturgy is able to support the general public as per all public masses and liturgies.

CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS

Commitment to Catholic Faith:

Confirmation is a public commitment to the teachings and faith life of the Roman Catholic Church.  Those who choose to attend non-Catholic churches cannot be confirmed without making a clear commitment to live the Catholic faith.

As we are all constantly growing in our faith, to continue to provide spiritual nourishment for you and your children throughout your faith journeys, it is important that you and your family nurture and grow your faith regularly by attending Holy Mass on the weekend.  We look forward to welcoming you and seeing you often.

Weekend Mass Times:

Saturday 5:00 pm

Sunday 9:00 am, 10:30 and 12:00 pm

Only properly disposed Catholics may receive Holy Communion at a Catholic mass. Guests who are not Catholics are welcome to request a blessing from the minister by crossing their hands over their heart as they come up at Communion time.

Candidates must be baptized in the Roman Catholic Faith.  When sending your proof of baptism, please submit a copy via your online registration (do not send the original to the parish).  If the candidate’s Baptismal Certificate indicates, “Baptized and Confirmed” then, the candidate is already confirmed and the sacrament cannot be received again.

Candidates must have already received the Sacraments of First Reconciliation AND First Communion.  Any candidate who is baptized in the Roman Catholic faith and has not received First Reconciliation or First Communion will need to be prepared for and celebrate these Sacraments before being confirmed.  Please contact the parish office if your child has not celebrated these Sacraments.

Candidates, in consultation with their parents, must choose a sponsor.  Sponsors must be fully initiated Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.  There cannot be any canonical or moral obstacle to the full practice of their faith.  The sponsor must be someone other than the biological parents of the candidate.

Traditionally, an appropriate sponsor for Confirmation is one of the godparents from Baptism.

Appropriate dress for Confirmation

Confirmation gowns will not be used.  Family and candidates should wear neat and modest business casual to semi-formal attire.  Boys may wear dress pants and a dress shirt.  Ties and jackets are optional.  Girls may wear appropriate dress and/or skirt and dress pants and blouse.  Strapless tops and bodices, short skirts, bare shoulders, and low necklines are not appropriate.  Shawls, cardigans, shrugs, or sweaters are recommended if the style of dress includes the latter.

Catholics need Confirmation to complete their initiation into the church – All Catholics are bound to complete their initiation by receiving Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.  Parents, in consultation with their pastor and their child, may choose to postpone the celebration for serious reasons.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION

Arrival

• On the day of your child’s confirmation, please arrive at least 30 minutes early.
• Enter through the two main church doors and proceed to the registration table.
• You will be met by a parish volunteer who will check in your child and then bring your child to the parish hall for assembly.  Parish staff will receive your child in the Parish Hall.
• After dropping off your child please proceed to the church to join your guests/family and be seated.  Parents will not be permitted to stay in the Parish Hall once their child is dropped off.
• All Confirmandi with their sponsors will process into the church from the parish hall in two lines and will be seated together occupying the two middle sections of the church starting at the front. All guests and families can seat anywhere in the church except those pews with “RESERVED” signs on them.
• There is NO reserved guest seating.  All seating is on a first come first serve basis so come early for your choice of seating.  Candidates and sponsors are seated in designated pews.  All guests and relatives may sit in non-designated pews.

Church Etiquette

Please respect the prayerful nature of the liturgy.  Do not bring food or drink into the church.  Turn off or silence cell phones and electronic devices before the celebration and do not engage in chatter or chewing gum.

Picture Taking

To show respect for the Confirmation, no pictures or videos are permitted during the liturgy.  Guests, families and visitors ARE NOT allowed in the sanctuary area.  Please remind any guests to ensure proper etiquette.  Photos are permitted after liturgy is over.

Registration

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:30 am – Closes Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 4:00 pm. 

Registration is online through the St. Benedict Parish website only.  (No paper registrations will be accepted.)

DEADLINE/CUTOFF: Please submit your online registration no later than Wednesday October 16, 2024.

If you were unable to contribute the $40 cost of registration at the time of online registration, feel free to use this link to contribute, HERE